Thank You In German: 18+ Remarkable Ways

You’re off to Germany! While visiting, you’ll find it useful to know some German language to help you get by. Knowing how to say thank you in German and other polite phrases will help you make a good first impression as Germans are big on pleasantries. Having some other common terms in your pocket will help too!

Ling App is an essential tool to have with you in your pocket as you explore Germany. We have also have useful articles such as how to introduce yourself in German when you meet some new friends and information about how to read and say time and dates in German.

However, this article is about how to say ‘thank you,’ ‘no, thank you,’ and ‘you’re welcome’ in formal and informal situations in German. Click the blue button beside each phrase to hear the proper pronunciation.

Let’s begin! How do you say thank you in German?

 

How To Say “Thank You” In Informal Situations

Thank You In German

These ways to thank you in German are ideal to use during informal situations, for example, when talking with close friends, co-workers, and family.

1. Thanks/Thank you

  • Danke [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Danke[/Speechword]

Danke is the equivalent of “thanks/thank you” in German and is the most popular way to give thanks. It’s a good “thank you” to use with friends, family, and strangers. Here are a few ways you can use it:

EnglishGermanPronunciation
Thanks for the chocolate!Danke für die Schokolade![Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke für die Schokolade![/Speechword]
You were a big help thanks!Sie waren eine große hilfe danke![Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Sie waren eine große hilfe danke![/Speechword]
Thanks same to you!Danke gleichfalls![Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke gleichfalls![/Speechword]
Thanks again!Danke nochmals![Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke nochmals![/Speechword]
Thanks anyway!Trotzdem danke![Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Trotzdem danke![/Speechword]
I thank you (singular informal)Ich danke dir[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Ich danke dir[/Speechword]

2. Best Of Thanks!

  • Besten Dank [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Besten Dank [[/Speechword]

You would use this phrase when thanking someone for holding the door open for you, for holding the elevator, or for similar small things.

3. I’m Thankful To You

  • Ich bin dir dankbar [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Ich bin dir dankbar [[/Speechword]

This phrase is used when speaking only to one person. You might say this privately to someone who has helped you with a work presentation or has been there emotionally for you during a difficult time. However, you can use it in lighter situations too!

4. I’m Thankful To You all

  • Ich bin euch dankbar [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Ich bin euch dankbar[/Speechword]

This is almost the same as the phrase above but is meant to be said to many people simultaneously. It can be used over dinner with friends or family. You can also say this phrase at weddings or after a speech or presentation.

5. Many Thanks

  • Vielen Dank [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Vielen Dank[/Speechword]

An informal way of saying thank you in passing is Vielen Dank. You may use this with a rideshare driver, someone who lets you go ahead in a line, or say this to your waiter or waitress at a restaurant.

6. Thanks a Million

  • Tausend Dank [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Tausend Dank[/Speechword]

This phrase literally translates to “a thousand thanks.” You would use this to express gratitude to someone who has gone out of their way to help you or has done a lot to make your life easier.

7. Thank You For…

  • Danke für… [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Danke für[/Speechword]

You would use this when being specific in your thanks. Here are some examples:

EnglishGermanPronunciation
Thank you for helping me with my presentationVielen Dank dass Sie mir bei meiner Präsentation geholfen haben[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Vielen Dank dass Sie mir bei meiner Präsentation geholfen haben[/Speechword]
Thank you for you hard workVielen Dank für Ihre harte Arbeit[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Vielen Dank für Ihre harte Arbeit[/Speechword]
Thank you for supporting meDanke für die Unterstützung[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke für die Unterstützung[/Speechword]
Thanks for your helpDanke für Ihre Hilfe[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke für Ihre Hilfe[/Speechword]
Thank you for your attentionDanke für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit[/Speechword]
Thank you for your supportDanke für Ihre Unterstützung[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke für Ihre Unterstützung[/Speechword]
Thank you very much for your invitationHerzlichen Dank für Ihre Einladung[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Herzlichen Dank für Ihre Einladung[/Speechword]
Thank you very much for callingVielen herzlichen Dank für Ihren Anruf[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihren Anruf[/Speechword]
Thank you for the beautiful giftIch danke Ihnen für das schöne Geschenk[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Ich danke Ihnen für das schöne Geschenk[/Speechword]
Thank you for the wonderful timeIch danke Ihnen für die schöne Zeit[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Ich danke Ihnen für die schöne Zeit[/Speechword]
Thank you for the nice eveningIch danke Ihnen für den schönen Abend[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Ich danke Ihnen für den schönen Abend[/Speechword]

8. Thank You Very Much

  • Danke schön [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Danke schön[/Speechword]

There are actually two ways to say ‘thank you very much.’ Danke schön is more widely used in an informal setting.

 

How to Say “Thank You” In German In A Formal Situation

Thank You In German

When would you use the formal ways to say thank you in German? Well, let’s take a look:

  • With someone older than you.
  • With someone who has a higher “authority” position.
  • During formal activities such as a funeral, wedding, office party, or business function.
  • If you’re the host of a special event or meeting.

Also important to note are pronouns. Sometimes pronouns in German change according to the situation, so definitely check those out.

Thank You Very Much

  • Danke sehr [Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinline]Danke sehr [/Speechword]

As mentioned above, there are two ways to say ‘thank you very much’ in German. Danke sehr is the more formal because sehr means very, so essentially, you are saying ‘thank you very, very much.’

Here are other formal ways to say thank you in German. You would use it to express heartfelt or deep thanks to a group of people or one-on-one in meaningful situations.

EnglishGermanPronunciation
Have many thanksHaben Sie vielen dank[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Haben Sie vielen Dank[/Speechword]
I’m thankful to you.Ich bin Ihnen dankbar.[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Ich bin Ihnen dankbar[/Speechword]
Many thanks for allVielen dank für alles[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Vielen Dank für alles[/Speechword]
Thanks a lotVielen dank/Danke vielmals[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]vielen Dank[/Speechword]/[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke vielmals[/Speechword]
Best thanksBesten dank[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Besten Dank[/Speechword]
Heartfelt thanksHerzlichen dank[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Herzlichen Dank[/Speechword]
I am thankful.Ich bin dankbar.[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]
Ich bin dankbar[/Speechword]
I thank youIch danke Ihnen[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Ich danke Ihnen[/Speechword]
We are very thankful for your help.Wir sind sehr dankbar für deine Hilfe.[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Dankbar Wir sind sehr dankbar für deine Hilfe[/Speechword]

 

Respond To Thank You In German With These Phrases

Thank You In German

You can’t learn how to say thank you in German without realizing how to say you’re welcome! So here you go:

EnglishGermanPronunciation
You’re welcomeBitte schön/Bitte sehr[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]bitte schön[/Speechword]/[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]bitte sehr[/Speechword]
My pleasureGern geschehen[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Gern geschehen[/Speechword]
No ProblemKeine Ursache/Kein Problem[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Keine Ursache[/Speechword]/[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Kein Problem[/Speechword]
Oh it’s NothingNichts zu danken![Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Nichts zu danken![/Speechword]

 

How Do You Say No Thank You In German?

Knowing how to politely decline something is equally important as knowing how to say thanks. By saying Nein, danke, you are being polite by acknowledging the person trying to sell or offer you something while simultaneously saying you don’t want it.

EnglishGermanPronunciation
No thanksNein, danke[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Nein, danke[/Speechword]
Thanks, but I’m fineDanke, gut[Speechword voice=”Deutsch Male” isinlined]Danke, gut[/Speechword]

 

Vielen Dank für das Lesen!

Thank you for reading this! We hope you learned a lot. Learning a foreign language isn’t easy, but Ling would love to help you speak German fluently.

On your path to learning German, Ling will be your best friend. Learning a new language might be difficult, but Ling App makes it simple! We’d love more than anything for you to make some German friends and the fastest way to do that is to show interest in learning their language.

Learn German with Ling

Ling is a popular language app with over 10 million downloads. It offers German, which is just one of over 60 languages offered.

You’ll also get reading and speaking practice by talking with our patented chatbot, which uses AI technology to simulate a real-life conversation.

Undoubtedly though, the best thing about Ling is its intuitive SRS flashcards. The flashcards adapt to your needs and are proven to increase your long-term memory.

And finally, Ling also has writing practice. We have an interactive whiteboard that allows you to write the letters of the alphabet on your device!

Here at Ling, we also strive to make learning fun! Head over to check it out and learn even more German language skills.

Download Ling today and start speaking confidently in German!

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