What is the difference between "thank you" and "thanks"?

Question

Are they the same?

And if it's not, when it's better to use either of them?

Answer 1

thank you is more proper and thanks is rude. *I learned that in homec* I hate it lol

Answer 2

Thanks is easier to say but that's the only difference in my view. If you were at a posh party I would use thank you rather than thanks though.

Answer 3

One is more formal and the other is not as personal

Answer 4

thanks is more informal, whereas thankyou may sound a bit stupid if someone did a really small favour for you. or thaks very much. theres loads of combinations

Answer 5

Thanks is just another way of saying thank you. But Thank You is more formal.

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Answer 6

Well i agree with cheery-c .. but i would like to say the difference,,is (YOU)........

Answer 7

formality is the only difference

Answer 8

Thank you is more polite and formal. As where thanks is more informal.

Answer 9

Thanks is better by Thanks a lot and thanks a lot is more better by thank you  and thank you is much better by thank you very much. hee hee.....

Answer 10

thank you is formal and would use to someone you don't know,accepting a job etc.

thanks is informal and would use to friends etc.

Answer 11

Thanks is "slang", and can be used with family and friends.

Thank you should be used with all other people.

Answer 12

Thank you can be said for a single person or a group. Thanks is used for a single person.  

Answer 13

Thank you is when your saying it formally but not directly to someone

Thanks, is when you say it slackly but directly to someone