Someone in France told me it wasn't very polite to reply "You are welcome" after someone has said "Thank you" to you.

Can you confirm or invalidate this opinion ?

 

Ça semble correct...

 

The incorrect thing would be to say: "of nothing"...

 

"You're welcome" is the standard reply. Some people say "no problem", and in the US I have heard "Uh-huh" (although I wouldn't call that polite -- then again I'm Canadian ).

 

Je crois que la confusion vient du fait que l'anglicisme "Bienvenue" est encore trop souvent utilisé au Canada pour dire «Je vous en prie, il n'y a pas de quoi, de rien»
Bienvenue est incorrect dans ce contexte, mais "You're welcome"est correct.

 

That's probably correct. I remember when I first learned this response "You're welcome!", our teacher took pain to remind us not to put a "d" after "welcome".

 

Thanks a lot for your (as always) prompt replies !

 

You're welcome, JM

 

I don't know what kind of nonsense they've been telling you but the typical response is "you're welcome". But there are lots of option: Thanks! You're welcome. Not a problem. Not at all. It was my pleasure....ad infinitum

Star

 

It could also be:

- Thanks!
- Anytime!

 

I take it you mean in the English-speaking countries?

For that matter, is it appropriate to say "De rien" or "Il n'y a pas de quoi" or "Je vous en prie" as a response to "Merci" en France?

 

yes it is

 

I would like to now if it is right when you had wished somebody happy birthday and then he says ''Thank you'' and you answer with '' You are welcome '' . ))

 

It's not wrong, but I think it sounds a little bit excessive. Usually thank you is the last thing said, in that case.

 

I think it depends in each person's way of speaking.... I normally use "no problem" in informal conversations and "You're welcome" in formal conversations, but that's my way of speaking.

By the way: I've heard in canada, people saying "bienvenue" instead of "de rien" as French (from France) people say, so it depends in each country too.

 

this is absulently rong ...you are welcome has to be said after every thank you ..it's better than saying nothing after all ..because when you don't say anything as a reply to the person that thanked you..you become unpolite...you are welcome is a way to say that what ever i did to thank me for is nothing and we are even but if you don't say anything ..you make the thanker feels like he was not welcomed at all and what you did for him was a big favour that he'll never can makes it up to you so you are welcome is a good way to show respect to the thanker it must be said (obligation)

 

Hello!

Context:
You've helped someone. He or she thanks you.
If needed, what should be the answer?

Solution:
It is better to say,

in English:
You're welcome. (formal, polite, and strongly recommended)
It was my pleasure. (formal, polite)
Don't mention it. (informal)
Forget it. (informal)

or in French:
Ce fut un plaisir. (kind and polite, sounds archaic in some French ears, maybe)
Je vous en prie. (polite, recommended)
De rien.
Ce n'est rien.
Il n'y a pas de quoi (informal, sounds familiar, sometimes)
Je ne vis que pour vous servir. (funny, joking, not really recommended)

As a conclusion:
Depending on the person in front of you, reply with You're welcome (English context) or Je vous en prie (French context) is the best way. Forget the rest, if possible.
Not replying is not quite polite. Ne pas répondre (à un 'merci') est plutôt mal vu.

Hope it helps someone.
Have a nice day!