Thank you plural?

May I answer a question with a question? How does one thank the Queen of England? But to add some humor to my response, Australians often use a plural thank you; how it’s spelt, I wouldn’t have a clue!

“Remember that the expresion comes from a verbal form, so the noun has to be hyphenated.
So, one "thank-you" or several "thank-you's" (because of the compound form).”

Hi Raul
Thanks for answering this one. Actually, I misunderstood the question. Anyway, I checked the dictionary to satisfy my curiosity.

thank-you - Merriam-Webster Unabridged
Main Entry: thank-you
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
Etymology: from the phrase thank you
: a polite expression of one's gratitude as by saying "thank you"

Apparently, the Yankee spelling is thank-yous. So, a million thank-yous to the organizers of English Forums for my chance to say hello to you in this post.

Another opinion...

From the Gregg Reference Manual:

When words taken from other parts of speech are used as nouns, they are usually pluralized by the addition of s or es.

Ifs, ands, or buts

Dos and don’ts

Yeses and nos

Ins and outs

Ups and downs

Yeas and nays

Pros and cons

Whereabouts

Whys and wherefores

Haves and havenots

 

If the pluralized form is unfamiliar or likely to be misread, use and apostrophe plus s to form the plural.

Which’s and wherefores

Or’s and nor’s

 

The Elements of Grammar, however, notes that nouns ending in vowel sounds could have an apostrophe added, as can plural reference to letters

A’s and b’s

Dot your I’s and cross your t’s

 

Do’s and don’ts

Oh’s and ah’s

 

Thank you, to me, ends in a vowel sound, so I vote for adding the apostrophe.

Let us, however, eschew the addition of an apostrophe with numbers and dates.

1990s

1800s

The 60s

Lucky 7s or sevens

 

Thank you’s to all.

PL

But how do you spell 'Thanks'?  I have just read it on a Thank-you card spelt 'Thank's' (with the apostrophe).  Is this correct?

Not even remotely correct, Anon! No apostrophe is required.

All the best,

MrP