Almost everyone knows that the French word “merci” means “thank you.” But how do you express the idea of mercy or compassion in French, rather than thanking someone?

“Merci” is a feminine noun. “La merci” means “the mercy.” It refers to mercy in the sense of power, not in the sense of compassion.

• à la merci de quelqu’un (at someone’s mercy)
• sans merci (merciless)

“Pitié” is another feminine noun that means “pity” or “mercy” in the sense of compassion, not of power.

• éprouver de la pitié pour quelqu’un (to feel pity for someone)
• il me fait pitié (I feel sorry for him)
• sans pitié (merciless, mercilessly)

“Merci” is also a masculine noun. As a masculine noun, it means “thank you” or “thanks.”

• mille mercis (thank you so much, literally “a thousand thanks”)
• un grand merci à Laurent (a big thank you to Laurent)