Politeness is an essential part of communication in any language, and German is no exception. Whether you're ordering food, asking for directions, or writing an email, knowing how to say 'please' and 'thank you' correctly is vital. In this guide, we’ll explore different ways to express gratitude and politeness in German, from everyday phrases to more formal expressions.
1. How to Say ‘Please’ in German
The Standard Way: ‘Bitte’
The word 'bitte' is the most common translation for 'please' in German and the standard response to “danke”. As with “danke”, it can be combined with “schön” and “sehr” to add an extra layer of politeness and formality. However, “bitte” can also be used in other contexts. If you politely want to ask someone to repeat themselves, ask “wie bitte?” (excuse me). In response to someone offering you something, say “bitte” to accept their offer. So it can be used in many different situations:
Kann ich bitte ein Glas Wasser haben? → Can I have a glass of water, please?
Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? → Could you help me, please?
Using 'Bitte' for Offers and Requests
‘Bitte’ is also used when offering something to someone:
Here is your coffee! – Thanks! – You’re welcome!
Hier ist Ihr Kaffee! - Danke! - Bitte!
In formal situations, you can make a request sound even more polite by adding ‘sehr’ or ‘schön’:
Könnten Sie mir bitte sehr helfen? → Could you help me, please?
Darf ich bitte schön bezahlen? → May I kindly pay?
Using 'You’re Welcome'
If you are grateful for a favour you're receiving, the other person may respond with "bitte" or "gern geschehen" – (my pleasure). It's a polite way to accept gratitude.
Using 'No Problem'
A common response to a “thank you” in English is “no problem!” or "no worries". The same expression exists in German, where people say "kein Problem!" or "keine Ursache". Slightly less common nowadays, but communicating the same idea is "nichts zu danken!" (which is like the English "don't mention it!").
Alternative Phrases for ‘Please’
If you want to sound extra polite or change up your vocabulary, here are some variations:
‘Seien Sie so nett und…’ → Be so kind and…
Seien Sie so nett und bringen Sie mir die Speisekarte.
(Be so kind and bring me the menu.)
Wären Sie so freundlich, mir die Tür aufzuhalten?
(Would you be so kind as to hold the door for me?)
2. How to Say ‘Thank You’ in German
The Standard Ways: ‘Danke’ and ‘Danke schön’
‘Danke’ is the most common and simple way to say ‘thank you’ in German. It is the conjugated form of the verb “danken”(to thank) and is used with the -e ending as the short form of saying “I thank you” (Ich danke dir/Ihnen). “Danke” can be used in formal as well as informal settings alike. Be careful, though, as it is a verb that goes with the dative case. So if you want to say I thank you, you have to say “danke dir” in informal or “danke Ihnen”. To make it sound a little more polite or warm, you can use:
Danke schön! → Thank you very much!
Danke sehr! → Many thanks!
Example:
Danke schön für Ihre Hilfe! → Thank you very much for your help!
Danke schön is a very common combination of the verb “danken” and the adjective “schön”, which translates as “beautiful” or “pretty”. It is a slightly more emphatic way of saying “thank you”. “Dankeschön” also exists as a noun and is often used as a gesture of gratitude in form of a present.
Danke sehr can be used interchangeably with danke schön, but is more formal than the latter. The adverb “very” adds emphasis and makes your gratitude sound more polite.
Saying ‘Thank You Very Much’
If you want to emphasize your gratitude, try:
Vielen Dank! → Many thanks!
Herzlichen Dank! → Heartfelt thanks!
Tausend Dank! → A thousand thanks!
Ich danke Ihnen sehr! → I thank you very much!
These phrases are useful in formal or professional settings.
Example:
Ich danke Ihnen herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung.(I sincerely thank you for your support.)
Vielen Dank is used in situations when a simple “danke” wouldn’t be enough to convey one’s gratitude. “Dank” is a masculine noun, while “viel” can be either an adverb or an adjective. In the phrase “vielen Dank”, it is used as an adjective. The reason why it has the -en ending is that the phrase is short for “Ich schulde dir/Ihnen vielen Dank” (I owe you many thanks), so it is used in the accusative case.
Using other phrases
Thanks a million
While in English, you might thank someone deeply by saying “thanks a million!”, the German equivalent is "tausend Dank" (literally, “a thousand thanks”).
Thank you ever so much
The German expression “besten Dank” (literally, "best thanks") doesn’t really have an English equivalent, but it is akin to “thank you ever so much” because it expresses the utmost gratitude.
Heartfelt thanks
The German expression “herzlichen Dank” doesn’t have an English equivalent either, but its translation would be “heartfelt thanks”.
3. Responding to ‘Thank You’ in German
Just as in English, there are different ways to respond to ‘thank you’ in German:
English | German |
You’re welcome | Bitte |
No problem | Kein Problem |
My pleasure | Gern geschehen |
You’re very welcome | Sehr gerne / Gern! |
No worries | Keine Ursache |
Examples:
Danke für deine Hilfe! → Gern geschehen!
Vielen Dank für das Geschenk! → Sehr genre!
4. Politeness in Different Contexts
Casual vs. Formal Situations
In informal settings, ‘Danke’ and ‘Bitte’ are often enough. However, in formal situations, such as a business meeting or when speaking to an authority figure, you may want to use:
Ich danke Ihnen für Ihre Zeit. → I thank you for your time.
Darf ich Ihnen behilflich sein? → May I be of assistance to you?
Writing ‘Thank You’ in Emails and Letters
When writing formal messages, you can use:
Mit freundlichen Grüßen, … → Best regards, …
Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Hilfe. → Many thanks in advance for your help.
Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn… → I would be very grateful if…
Example email closing:
Sehr geehrte Frau Schmidt,Vielen Dank für Ihre Unterstützung. Ich freue mich auf Ihre Rückmeldung.Mit freundlichen Grüßen,[Your Name]
5. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Mixing up ‘Bitte’ and ‘Danke’
Since ‘bitte’ can mean both ‘please’ and ‘you’re welcome,’ learners sometimes misuse it. If someone thanks you (Danke!), don’t reply with Danke!, say Bitte! instead.
Overusing ‘Danke’ in a Conversation
While being polite is great, Germans don’t repeat ‘Danke’ after every sentence. If you’re in an ongoing conversation, once is enough.
Pronunciation Errors
‘Danke’ should be pronounced [DAHN-keh], not [DAN-kee].
‘Bitte’ sounds like [BIT-teh], not [BEE-tee].
6. Practice Makes Perfect
To master these phrases, try:
Role-playing conversations where you order at a café or ask for directions.
Listening to native speakers on platforms like DW Learn German, YouTube, or podcasts.
Writing thank-you emails in German to get comfortable with formal expressions.
Conclusion
Mastering the correct use of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in German is essential for polite and natural communication. Whether you're speaking with a friend, writing a formal email, or ordering food, these phrases will help you sound more fluent and respectful. Key Takeaways:
✅ Use ‘bitte’ for both ‘please’ and ‘you’re welcome’ depending on the context.
✅ Try different ways to say ‘thank you’ for variety.
✅ Respond to ‘Danke’ with ‘Bitte’, ‘Gern geschehen’, or ‘Sehr gerne’.
✅ Use formal phrases in emails or business settings.
✅ Practice pronunciation to sound more natural.
Keep using these phrases in daily life, and soon they’ll become second nature! Viel Erfolg!
Read our related post on how to say I'm sorry in German, and check out our German language blog "Auf Deutsch, bitte", where you will learn about all things German- from expressions like hello" and "how are you" to German grammar topics, such as the difference between the personal pronouns du, Sie, and ihr, and the articles in German.
Kommentare