Thanks is a short way to say that you are grateful to someone. As an exclamation, 'Thanks!' is a common, informal way to express appreciation.
Plural of Old English *þanc* 'thought, gratitude'. Saying 'thanks' originally meant offering many expressions of gratitude, not just one.
Every 'thanks' you say is a tiny speech of gratitude, even if it’s just one word. The plural form stuck in English, as if we’re giving not just one, but many grateful thoughts at once.
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