nein danke
/naɪ̯n ˈdaŋkə/
nein danke is the German phrase for "no thank you".
This phrase is the standard way to decline an offer of food, drink or assistance in a retail setting without being rude. You can increase the level of gratitude and politeness by adding vielen Dank (thank you very much) before or after the refusal.
Meaning: polite way of saying no (intj)
Which one should you use?
While nein danke is a standard polite refusal, using Nein, vielen Dank (No, many thanks) adds a higher level of politeness and warmth.
How does it change in a sentence?
In written German, a comma is typically used to separate the word for 'no' from the word for 'thanks' (e.g., Nein, danke.).
How do you pronounce it?
/naɪ̯n ˈdaŋkə/
Did you know?
- The word nein actually comes from a contraction of the Old High German words ni ein, which literally meant 'not one'.
- While nein danke is polite, Germans often value directness, so a clear nein is often seen as more honest and respectful than a hesitant or overly flowery refusal.
- If you use nein danke too abruptly without a smile or a softening word like leider (unfortunately), it can occasionally sound much more blunt than the English 'no thank you'.
Examples in context
- Nein danke, ich bin schwanger.No thank you, I'm pregnant.This example shows how to use nein danke to decline an offer when pregnant.Tatoeba #910922 by Sudajaengi, translation #543416 by blay_paul
- Nein danke, ich habe schon gegessen.No, thank you. I already ate.This example shows how to use nein danke to decline food because you have already eaten.Tatoeba #5064079 by dispy, translation #5057521 by AlanF_US
- Nein danke, ich schaue nur.No, thank you. I am just looking.This example shows how to use nein danke to decline assistance while shopping.Tatoeba #563244 by MUIRIEL, translation #65829 by Swift
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah is offering Julian a piece of cake.
- HannahMöchtest du ein Stück Kuchen, Julian?Would you like a piece of cake, Julian?
- JulianNein danke, ich bin eigentlich satt.No thank you, I'm actually full.
- HannahBist du sicher? Er schmeckt wirklich gut.Are you sure? It tastes really good.
- JulianJa, nein danke, wirklich.Yes, no thank you, really.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no thank you” translations and entries 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
