German · Greetings & Essentials
"Thank you" in German: danke
danke
Germans say danke for thank you in almost every situation. Add schön for a warmer tone, or use vielen Dank when you want extra politeness. After someone thanks you, reply with Bitte or Gerne.
At a café
Danke, das war sehr nett von dir!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce danke
Say it
DAHN-kuh
/ˈdaŋkə/
DAHN-kuh. The a is open, like "father", and the e at the end is a soft uh. Stress falls on the first syllable.
"Thank you" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| danke | thank you, thanks The everyday default with friends, shops, and strangers. | The everyday default with friends, shops, and strangers. |
| Danke schön | thank you kindly Warmer and a little more polite than plain danke. | Warmer and a little more polite than plain danke. |
| vielen Dank | many thanks Slightly more formal; common in emails and with strangers. | Slightly more formal; common in emails and with strangers. |
| Dankeschön | thank you One-word form of Danke schön, very common in speech. | One-word form of Danke schön, very common in speech. |
| herzlichen Dank | heartfelt thanks Strong gratitude, for bigger favors or gifts. | Strong gratitude, for bigger favors or gifts. |
How to use danke in real life
- 1At a café
Danke, das war sehr nett von dir!
Thanks, that was really kind of you!
With friends use dir; with strangers switch to Ihnen and Sie.
- 2Receiving a parcel
Danke für die schnelle Lieferung!
Thanks for the fast delivery!
Plain danke works in messages; vielen Dank is a more formal option.
- 3After a meal
Danke schön fürs Kochen!
Thank you so much for cooking!
Fürs is für das shortened. Common and natural in speech.
Mistakes English speakers make with danke
Incorrect: Danke dir. (to a stranger)
Correct: Danke!
Plain Danke works with anyone. Danke dir is fine with friends; with strangers prefer Danke or Vielen Dank.
Incorrect: Bitte danke.
Correct: Danke!
Bitte means please or you're welcome. Don't stack it before danke.
Good to know
After danke, Germans often answer Bitte, Gerne, or Kein Problem. Bitte here means "you're welcome", not "please". In shops you will hear Danke and Bitte exchanged many times in one short purchase.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A friend hands you a coffee in a park
ChatPal
Hier, ich habe dir einen Kaffee mitgebracht.
Here, I brought you a coffee.
You
Oh, danke! Das ist total lieb von dir.
Oh, thanks! That's really sweet of you.
ChatPal
Gerne! Und danke, dass du heute Zeit hattest.
Gladly! And thanks for having time today.
You
Immer wieder. Danke schön nochmal!
Anytime. Thanks again!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Thank you" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Thank you" in German
What is the difference between danke and Danke schön?
Danke is the short everyday form. Danke schön or Dankeschön adds warmth. Both are polite; schön just softens the tone.
How do you reply when someone says danke?
Say Bitte, Gerne, or Kein Problem. Bitte here means you're welcome. In more formal settings, Gern geschehen also works.
Is vielen Dank more formal than danke?
A little. Vielen Dank sounds slightly more careful and fits emails, service staff, and people you don't know well. Friends usually stick to danke.
Can you say danke to mean no thanks?
Yes. Nein, danke means no thank you. Alone, Danke? with a rising voice can also politely refuse something offered.
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
