German · Real conversations
How to respond to “Viel Glück!” in German
A good-luck wish offers encouragement before an event. Acknowledge it and, if you want, offer a later update.
What you might hear
Viel Glück!
Good luck!
Choose a reply that fits
Danke. Ich gebe mein Bestes.
Thank you. I'll do my best.
Accept the encouragement and state your intention.
Danke, das kann ich gebrauchen.
Thanks, I need it.
A light informal acknowledgment.
Ich sage dir, wie es gelaufen ist.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Offer to share the outcome later.
Danke für die Ermutigung.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank the person for their support.
Two short exchanges
Before an important event
Viel Glück!
Good luck!
Danke. Ich gebe mein Bestes.
Thank you. I'll do my best.
Before an exam
Viel Glück bei deiner Prüfung!
Good luck with your exam!
Danke, das kann ich gebrauchen.
Thanks, I need it.
Your turn
Offer to tell the person how the event goes.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich sage dir, wie es gelaufen ist.
I'll let you know how it goes.
This response guide in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
