What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Danke (thanks) and bitte (please/you're welcome) joined by und (and).
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express these sentiments depending on the desired intensity and tone. For "thank you very much", you can use Danke schön or the more informal and endearing Vielen lieben Dank. To say "you're welcome", you might use the formal Bitte sehr, the informal Keine Ursache or the informal Kein Problem, which translates to "no problem".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For expressing thanks, Vielen lieben Dank is an informal variant that adds a touch of endearment. When responding to thanks, Bitte sehr is a polite and formal way to say you're welcome, whereas Keine Ursache and Kein Problem are informal. In casual settings, one might shorten the response to just gerne instead of the full bitte.
Did you know?
- While bitte means 'you're welcome', it is also used as a questioning 'what?' or 'pardon?' when a speaker did not hear or understand something.
- The word bitte literally comes from the verb 'to beg', meaning that when you say 'you're welcome', you are historically using a shortened version of 'I beg you'.
- In many parts of Germany, if someone says Danke to you, responding with just Gerne (gladly) is often more common in casual, everyday speech than the full Bitte.
Examples in context
- Vielen Dank, Herr Schmidt.Thank you very much, Mr. Schmidt.
Example conversation
Julia gives Julian a book she borrowed.
- JuliaHier ist dein Buch, Julian.Here is your book, Julian.
- JulianVielen Dank, Julia!Thank you very much, Julia!
- JuliaGerne, bitte sehr.My pleasure, you're very welcome.
- JulianEin höfliches Danke und bitte ist wichtig.A polite thank you and you're welcome is important.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bitte, danke, und, CC BY-SA 4.0.
