How to Say Thank You in Hebrew: Todah (תּוֹדָה)

Quick Answer: How to Say Thank You in Hebrew

Thank you in Hebrew is:

תּוֹדָה

todah

Pronounced: toh-DAH

Meaning: Thanks, gratitude, thanksgiving

How to Pronounce Todah

The Hebrew word תּוֹדָה (todah) is pronounced toh-DAH. The emphasis lands on the final syllable — think of it like saying "toe" and "DAH" with a little more weight on the second part. Try it slowly: toh (pause) DAH. Then speed it up: toh-DAH.

When you want to say "thank you very much," add רַבָּה (rabah) — "todah rabah" (תּוֹדָה רַבָּה). Rabah means "much" or "great," so you're essentially saying "thanks a lot." Israelis use both constantly. For more on the word itself, including its worship context, see our thanksgiving (todah) word page.

What Todah Really Means

In English, "thank you" is polite and straightforward. In Hebrew, todah carries more weight. It comes from the root י.ד.ה (y.d.h), which means "to give thanks" or "to acknowledge." That same root gives us something surprising: יָדָה (yadah) — "to confess."

At first glance, thanksgiving and confession seem like different ideas. But in Hebrew they're siblings. To confess is to acknowledge the truth, to name it out loud. To give thanks is to acknowledge what you've received. Both are acts of honesty before God — one about what you've done wrong, the other about what He's done right. The psalmist who says "Enter his gates with thanksgiving" (Psalm 100:4) is inviting you into worship that begins with simple acknowledgment: I see what You've given me.

Todah shows up in Scripture as gratitude, as thanksgiving in worship, and even as a thank offering — a sacrifice given to God. In biblical thought, thanksgiving isn't just words. It's something you do. You can explore how todah connects to praise and hallelujah — they often appear together in the Psalms, gratitude and praise flowing into each other.

How to Actually Use Todah

If you're traveling in Israel or just want to use Hebrew in everyday life, here are the phrases you'll need:

תּוֹדָה (todah) — Thank you. Use this everywhere: at a café, in a shop, when someone holds the door.

תּוֹדָה רַבָּה (todah rabah) — Thank you very much. For when someone goes out of their way.

תּוֹדָה לָאֵל (todah la'el) — Thanks to God. A common expression of relief or gratitude, like "thank God" in English. You'll hear it when someone narrowly avoids trouble or when good news arrives. Our thank God phrase page has more on this expression.

בְּתוֹדָה (betodah) — With thanks. You might see this in formal or written contexts.

Todah fits naturally into the rhythm of Hebrew greetings. You might say good morning (boker tov) to someone, they help you with directions, and you respond with todah. It's one of the first words worth learning — simple, warm, and immediately useful. For more everyday phrases, check out our thank you phrase guide.

Todah in Worship

Psalm 100:4 says: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving (betodah), and his courts with praise (bitehillah)." Todah and praise walk in together. You don't approach God with demands first; you approach with gratitude. That posture — thanksgiving before request — shapes how the Psalms pray.

In Psalm 50:23, God says: "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me." Todah isn't a side note to worship. It is worship. A heart that acknowledges what it has received honors God more than ritual without gratitude.

A Word to Carry

Todah is small enough to fit in your pocket and deep enough to change how you pray. It reminds you that thanksgiving and confession share a root — that honesty before God includes both naming your need and naming His goodness. Next time you say "thank you" in any language, let todah whisper in the back of your mind: acknowledge what you've received.