How to Say Thank You in German
Learn how to say thank you in German. 'Danke' is the everyday word, but German has many levels of gratitude. Pronunciation guide + formal, informal, and emphatic thank-you phrases.
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Quick answer
To say thank you in German, say 'Danke' (DANK-uh). For more emphasis, say 'Danke schön' (DANK-uh shurn) — 'thank you beautifully/nicely.' For maximum formality or deep gratitude, say 'Vielen Dank' (FEE-len DAHNK) — 'many thanks.' The most emphatic: 'Herzlichen Dank' (HAIRTS-likh-en DAHNK) — 'heartfelt thanks.'
Danke
/DANK-uh/ — German
How to Say Thank You in German
German gratitude comes in multiple levels of warmth and formality — from the quick Danke to the heartfelt Herzlichen Dank. Knowing which to use shows cultural fluency.
The Core Word: Danke
Danke — pronounced DANK-uh
This is your everyday thank-you. Short, clear, universally appropriate. The ‘a’ is short (like the ‘u’ in “dunk,” not the ‘a’ in “day”), and the final ‘e’ is a light, unstressed schwa sound.
Copy the Phrase
The German word for “thank you” is Danke (DANK-uh) or Danke schön (DANK-uh shurn).
All Levels of German Thanks
| German | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danke | DANK-uh | Thanks | Everyday, casual |
| Danke schön | DANK-uh shurn | Thank you nicely | Warm everyday thanks |
| Danke sehr | DANK-uh zair | Thank you very much | More emphatic than schön |
| Vielen Dank | FEE-len DAHNK | Many thanks | Formal, professional |
| Herzlichen Dank | HAIRTS-likh-en DAHNK | Heartfelt thanks | Deep gratitude |
| Tausend Dank | TOW-zend DAHNK | A thousand thanks | Enthusiastic, friendly |
| Ich danke Ihnen | ikh DANK-uh EE-nen | I thank you (formal) | Formal with Sie form |
| Ich danke dir | ikh DANK-uh deer | I thank you (informal) | Personal, warm |
How to Say You’re Welcome in German
| German | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bitte | BIT-uh | You’re welcome / Please |
| Bitte schön | BIT-uh shurn | You’re very welcome |
| Gern geschehen | GAIRN guh-SHAY-en | My pleasure (gladly done) |
| Kein Problem | kyne pro-BLAYM | No problem |
| Nichts zu danken | nikhts tsoo DANK-en | Don’t mention it |
| Selbstverständlich | ZELPST-fer-SHTENDT-likh | Of course (implies it was obvious) |
The Ö Umlaut in Schön
“Schön” contains the ö umlaut — one of the three special German vowels (ä, ö, ü). To produce the ö sound:
- Shape your lips as if to say the English “o” (round them)
- While keeping lips rounded, try to say the English “e” (as in “see”)
- The resulting sound is ö — like “ur” in British “burn” or “er” in “her”
This is the same sound in words like hören (to hear), schön (beautiful), zwölf (twelve).
Written German: Email and Letters
In professional German correspondence, the thank-you phrase appears constantly:
- Vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail — Many thanks for your email
- Vielen Dank für Ihre schnelle Antwort — Many thanks for your quick reply
- Herzlichen Dank für Ihre Hilfe — Heartfelt thanks for your help
- Mit freundlichen Grüßen — With friendly greetings (standard formal sign-off, equivalent to “Best regards”)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Danke schön?
'Danke schön' is pronounced DANK-uh shurn. 'Danke' (DANK-uh): the 'a' is short as in 'dunk,' the final 'e' is an unstressed schwa (uh). 'Schön' (shurn): 'sch' = 'sh'; 'ö' is the umlaut — round your lips as if to say 'o' but try to say 'e' — the resulting sound is like the 'u' in 'burn' or 'er' in British English. It's one of the most well-known German words in the world.
What is the difference between Danke and Danke schön?
'Danke' = 'thanks' — the everyday casual word. 'Danke schön' = 'thank you very much' — slightly more warm and emphatic. 'Schön' means 'beautiful' or 'nicely' — so Danke schön literally means 'thank you beautifully.' It's like the difference between 'thanks' and 'thanks very much' — both casual, the second warmer. In everyday German conversation, both are used constantly.
How do you respond to Danke in German?
The most common responses: 'Bitte' (BIT-uh) — the standard 'you're welcome,' also means 'please'; 'Bitte schön' (BIT-uh shurn) — 'you're very welcome'; 'Kein Problem' (kyne pro-BLAYM) — 'no problem'; 'Nichts zu danken' (nikhts tsoo DANK-en) — 'nothing to thank for' (nothing of it); 'Gern geschehen' (GAIRN guh-SHAY-en) — 'gladly done' (my pleasure).
What does 'Vielen Dank' mean?
'Vielen Dank' means 'many thanks' — the formal, emphatic equivalent of 'thank you very much.' 'Vielen' = many; 'Dank' = thanks. Used in professional emails, formal settings, and when you want to express substantial gratitude. Often written in business correspondence as 'Vielen Dank für Ihre...' (Many thanks for your...).
How do Germans say thanks casually?
Beyond 'Danke,' casual German thanks: 'Danke dir' (thanks to you — adds warmth), 'Dankeschön' (written as one word, same as schön), 'Merci' (borrowed from French, used in Germany especially in South Germany and Switzerland), 'Cheers' (young Germans sometimes borrow English informally). In Swiss German: 'Merci vilmal' (merci sehr viel — merci many times).