German · Greetings & Essentials
"No, thank you" in German: nein, danke
nein, danke
No thank you in German is nein, danke. It is the polite way to refuse as snack or drink. Soften with lieber nicht if you want.
Offered cake
Nein, danke—ich bin satt.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nein, danke
Say it
NINE DAHN-kuh
/naɪn ˈdaŋkə/
NINE DAHN-kuh. Nein has eye diphthong; danke as usual DAHN-kuh.
"No, thank you" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nein, danke | no thank you Polite refusal. | Polite refusal. |
| nein danke | no thanks Same, without comma in casual writing. | Same, without comma in casual writing. |
| lieber nicht | I'd rather not Softer decline. | Softer decline. |
| heute nicht, danke | not today, thanks Time-limited no. | Time-limited no. |
How to use nein, danke in real life
- 1Offered cake
Nein, danke—ich bin satt.
No thank you—I'm full.
Full phrase as refusal.
- 2Street flyer
Nein, danke, ich brauche nichts.
No thank you, I don't need anything.
Clear but polite.
- 3Second helping
Noch etwas? — Nein, danke!
Anything else? — No thank you!
Short reply works.
Mistakes English speakers make with nein, danke
Incorrect: Nein danke Sie
Correct: Nein, danke
Don't add Sie to this set phrase.
Incorrect: No thanks auf Deutsch: nein thanks
Correct: nein, danke
Keep both German words.
Good to know
A short nein, danke is not rude in shops—Germans prefer clear refusals. Smiling helps; long excuses are optional.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
At a bakery counter
ChatPal
Willst du noch ein Stück Kuchen?
Do you want another piece of cake?
You
Nein, danke. Ich bin wirklich satt.
No thank you. I'm really full.
ChatPal
Und Kaffee? Oder nein, danke auch?
And coffee? Or no thank you to that too?
You
Kaffee ja—aber Kuchen nein, danke.
Coffee yes—but cake no thank you.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"No, thank you" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "No, thank you" in German
Is nein, danke rude?
No. It is the normal polite refusal.
Can I say just nein?
Yes, but nein, danke softens it.
How do you refuse more gently?
Lieber nicht, or heute nicht, danke.
Do I need a comma?
In careful writing: Nein, danke.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
