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
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 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:
2. Best Of Thanks!
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
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
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
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
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…
You would use this when being specific in your thanks. Here are some examples:
8. Thank You Very Much
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
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
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.
Respond To Thank You In German With These Phrases
You can’t learn how to say thank you in German without realizing how to say you’re welcome! So here you go:
| English | German | Pronunciation |
| You’re welcome | Bitte schön/Bitte sehr | / |
| My pleasure | Gern geschehen | |
| No Problem | Keine Ursache/Kein Problem | / |
| Oh it’s Nothing | Nichts zu danken! |
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.
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.
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