French for Guests: Say 'Thank You for Having Me' and Praise the Meal
Learn elementary French phrases to thank your host for their hospitality and compliment the meal, focusing on gratitude for the invitation rather than the cooking itself.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you are invited to someone's home in France, thanking them for having you is just as important as praising the food. In this lesson, you will learn simple, polite phrases to express gratitude for the invitation and to compliment the meal. You will practice the difference between thanking someone for their hospitality and complimenting their cooking, so you can sound natural and appreciative.
By the end, you can…
- thank my host for inviting me to their home.
- compliment the meal in a way that focuses on hospitality.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Merci de m'avoir invité.
Thank you for having me.
mehr-see duh mah-vwahr an-vee-tay
Use this when you arrive or when you are about to leave. It thanks the host for the invitation, not specifically for the cooking. If you are female, say 'invitée' (an-vee-tay).
Merci pour votre accueil.
Thank you for your hospitality.
mehr-see poor voh-truh ah-kuh(l)
A warm way to thank your host for welcoming you into their home. It focuses on the hospitality, not the food.
C'était délicieux.
It was delicious.
say-teh day-lee-syuh
A simple compliment about the meal. Use it after eating. It refers to the food, so pair it with a thank-you for hospitality to keep the focus on the host's effort.
Vous êtes très hospitalier.
You are very hospitable.
voo zet treh ohs-pee-tah-lyay
This directly praises the host's hospitality. For a female host, say 'hospitalière' (ohs-pee-tah-lyair). It is a bit formal but sincere.
Je me suis régalé.
I really enjoyed the meal.
zhuh muh swee ray-gah-lay
A common way to say you enjoyed the food. For a female speaker, say 'régalée' (ray-gah-lay). It implies you had a great time eating.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To thank someone for an action in the past, use 'Merci de' + infinitive. For example, 'Merci de m'avoir invité' means 'Thank you for having me.' The infinitive 'avoir invité' is the past infinitive. You can also use 'Merci pour' + noun, as in 'Merci pour votre accueil' (Thank you for your hospitality). Remember to make the past participle agree if you are female: 'invitée'.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are a guest at someone's home. On arrival, say 'Merci de m'avoir invité' or 'Merci pour votre accueil.' During or after the meal, compliment the food with 'C'était délicieux' or 'Je me suis régalé.' To focus on hospitality, add 'Vous êtes très hospitalier' or 'Merci pour votre accueil.' Avoid saying 'Merci pour la nourriture' (Thank you for the food), which sounds like you are thanking them for providing basic necessities rather than for their hospitality.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, merci de m'avoir invité !
Hello, thank you for having me!bohn-zhoor, mehr-see duh mah-vwahr an-vee-tayJe t'en prie, entre !
You're welcome, come in!zhuh tahn pree, ahn-truhMerci pour votre accueil. C'était délicieux !
Thank you for your hospitality. It was delicious!mehr-see poor voh-truh ah-kuh(l). say-teh day-lee-syuhJe suis content que ça t'ait plu.
I'm glad you liked it.zhuh swee kohn-tahn kuh sah teh plooA little context goes a long way
In France, thanking your host for the invitation is often more valued than complimenting the cooking. A simple 'Merci de m'avoir invité' shows respect and appreciation for their effort. When complimenting the meal, avoid comparing it to a restaurant; instead, focus on the pleasure of sharing the moment. In more formal settings, use 'vous' forms; with friends, 'tu' is fine. In Quebec, 'Merci pour l'invitation' is also common.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Merci pour la nourriture' to thank your host.
Try this instead: This sounds like you are thanking them for providing food, not for their hospitality. Instead, say 'Merci pour votre accueil' or 'Merci de m'avoir invité.' For example: 'Merci pour votre accueil, c'était délicieux.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you thank your host for inviting you to their home?
Show a sample answer
Merci de m'avoir invité.
This phrase directly thanks the host for the invitation. If you are female, you can say 'Merci de m'avoir invitée.'
2What phrase would you use to compliment the meal after eating?
Show a sample answer
C'était délicieux.
This is a simple and common compliment about the food. You could also say 'Je me suis régalé' (or 'régalée' if female).
3How do you thank someone for their hospitality in French?
Show a sample answer
Merci pour votre accueil.
This phrase focuses on the welcome you received. You can also say 'Vous êtes très hospitalier' (or 'hospitalière' for a woman).
Thank your host for the invitation first, then compliment the meal. Use 'Merci de m'avoir invité' and 'Merci pour votre accueil' to show gratitude for hospitality, and 'C'était délicieux' to praise the food.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s French into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr