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Background, modern examples

Most people who learn Latin and who want to gain some oral proficiency, will early on learn the phrase Grātiās tibī/vōbīs agō, and simply a Grātiās! to match English Thanks! But there are many other ways to say thank you in English, depending on circumstances and settings; an obvious one is Cheers!, which most people probably associate with British English. To reply to a thank you, we have numerous ways in European languages:

  • English: You’re welcome. No worries.
  • Deutsch: Bitte. Bitte sehr. Gern geschehen.
  • Norsk: Vær så god. Ingenting å takke for. Går så bra. (‘May you be so kind.’ ‘Nothing to thank for.’ ‘[It’s] all well.’)
  • Italiano: Prego. Di niente. Non c’è di che.
  • Scots: Nae but a little. (Similar to the Italian above.)
  • French: De rien. Je t’en prie.

Ancient examples

In Cassell, I have found amongst others:

  • Accepting
    • Benignē dīcis! – You speak kindly! (Thank you.)
    • Alicui aliquid debēre [something good]. [An actual example would be good here.]
  • Refusing
    • Benignē dīcis! – You speak kindly! (No, thank you.)
    • Benignē ac līberāliter! – Kindly and nobly! (Or perhaps rather: Kindly, yet nobly!)
    • Rēctē! – Rightly [so]!
  • Acknowledging
    • Bene vocās! – I [say it is?] well!
    • Jam grātia est! – Now is [the time for] thankfulness → This certainly makes me thankful! (?)¹

Main question

The above examples highlight what I identify as a problem: They seem to be quite formal, nothing like the Nae but a liʔle² of Scots, the No worries of English, the Går så bra of Norwegian. What I am looking for, then, is informal, attested ways to express gratitude in Latin and suitable replies to these. I am looking for attested forms from any period and genre (including comedy, scribbling on toilet walls, whore houses – the key word is informal, colloquial, non-elite) by native Latin speakers.

I would prefer that answers are macronised (even for later periods of Latin* §) to encourage correct pronunciation. Notes on source and time would be most welcome.

Of relevance

Notes

  1. I believe jam can be used emphatically, but could not find any sources for it at the moment. Also: tempus est jocundum!
  2. The way I have heard it uttered, the glottal stop comes in little, but it could just as well be at the end of but (or perhaps also both).

1 Answer 1

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Some examples:

From the Assinaria:

Democles: Bene hercle facitis ...
          (Well, thanks by god!)

From the Aulularia:

Megadorus: Habeo gratiam.
           (Thanks)

From the Captivi:

Philocrates: Edepol, Hergio. Facis benigne.
             (By Pollux, Hergio, You do me kindly.)

and

Stalagmus: Quoi peculi nihil est, recte feceris.
           (Seeing as how I have nothing of value, you certainly do me right.)

From the Persa:

Dordalus: Gratiam habeo.
          (Thank you.)

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