What to Say When Giving a Gift: Answered (2023 Updated)

Last Updated on July 27, 2023 by Kimberlee Johnson

Thinking of what gift to give can be tough on its own. However, it becomes more challenging when you need to think of what to say when giving a gift.

The recipient’s culture, tradition, and situation should be considered when thinking of a message.

Good thing we made a guide on the best things to say. Please read on.

Table of Contents

What To Tell A Person When Giving A Gift

Formal Situations

As a form of gratitude to you, here is a gift from us.
[Name], we formally want to show our thankfulness and gratitude by giving you this gift.
[Name], we would like to show our appreciation for you with this gift.
[Name], I’d like to give you this gift for your birthday.
[Name], this is a present we got you.
I want to give you this present in the name of [xyz].
Here is a token of our appreciation, [name].

Check out these thoughtful messages to tell your boyfriend’s mom on Mother’s Day here.

Informal Situations

Hey! I got you something; I hope you like it.
[Name] here’s something I got for you!
I thought you might like this as a gift, so here you go!
Happy Birthday (or Happy Anniversary)! Here’s a little present for you (or our anniversary).
(In the act of handing a present to someone) Enjoy!
It’s only something small, but I hope you like it.
Here’s a little present for you.
Can you guess what I bought for you?
Hey, thanks for everything you’ve done for me. Here’s something I’d like to give you in return.
Here’s something I’m sure you’ll like.

Read: What’s A Pollyanna Gift?

Keep In Mind

About the Person Who Will Receive It

Always think of the person who will receive the gift. It is normal in most Western countries to give a gift to someone on occasion. That occasion can be a birthday, wedding, family gathering, etc.

You can be personal when giving a message to the recipient, especially if it is your close friend or a family member. If you share memories, you can say it when giving a gift.

If you want it to be more special, write it on a card and give it along with your gift. But what should you say in a birthday video message?

About the Gift You Will Give It To

You can say something about the gift you will give someone. If you will give a watch as a gift, you can tell them the reason why you bought it for them. You can say meaningful quotations and inspirational words that can be connected to your gift. In this way, they will appreciate the gift you gave them.

Read:

About the Occasion

You can say something about the occasion when you’re going to gift someone. You can add some celebratory message in conjunction with the occasion.

For example, adding a “Happy Birthday!” greeting card to the gift of the birthday celebrant. You can also say some heartfelt messages that will suit the occasion.

However, if there’s no occasion and you want to give a gift to a person randomly, you can say, “I got this for you.” But how do you give hints about a gift?

FAQs

What do you say when giving money as a gift?

It would help to say that you’re acknowledging their efforts and sacrifices when giving money as a gift. Moreso, giving money as a gift can be socially awkward, so it would be better to give the gift discreetly to reduce the awkwardness.

You might also like to read about what to give to a retiring doctor here.

What should I say to a stranger so that they will accept a gift?

It would be best to say your true good intentions when giving a stranger a gift so they will accept it and not get the wrong idea. If there’s an occasion like Christmas, you can greet them and hand over the gift. Even if you don’t know each other, there’s a chance that they will accept it. Also, don’t forget to smile.

You might also want to read about the meaning of a bona fide gift here.

If you give someone a gift and don’t get a thank you, should you say something?

You should say nothing if you gave someone a gift and didn’t get a thank you. Confronting them about it might show your pettiness. Even if the recipient owes the giver a “thank you” [1], be understanding and move on if you don’t get any. But how do you leave a gift for the trash collector?

Let’s Sum It Up

There are several things to consider on what to say when giving a gift. Depending on your relationship with the receiver, you can use the formal and informal phrases above. Also, you can say something about the gift, the occasion, or the person you give the gift to.

What you say when giving a gift can be important as it leaves an impression on the receiver. They will appreciate the gift you will give, especially when you become more personal with your message. It is the thought that counts, so nothing beats a personal message.

Reference:

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1212/gift-giving-etiquette.aspx

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Kimberlee Johnson

Kimberlee Johnson is a preschool teacher and a mom of 3. She puts a lot of thought into gift-buying and gift-giving as she believes that each gift should tell a story. She enjoys scrapbooking and watching the History Channel. Learn more about us here or you can email us [email protected].