grazie Italian · revision 37544

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1495, Domenico Malipiero|origins=la grātus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɡrat.t͡sje/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''grazie''' (interjection; as a noun masculine, invariable: ''un grazie'')^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the plural of [[grazia]] “favour, gratitude”, used on its own as a formula of thanks.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini explains it as short for [[rendere grazie]] “to give thanks”, the Italian form of [[la|grātiās agō|t=I give thanks]], the formula at the centre of the Eucharist,^(Nocentini 2010) and GRADIT, Devoto–Oli and Sabatini–Coletti also point to the Latin phrase.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Compare [[scn|grazzi]] and [[es|gracias]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ The singular noun is a learned form of [[la|grātia|t=favour; gratitude; charm]], which the language of the Church spread in the sense “divine favour”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) The Latin word is a derivative of [[m|la|grātus|t=pleasing, welcome]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI notes that ''grazie'' was the usual formula closing the letters and petitions of the Venetians, quoting the chronicler Domenico Malipiero in 1495.^(DELI 1999) Nocentini dates the interjection to 1701,^(Nocentini 2010) and DELI, GRADIT and Zingarelli give 1801, in Ugo Foscolo, as its first record in literature.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In GDLI's first quotation Foscolo writes “Grazie, celeste creatura, grazie” (thank you, heavenly creature, thank you), and the word is often repeated or strengthened with ''mille'', ''tante'', ''molte'' or ''infinite''.^(GDLI) By the 19th century it was also used to accept or decline an offer, as in Pirandello's “Grazie, non fumo” (thank you, I don't smoke).^(GDLI)

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+ The prepositional phrase ''grazie a'' “thanks to” is recorded in Fanfani's Tuscan dictionary in 1863, while ''grazie a Dio'' is older.^(DELI 1999) Used ironically, the interjection answers a remark that is too obvious to need saying.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Tommaseo already records the masculine noun ''un grazie''.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1495 – ''Grazie'' closes Venetian letters and petitions, as Domenico Malipiero shows.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1701 – Nocentini's date for the interjection.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1801 – Ugo Foscolo uses ''grazie''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1863 – ''Grazie a'' “thanks to” in Fanfani.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|thank you]], [[m|en|thanks]]: ''grazie del passaggio!'', ''grazie infinite''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Used to accept or politely refuse something offered: ''Un altro po' di torta?'' – ''No, grazie, sono pieno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(ironic)'' In reply to something obvious: ''Ha vinto la gara.'' – ''Grazie, si allena ogni giorno!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''grazie a'': thanks to, owing to: ''grazie al tuo consiglio ho risparmiato''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thank-you, an expression of [[m|en|gratitude]]: ''gli devo un grazie sincero''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grazia]]

+ * [[ringraziare]]

+ * [[graziare]]

+ * [[grato]]

+ * [[la|grātia]]

+ * [[es|gracias]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''grazie mille'', ''tante grazie'', ''molte grazie'' and ''grazie di cuore'';^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) ''grazie tante'' is often ironic.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) ''Grazie a Dio'' and ''grazie al cielo'' express relief.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Grazie di'' and ''grazie per'' both introduce what one is thanking for.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}