nein danke
/naɪ̯n ˈdaŋkə/
The German phrase for "no politely" is nein danke.
nein danke is used as a standard, polite way to decline an offer or an invitation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the word nein (no) and danke (thank you).
Which one should you use?
While nein simply means "no," using it alone can sound blunt or even rude depending on the context. In contrast, nein danke is the standard polite refusal.
How does it change in a sentence?
In written German, a comma is often placed between nein and danke to separate the two distinct parts of the expression: nein, danke.
How do you pronounce it?
/naɪ̯n ˈdaŋkə/
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, a person might respond to an offer with doch, which is a special German word that acts as a 'contradictory yes'. It is the opposite of nein danke and is used specifically to disagree with a negative statement.
- The word nein is actually a contraction of the Old High German phrase ni ein, which literally translates to 'not one'.
- In Germany, a firm nein danke is often seen as a clear boundary. While English speakers might use 'maybe' to be polite, Germans prefer a direct refusal to avoid wasting the other person's time.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte, aber ich kann nicht.Excuse me, but I can't.
- Leider muss ich ablehnen.Unfortunately, I have to decline.
- Ich bedauere, aber das ist nicht möglich.I'm sorry, but that's not possible.
- Es tut mir wirklich leid, aber ich habe andere Verpflichtungen.I'm really sorry, but I have other commitments.
- Ich möchte Ihnen nicht im Weg stehen, aber ich kann nicht zustimmen.I don't want to stand in your way, but I can't agree.
- Tut mir leid, aber das passt mir nicht.I'm sorry, but that doesn't work for me.
- Nein, danke. Das ist nichts für mich.No, thank you. That's not for me.
- Das klingt interessant, aber ich habe leider schon etwas vor.That sounds interesting, but I already have something planned.
- Nein danke, ich bin schon satt.No thank you, I am already full.
- Möchten Sie noch einen Kaffee? Nein danke.Would you like another coffee? No thank you.
- Nein danke, ich habe heute keine Zeit.No thank you, I don't have time today.
Example conversation
Julian offers Hannah a piece of cake.
- JulianMöchtest du ein Stück Kuchen, Hannah?Would you like a piece of cake, Hannah?
- HannahNein danke, Julian, ich habe gerade gegessen.No thank you, Julian, I just ate.
- JulianBist du sicher? Er schmeckt wirklich gut.Are you sure? It tastes really good.
- HannahJa, wirklich, nein danke.Yes, really, no thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nein danke, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries danke, nein, nein danke, CC BY-SA 4.0.
