Though normal in international English, the phrase "thanks a million" is conspicuous in Ireland because it's everywhere.
That's because it's real Irish — sort of.
Borrowed from Gaelic, it's a generous translation.
The original expression really only offers one thousand thanks.
The Irish word míle means "a thousand." The cognate in almost every European language is the same. But not English. So the translation seems to have naturally taken the euphonious route compared to the literal. The literal translation "thanks a thousand" clearly wouldn't do.
As Gaeilge:
| If speaking to one person: | If speaking to more than one person: |
| Go raibh míle maith agat | Go raibh míle maith agaibh |
|
(Guh RAV mee-lə MAH a-gut)
|
(Guh RAV mee-lə MAH a-guv)
|