To give thanks means to express gratitude or appreciation for something someone has done or given you. When you say “thanks” to a friend who shares their lunch, or write a thank-you note to your grandmother for a birthday gift, you're acknowledging their kindness and letting them know it mattered to you.

When you thank someone, you're really saying, “I noticed what you did, and I think well of you for it.” You can give thanks formally, like at Thanksgiving when families share what they're grateful for, or casually, like saying “thanks” when someone holds a door open.

People also say thanks to someone or something to show what caused a good result: “Thanks to your help, I finished my project on time.” Here, thanks to points to the reason something worked out.

While “thank you” sounds more formal and complete, “thanks” works perfectly in everyday situations. Both expressions do the same important work: they acknowledge that someone made your life a little better, even in a small way.