The 16 Best Ways to Say Thank You in German | Mondly Blog (2023)

The 16 Best Ways to Say Thank You in German | Mondly Blog (1)Diana Lăpușneanuin Language Tips | May 31st 2019

Danke is short, sweet and easy to remember, but it is not the only way to say thank you in German. Here are the 16 best ways to say thank you in German!

Today we are discussing German etiquette. More precisely, how do you say thank you in German depending on the social context, degree of familiarity, or the subject of discussion? We all know that just a simple “thank you” in German (Danke!) can work wonders when the context asks for it. Expressing gratitude in a foreign language is more than just a matter of being polite; it’s a sign of respect towards the culture and the country you are visiting.

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Saying “thank you” to someone is one of the first things we learned when we were little – “say thank you for the chocolate to the kind gentleman!”. We all remember that! Learning German – or any other language – is just slightly different from learning to speak. You start with the basics – like thank you and you’re welcome – and you continue with more advanced vocabulary like variations of the same expressions you already mastered. In English, we have multiple variations for expressing gratitude. “Thanks”, “thank you”, “thanks a bunch” or even “I’m eternally grateful to you” are just a few of them. Naturally, the German language makes no exception. Let’s discover the absolute best ways to say thank you in German.

The 16 Best Ways to Say Thank You in German | Mondly Blog (2)

1. Danke! — The universal “Thank you” in German

Danke translates to “thank you” or “thanks” and it is probably the best and certainly most common way to say thank you in German. If you already interacted with the German language, you probably heard “Danke!” before. It’s sweet, short, easy to remember, and suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

However, if you feel like more formal parlance is required, you can use the expression “Ich danke Ihnen!”.

2. Danke schön! — Thank you kindly!

Moving on and adding a little more formality to our “Danke!”, we discover Danke schön! which is just as short and sweet, but maybe a little bit more formal. Although it is often used in the business environment, Danke schön! seems suitable for all kinds of formal and informal situations. My advice would be to trust your gut.

3. Danke Sehr! – Thank you very much!

This is a more formal variation of Danke schön, but both expressions can be used interchangeably. Like I said: trust your gut. It’s very important to take into consideration your way to talk to other people and your personality.

4. Vielen Dank! — Many thanks!

Do you know that moment when you are really grateful to someone because they helped you a lot? Well, that’s the perfect moment to thank them in German using “Vielen Dank!”.

5. Tausend Dank! — Thousand thanks!

Tausend Dank! is the German equivalent of our “Thanks a million!” and it is generally used in informal situations like talking to friends or relatives.

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6. Danke vielmals! – Many thanks!

This is a variation of Vielen Dank! and it can also translate to “thanks very much!”. While “Danke” means “thanks”, “vielmals” translates to “very much.”

7. Vergelt’s Gott! – God will reward you!

As I said, there are multiple and different ways to say thank you in German. Vergelt’s Gott is a regional expression used mainly in the southern region of Germany.

8. (Danke!) Sehr aufmerksam. — (Thank you!) That is very kind of you.

We all have moments in our lives when we need to thank the extraordinary people that helped when we were in trouble. Well, “Sehr aufmerksa” is for one of those situations. It’s a heartfelt way of thanking someone that has done something kind for you.

9. Ich bin dir dankbar. — I’m thankful to you.

Good to know, but very rarely used. Depending on whom you are talking to, use “dir” and “euch” for friends and colleagues or “Ihnen” for those who you don’t know too well. The key is to use the right pronoun.

10. Ich sage dir vielen Dank. – I say many thanks to you.

Rarely used, but still useful if you want the complete list of ways to say thank you in German.

11. Danke, gleichfalls! — Thank you, the same to you!

“Gleichfalls” is what you should add to your “Danke!” when someone wishes you “Guten Appetit!” (“Good appetite” or “Enjoy your meal”) or something similar.

12. Ich danke Ihnen! – I give you my thanks!

Like we said in the beginning, this is one of the most formal ways of thanking someone in German.

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13. Ich danke dir! – I thank you!

Although it does not seems so, Ich danke dir! is rather informal, but more elegant than just Danke.

14. Ich möchte mich recht herzlich bedanken. — I would like to thank you sincerely.

This is the best “thanks” you can use when you want to thank someone that has helped you a lot in a formal context. Use it with confidence the same way you would use it in English.

15. Vielen Dank im Voraus! – Thank you in advance!

Well, you’ll probably need this one at some point, won’t you? This is especially useful when you make a request.

16. Ich bin Ihnen sehr dankbar für… – I am very grateful to you for…

Last but not least, use this standard expression by adding what are you thankful for at the end of it. But use it only with intangible things like “I’m grateful for your help” and not objects. Here’s an example: “I’m thankful that you take care of me” in German will be “Ich bin Ihnen sehr dankbar dafür, dass du dich um mich kümmerst”.

17. Bonus: How to say you’re welcome in German

Since we are here, let’s also see how you can respond if someone says thank you in German. Generally, the same as Danke, Bitte is the safest and most common way to respond to someone expressing their gratitude. Once you begin to discover the German inside jokes, you’ll see that there’s one going around about Bitte being the perfect answer for everything in German (hahaha – I know).

The 16 Best Ways to Say Thank You in German | Mondly Blog (3)

  • Bitte — You’re welcome
  • Bitte schön / Bitte sehr — You’re very welcome
  • Kein Problem — No problem
  • Nichts zu danken — Nothing to thank for
  • Gern geschehen / Gerne — Done gladly(more common than the English translation)
  • Jederzeit — Anytime

Well. This is it! This is how to say thank you in German. Bookmark this article and make sure you use the right thanks at the right moment from now on.

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Curious about how other languages express their gratitude? Here’s how to say thank you in 30 different languages.

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FAQs

How do you respond in German to thank you? ›

When someone says danke, the standard response is bitte. This normally means 'please', but within the context of responding to a 'thank you', it means 'you're welcome'. If instead they say danke schön, then you should reply by saying bitte schön.

How do Germans show gratitude? ›

Sehr aufmerksam expresses gratitude in German without thanks

In the German phrase sehr aufmerksam, danke or thanks is implied rather than stated. It means “you're very kind” and extends a compliment as courtesy instead of the habitual response you may have grown accustomed to.

How do you say thank you in 15 different languages? ›

Thank You in Different Languages
  1. French = merci.
  2. Spanish = gracias.
  3. German = danke.
  4. Italian = grazie.
  5. Portuguese = obrigado.
  6. Farsi/Persian = mam'noon.
  7. Hindi/Indian = dhanyavaad.
  8. Chinese = xièxiè

What is Bitte Schon mean? ›

Interjection. bitte schön. (commonly said in answer to danke schön (“thank you very much”); usually not translated into English) don't mention it, not at all, you're welcome. (commonly said when offering or returning something; usually not translated into English) would you like?, here you are, thank you.

Why do Germans say Bitte Schon? ›

Bitteschön is just the logical counterpart of Dankeschön which has derived as short form from Ich danke dir/euch schön, and that means I thank you very much. Schön is an adverb here in the sense of very. Schön is a typical form of politeness.

What can Germans be proud of? ›

12 Things Germans Can Be Proud Of
  • Our education system. It's free. ...
  • Being straightforward. Germans don't like to beat around the bush or try to make small talk before getting to the point. ...
  • Beer. ...
  • Our recycling system. ...
  • Bread. ...
  • Feierabend. ...
  • Our public transport system. ...
  • Curing headaches.

How does Germany show respect? ›

Germans value order, privacy and punctuality. They are thrifty, hard working and industrious. Germans respect perfectionism in all areas of business and private life. In Germany, there is a sense of community and social conscience and strong desire for belonging.

How do Germans express happiness? ›

Two Words. German Words of the Day: froh and glücklich. Both of these German words essentially express happiness, with some subtle differences: The word froh expresses a somewhat more temporary gladness or relief.

How do you say thank you in 100 different ways? ›

100 Translations for Thank You
  1. Afrikaans: Dankie.
  2. Albanian: ju faleminderit.
  3. Algerian: faleminderit.
  4. Arabic: شكرا
  5. Aragonese : Grazias.
  6. Armenian: Շնորհակալություն
  7. Azerbaijani: Sağ ol.
  8. Basque: eskerrik asko.

What language has the longest thank you? ›

“Thank you… I mean, Salamat!”
...
How to Say “Thank You” in 100 of the World's Most Spoken Languages.
1.2.
MandarinSpanish
xièxiegracias
China, Taiwan, SingaporeHispanic America, Spain, United States, Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara, Pacific islands
7 more columns
8 Aug 2019

What is a fancy way to say thank you? ›

I sincerely appreciate your help. A formal way to express appreciation for someone's help. Please accept my deepest thanks.

Which country says thank you the most? ›

Researchers analysed interactions between local people speaking a total of eight languages across five continents and discovered that Brits do in fact say "thank you" more than anyone else.

What is Bitte sehr? ›

-Bitte sehr! (-Thank you.) -You're welcome!

What is a Schone? ›

Noun. schone m or f (plural schonen, diminutive schoontje n ) A beauty, beau/belle.

Is Bitte sorry? ›

The German word bitte means so much more than “please” or “you're welcome.” In some ways, it's a go-to word like “pardon.”

Can Bitte mean Excuse me? ›

You can also use bitte as a question to mean “Pardon?” or “Excuse me?” in a situation where you perhaps didn't hear or understand what someone said.

Is there a German word for sorry? ›

A simple sorry is enough to acknowledge the mistake. In German, you can say “Entschuldigung” or use the more informal abbreviation “'Tschuldigung”. The English word “Sorry” works, too. You'll hear it a lot, especially among younger people.

How do you respond to Willkommen? ›

“Du bist willkommen” means 'It's good to have you here'. The best answer to the thank would be “keine Ursache” ('don't mention it'), in northern dialect also the cute “da nich für”.

What is German weakness? ›

German weaknesses

These were: the lack of productivity of its war economy, the weak supply lines, the start of a war on two fronts, and the lack of strong leadership.

What do Germans call Germany? ›

Not to be forgotten, the exonym Germans use is Deutschland. Just like with words, names evolve over time. Germany, for example, was called Germany by its inhabitants long before the country was united and began to call itself Deutschland.

Do Germans prefer eye contact? ›

In Germany, it's considered polite to maintain eye contact almost all the time while talking to another person. This is especially important during business meetings. Eye contact is a sign of attentiveness, and you don't need to be afraid of threatening someone with this.

How do Germans greet each other? ›

The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.

What is the coolest German word? ›

10 beautiful and memorable German words
  1. Sehnsucht. Amid different definitions, which vary from yearning, desire and/or craving, Sehnsucht is a feeling of longing for something unknown and indefinite. ...
  2. Weltschmerz. ...
  3. Torschlusspanik. ...
  4. Fernweh. ...
  5. Zweisamkeit. ...
  6. Backpfeifengesicht. ...
  7. Feierabend. ...
  8. Reisefieber.
9 Feb 2021

What is the most famous German saying? ›

1: “Ich kriege so eine Krawatte

And it comes from the pressure you feel in your throat when you get so angry you could scream. Germans use this saying when they find something makes them really angry.

What are some famous German sayings? ›

10 German expressions everyone should know
  • “Das ist mir Wurst”
  • “Nur Bahnhof verstehen”
  • “Jemandem die Daumen drücken”
  • “Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift”
  • “Ich glaub' ich spinne”
  • “Fix und fertig sein”
  • “Na?”
  • “Bock haben”
26 Oct 2022

How do you say thank you in 10 different ways? ›

Show Your Appreciation With 25 Other Ways To Say “Thank You”
  1. I'm so grateful.
  2. I appreciate it.
  3. Thanks for your hard work on this.
  4. I couldn't have done it without you.
  5. I owe you one.
  6. Much obliged.
  7. Thanks for having my back.
  8. Please accept my deepest gratitude.
9 Dec 2021

How do you say thank you all professionally? ›

Thank you for your consideration
  1. Thank you for considering my request.
  2. I appreciate your taking the time to consider my application.
  3. My deepest thanks for your consideration.
  4. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.
  5. I am truly grateful for your consideration.
  6. My thanks and appreciation for your consideration.
10 Mar 2022

How do you say goodbye in 20 different languages? ›

How To Say Goodbye In Different Languages
  1. Spanish = Adios.
  2. Italian = Arrivederci.
  3. French = Au Revoir.
  4. Portuguese = Adeus.
  5. German = Auf Wiedersehen.
  6. Japanese = Sayōnara.
  7. Russian = Do svidaniya.
  8. Korean = Annyeong.

How do you say thank you meaningfully? ›

Examples:
  1. Thank you again, I really appreciate working with you.
  2. Even though I may not say it all the time, I appreciate all you do.
  3. Thank you again for your support, it made a real difference for me.
  4. Thank you for all that you do.
  5. Thank you!
17 Nov 2021

How do you say hello in 21 languages? ›

How To Say Hello In Different Languages: 21 Ways To Greet The World
  1. French. Formal: Bonjour. Informal: Salut.
  2. Spanish. Formal: Hola. Informal: ¿Qué tal? (What's up?)
  3. Russian. Formal: Zdravstvuyte. ...
  4. Chinese. Formal: Nǐn hǎo. ...
  5. Italian. Formal: Salve. ...
  6. Japanese. Formal: Konnichiwa. ...
  7. German. Formal: Guten Tag. ...
  8. Portuguese. Formal: Olá
5 Jul 2017

What is the most spoken language in the world 20222? ›

Online language tool Babbel reports that English is the most spoken language in the world, with a number of speakers totaling more than 1.4 billion in 2022, according to Statistic & Data. This combines both native and non-native speakers.

How do you say hello in 25 different languages? ›

  1. Hello (English)
  2. Ahoj (Czech)
  3. Halo (Indonesian)
  4. Cześć (Polish)
  5. Hej (Danish)
  6. Merhaba (Turkish)
  7. Yassas (Greek)
  8. Ciao (Italian)

What is the longest Germany word? ›

The longest word in the standard German dictionary is Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung – which is the word for motor vehicle liability insurance. But at 36 letters, it's rather puny. Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften, a touch longer at 39 letters, is the language's longest non-dictionary word.

What is the current longest German word? ›

1. Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung (36) Officially recognised by the Duden - Germany's pre-eminent dictionary - as the longest word in German, Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung is a 36-letter, tongue-tying way of describing a rather, mundane everyday concept: motor vehicle liability insurance.

What word has over 100000 letters? ›

pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

It's a technical word referring to the lung disease more commonly known as silicosis.

How do you say thank you without sounding cheesy? ›

Therefore, let's learn the following ways to say 'thank you'!
  1. Thanks a million/ Thanks a bunch. Thanks a million, you have helped me so much!
  2. I really appreciate it. ...
  3. That means a lot to me. ...
  4. That's really kind of you. ...
  5. I don't know what to say. ...
  6. You shouldn't have. ...
  7. I owe you one. ...
  8. I couldn't have done it without you.
23 Nov 2020

How do you say thank you in short form? ›

THX (abbreviation) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary.

What culture does not say thank you? ›

Given how often Americans say “thanks,” it might be surprising to know that in several other cultures around the world, people rarely say “thank you.” In many cultures in South and Southeast Asia, including in India, where the expression in Hindi is “धन्यवाद,” spelled out as “dhanyavaad” in English.

How do you appreciate someone in German? ›

Vielen Dank!

Do you know that moment when you are really grateful to someone because they helped you a lot? Well, that's the perfect moment to thank them in German using “Vielen Dank!”.

What is the correct response to Danke Schoen? ›

Often you will hear people respond with "Bitte sehr" when you say "Danke schön" to them. It can be "Bitte sehr" or "Bitte schön," and the meanings are nearly identical, as the first phrase literally means "well pleased" and the second means "nicely pleased." They also frequently use the abbreviation "Bitte."

What is the correct respond to thank you? ›

To respond to "Thank you," try a simple "You're welcome." If you're looking for something more creative or unique, you could say "I know you'd do the same for me" or "It's no problem at all." If you're in a really casual setting, you could just reply "anytime" or "glad to help." For more formal situations, like ...

How do you respond to Guten Morgen? ›

Very often people just reply with the same thing that has been said to them. Guten Morgen, Franz! – Guten Morgen, Helmut! Good morning, Franz!

What is Bitte Danke? ›

“Bitte” can mean “please” but may also mean “you're welcome”. Other words that can make you sound more polite include “danke” which means thank you and “gern” or “gerne” which translates to gladly or with pleasure. “Entschuldigung” is also a very useful word which means excuse me or I'm sorry.

How do you answer Willkommen? ›

“Du bist willkommen” means 'It's good to have you here'. The best answer to the thank would be “keine Ursache” ('don't mention it'), in northern dialect also the cute “da nich für”.

Is Bitte Schon formal? ›

Bitte schön (“You're very welcome”)

So where Bitte sehr is “very welcome”, Bitte schön is something like “nicely welcome” (which isn't really something you would say in English, but it is meant to convey a particularly polite or kind quality to the welcome). It is at the same formality level as Bitte sehr.

Can Bitte mean thank you? ›

Since we are here, let's also see how you can respond if someone says thank you in German. Generally, the same as Danke, Bitte is the safest and most common way to respond to someone expressing their gratitude.

How do Germans greet their friends? ›

The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.

How do Germans greet and say goodbye? ›

The formal “you” in German is always capitalized: Sie. (When spelled with a lowercase s, sie can mean “she” or “they”). Sie can be used to formally address one or more people. You would pair Sie with more formal greetings and farewells — such as Guten Tag (Hello/Good day) or Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye).

What does Bita Bita mean in German? ›

We say “Bitte” (Please).

The German word bitte means so much more than “please” or “you're welcome.” In some ways, it's a go-to word like “pardon.”

What Wie Gehts means? ›

German phrase

: how goes it? : how is it going? used as a greeting.

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