danken
The German verb for "thank" is danken.
The phrase is used to express gratitude to someone for something they have done.
Which one should you use?
While danken is the verb meaning "to thank", it is much more common in spoken German to use the noun Danke (thanks) or the phrase Vielen Dank (many thanks) to express gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb danken always takes the dative case for the person being thanked (jemandem danken). When you want to specify the reason for your gratitude, use the preposition für followed by the accusative case (für etwas danken). The simple past form of the verb is dankte, and the past participle is gedankt, which is used with the auxiliary verb haben.
Did you know?
- The German word danken shares its ancient roots with the English word 'think'. This is because the original meaning of the word was related to the concept of 'thought' or 'remembering' a person's kindness.
- In formal German correspondence, rather than using the verb danken, one often uses the phrase Ich bedanke mich, which translates to 'I thank myself' in a literal, reflexive sense. It is a way of formally performing the act of thanking.
- In many German-speaking regions, the word Danke can actually mean 'no thank you' when someone offers you more food or drink. This depends entirely on whether you use a nodding or a head-shaking motion while saying it.
Examples in context
- Danke für deine HilfeThank you for your help
- Wir danken Ihnen für Ihre Hilfe.We thank you for your help.
Example conversation
Julia is returning a borrowed book to Maximilian.
- JuliaHier ist dein Buch, Maximilian.Here is your book, Maximilian.
- MaximilianDanke, dass du es zurückgibst.Thanks for giving it back.
- JuliaIch wollte dir danken, dass ich es lesen durfte.I wanted to thank you for letting me read it.
- MaximilianGerne, es war kein Problem.You're welcome, it was no problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries danken, CC BY-SA 4.0.
