German · Greetings & Essentials
"You're welcome" in German: bitte / gern geschehen
bitte / gern geschehen
You're welcome in German is bitte or gern geschehen. After Danke, bitte is the short everyday reply. Gern geschehen sounds a touch warmer. Kein Problem is casual.
Holding a door
Danke! — Bitte!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bitte / gern geschehen
Say it
BIT-tuh / GAIRN guh-SHEH-en
/ˈbɪtə/, /ɡɛrn ɡəˈʃeːən/
BIT-tuh for bitte; GAIRN guh-SHEH-en for gern geschehen.
"You're welcome" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bitte | you're welcome / please Short reply to Danke. | Short reply to Danke. |
| gern geschehen | you're welcome Warm, slightly fuller reply. | Warm, slightly fuller reply. |
| gerne | gladly / you're welcome Very common short form. | Very common short form. |
| kein Problem | no problem Casual. | Casual. |
How to use bitte / gern geschehen in real life
- 1Holding a door
Danke! — Bitte!
Thanks! — You're welcome!
Bitte alone is enough.
- 2After helping move a box
Gern geschehen. Ruf einfach an.
You're welcome. Just call.
Gern geschehen after a real favor.
- 3Cafe counter
Danke für den Kaffee. — Bitte schön!
Thanks for the coffee. — You're welcome!
Bitte schön softens service replies.
Mistakes English speakers make with bitte / gern geschehen
Incorrect: Danke! — Willkommen!
Correct: Danke! — Bitte! / Gern geschehen!
Willkommen means welcome as in arrival, not you're welcome after thanks.
Incorrect: You are welcome! (in German chat)
Correct: Bitte! / Gern geschehen!
Answer thanks in German with bitte or gern geschehen.
Good to know
Bitte is a multitasker: please, here you go, and you're welcome. After Danke, a quick Bitte! is normal and not cold. Save gern geschehen for when someone really helped you.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Borrowing a charger
ChatPal
Hier, nimm mein Ladekabel.
Here, take my charger cable.
You
Danke, du rettest mich!
Thanks, you're saving me!
ChatPal
Gern geschehen. Ruf einfach an, wenn du Hilfe brauchst.
You're welcome. Just call if you need help.
You
Danke nochmal — und bitte, behalt mein Essen warm.
Thanks again — and please, keep my food warm.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"You're welcome" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "You're welcome" in German
Is bitte or gern geschehen better?
Bitte is the default. Gern geschehen feels a bit warmer after a favor.
Can bitte mean please too?
Yes. Context decides: before a request it is please; after thanks it is you're welcome.
What about bitte schön?
A friendly service version of bitte.
How do you say no problem?
Kein Problem or alles gut.
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
