If you’re wondering ‘What is thank you in German?’ you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we will introduce you to fourteen different ways to express your gratitude in German.
Whether you’re visiting Germany, studying the language, or just want to expand your vocabulary, these phrases will come in handy in various situations. So, let’s dive into the German language and explore the different ways to say thank you!
What is thank you in German?
The most common way to say “thank you” in German is “danke.” But, just like its equivalent in English, there are many variations to “danke,” as well as other ways to express gratitude in the German language.
German culture values politeness, so when you’re learning German it’s important to remember how to express your thanks. Below we’ve listed 14 other ways to say “thank you” in German, so you can be prepared for any situation.
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1. Danke schön (“Thank you very much”)
A slightly more formal version of “danke,” the phrase “danke schön” means “thank you very much.” You can use “danke schön” as a response when someone does something nice for you, or when you simply want to be polite.
It works for every situation where you want to express an extra “thank you.” Your dad hands you the butter at the dinner table? Danke schön! The cashier at the store hands you your change? Danke schön!
- Example: Wie spät ist es? – Es ist 17 Uhr. – Danke schön!
- Translation: What time is it? – It’s 5 o’clock. – Thank you very much!
Grammatically, “danke schön” is a complete sentence, and wouldn’t be used in the sense of thanking someone for something (“thank you very much for . . .”). We cover how to say that in a later section.
2. Danke sehr (“Thank you very much”)
“Danke sehr” is basically used in the same way as “danke schön.” It works for any situation in everyday life, both formal and informal when you want to say a more polite “thank you.” Although this phrase is slightly more formal than “danke schön,” you typically can use both phrases interchangeably for informal situations.
You drop something and another person picks it up for you? Danke sehr! The delivery guy brings you the pizza you ordered thirty minutes ago? Danke sehr!
- Example: Wo ist das Badezimmer? – Hinten links. – Danke sehr!
- Translation: Where is the bathroom? – In the back on the left. – Thank you very much!
3. Vielen Dank (“Many thanks”)
“Vielen Dank” is similar to “danke schön,” but it is a more heartfelt and deep expression of gratitude. A typical situation to use “Vielen Dank” is when someone gives you a present. It can also be said as part of the phrase, “Vielen Dank für alles!” (“Thank you for everything!”), a very typical German expression.
- Example: Vielen Dank für die Blumen. Vielen Dank, wie lieb von dir!
- Translation: Many thanks for the flowers. Thank you so much, how sweet of you!
4. Danke für (“Thank you for…”)
“Danke für. . .” is a common way of saying “thank you” in German. It can be used in both formal and informal situations when you want to thank someone for something specific, like a present or a service. While you need to know a few more German words to finish the phrase, you don’t have to master the entire foreign language to be polite.
- Example: Danke für das Geschenk! Das ist genau, was ich wollte.
- Translation: Thank you for the present! It’s exactly what I wanted.
5. Herzlichen Dank (“Thank you kindly”)
“Herzlichen Dank” is another way to express heartfelt thanks. “Herz” means “heart” in German, so this expression ensures that the other person knows that your gratitude comes from the heart and that you are not just thanking them because it has to be said.
Sometimes, when written down, people replace the first four letters of the phrase with an actual heart, like this: “?lichen Dank!”
- Example: Herzlichen Dank für deine Unterstützung!
- Translation: Thank you very much for your support!
6. Besten Dank (“Thank you very much”)
If you want to sound grateful, but not overly heartfelt, you can use “Besten Dank,” meaning “best of thanks” or “thank you very much.”
- Example: Besten Dank für Ihr Verständnis!
- Translation: Thank you very much for your understanding!
7. Ich danke Ihnen (“I give you my thanks”)
“Ich danke Ihnen” is a formal way to thank someone. It’s mostly used in a situation where you want to be extra polite with someone you want to show respect to or don’t know well, like an older relative or a work colleague.
- Example: Ich danke Ihnen für Ihre Hilfe! Ohne Sie hätte ich es nicht geschafft.
- Translation: I thank you for your help! I could not have done it without you.
If you’re speaking to a friend, you might instead say, “Ich danke dir.”
8. Ich bin Ihnen sehr dankbar (“I am very grateful for you”)
This phrase can be formal or informal, depending on the pronoun used:
- Formal: Ich bin Ihnen sehr dankbar
- Informal: Ich bin dir sehr dankbar
This expression works best in more personal situations where you feel very grateful towards the other person and want to make sure that they know it. The phrase also suggests the beginning of a conversation, giving you the opportunity to explain to the other person why you are thankful.
- Example: Ich bin Ihnen sehr dankbar für alles, was Sie gestern für mich getan haben. Das war nicht selbstverständlich und ich weiß das sehr zu schätzen.
- Translation: I am very grateful for everything you did for me yesterday. You didn’t have to do that, and I appreciate it very much.
9. Danke, sehr aufmerksam (“Thank you, that’s very kind of you”)
When you want to thank someone for something they did for you of their own initiative that made your life easier, say, “Danke, sehr aufmerksam.” You can also use the phrase “sehr aufmerksam” on its own, with or without saying “danke” first.
- Example: Your friend helps you clean up the dishes after a dinner party without being asked. Danke, sehr aufmerksam!
- Translation: Thank you, that’s very kind!
10. Tausend Dank (“A thousand thanks”)
This is the English equivalent of “thanks a million.” It’s typically used informally with friends or acquaintances when they help you out. Maybe they covered your shift at work or took you to the grocery store while your car was in the repair shop. That deserves a “Tausend Dank!”
- Example: Tausend Dank für deine Hilfe! Menschen wie dich gibt es nicht so oft.
- Translation: A thousand thanks for your help! There are not many people like you.
11. Danke, gleichfalls (“Thank you, you, too”)
When somebody wishes you all the best, is kind to you, or encourages you, and you want to return their kindness, say, “Danke, gleichfalls!” It can be used in both formal and informal situations. For example, if you and your friend are taking an exam and she wishes you luck, thank her and wish her luck back with a “Danke, gleichfalls!”
- Example: Your whole family gets together for Sunday lunch and your dad says: – Guten Appetit! Everyone else would reply: Danke, gleichfalls!
- Translation: Enjoy your food! – Thank you, you too!
12. Vielen Dank im Voraus (“Thank you in advance”)
“Vielen Dank im Voraus” is a way to thank someone for something that hasn’t happened yet. But this phrase is never used when talking to someone – it’s only used in writing, especially in formal letters and emails to authorities, teachers, or people of a higher status.
Using this phrase means you’re expressing your gratitude for something that will happen in the future, such as their attention to an important issue, their efforts, or an expected response.
- Example: Über eine Einladung zum Bewerbungsgespräch würde ich mich freuen. Vielen Dank im Voraus!
- Translation: I would appreciate an invitation to the interview. Many thanks in advance!
13. Ich kann dir gar nicht genug danken. (“I cannot thank you enough.”)
Sometimes, someone makes a huge difference in your life with their help, work or support, and you feel your heart is bursting with gratitude for them. That’s a great occasion to use the phrase “Ich kann dir gar nicht genug danken!”
A friend with work connections helped you get the job you’ve always wanted? “Ich kann dir gar nicht genug danken!” A doctor saved your loved one’s life after a bad accident? “Ich kann Ihnen gar nicht genug danken!”
- Example: Dank dir kann ich endlich wieder Geld verdienen. Ich kann dir gar nicht genug danken!
- Translation: Thanks to you, I can finally earn money again. I cannot thank you enough!
14. Das wäre doch nicht nötig gewesen. (“You didn’t have to do that.”)
The phrase “das wäre doch nicht nötig gewesen” is for when someone does something for you or gives you something that you didn’t expect at all. Maybe you got a surprise gift from a loved one, or a neighbor you don’t know well shoveled your walkway after a bad snowstorm. It’s a way to not only express your thanks but to also let them know you appreciate their gesture.
- Example: You are inviting friends over for dinner and one of them brings a bottle of wine. – Ohh, das wäre doch nicht nötig gewesen.
- Translation: Aww, you didn’t have to do that.
How do you respond to “thank you” in German?
The common response to “thank you” in German is “bitte,” meaning “you’re welcome.”
But, just as there are many ways to say “thank you” in German for different situations, there are many different ways to say “you’re welcome.” Here are some of the ways you can say “you’re welcome” in German, and when you might use them in conversation.
- Bitte (“you’re welcome”): The common response to “thank you” is “bitte,” “you’re welcome.” Germans are very polite, so you may be considered rude if you don’t respond to a “thank you” that way. For example, if someone asks you to hand them the salt and then says, “Danke,” there’s your moment to say “bitte.” Fun fact: “bitte” also means “please,” which is why you might hear Germans responding to your English “thank you” with “please” instead of “you’re welcome.”
- Bitte schön (“you’re very welcome”): If someone says, “Danke schön,” you would automatically respond, “Bitte schön.” It’s saying, “You’re very welcome,” responding to their level of thanks in kind. “Bitte sehr” is another way of saying “you’re very welcome,” and is a good response to “Danke sehr.”
- Gerne geschehen (“my pleasure”): “Gern geschehen,” or “my pleasure,” is another reply to “thank you.” With this phrase, you are saying that it was absolutely no problem and that it was even a pleasure to help the person.
- Jederzeit (“any time”): “Jederzeit,” or “any time,” is a very friendly response to “thank you” and can be used in both formal and informal situations. This phrase says that you would do it again — at “any time” — meaning you’d be happy to help again.
- Kein Problem (“no problem”): If someone thanks you, you can also reply with “Kein Problem!” to let them know that it was your pleasure to help them and that it did not cause you any problems or inconvenience. It’s especially useful when you did a big favor for someone, and they may be worried about being a burden.
Conclusion
Now you know some of the most common ways to say “thank you” in the German language. No matter what language you’re speaking, it’s important to know how to express gratitude to whomever you’re speaking to. Knowing both the informal and formal ways to thank someone makes you prepared for any situation.
If you’re interested in learning German as a new language, continuing your German studies, or learning a different language, Preply has resources for all your language-learning needs. Try a session with an online German tutor today, and take one step closer to reaching your goals.
