What does it mean word for word?
Literally, vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme translates to 'many thanks for your contact-taking'.
Which one should you use?
While vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme refers specifically to the act of initiating contact, vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht is a more common, slightly less formal way to say 'thank you for your message'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard form vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme is highly formal and is standard for business emails or customer service responses. For a more heartfelt formal tone, you might use Wir bedanken uns recht herzlich für Ihre Anfrage (We thank you very much for your inquiry) or Herzlichen Dank für Ihre Nachricht (Heartfelt thanks for your message). In informal settings, such as when you are on a first-name basis with someone, you should use Danke für deine Anfrage or Ich wollte mich bedanken, dass du uns geschrieben hast.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are on a first-name basis with the person, you would replace Ihre with deine, as seen in vielen Dank für deine Kontaktaufnahme.
Did you know?
- In German professional culture, using the highly formal vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme can sometimes be perceived as robotic or overly distant by the recipient.
- The word Dank is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'thank' and the Danish word tak, all descending from the Proto-Germanic root *þankaz.
- The word Kontaktaufnahme is built from the verb aufnehmen, which literally means 'to take up' or 'to pick up'. Using it makes the act of contacting someone feel like you are 'picking up' a new connection.
Examples in context
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme, Herr Schmidt. Wir möchten Ihnen gerne weiterhelfen und werden uns umgehend mit Ihnen in Verbindung setzen, um alle offenen Fragen zu klären.Thank you very much for contacting us, Mr. Schmidt. We would be happy to assist you and will be in touch promptly to address any open questions.
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme und Ihr Interesse.Thank you very much for contacting us and for your interest.
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme bezüglich unserer Dienstleistungen.Thank you very much for contacting us regarding our services.
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme, wir melden uns bald.Thank you very much for contacting us, we will get back to you soon.
Example conversation
Hannah answers an inquiry from a potential client via email.
- HannahHallo Julian, vielen Dank für Ihre Kontaktaufnahme.Hello Julian, thank you for contacting us.
- JulianGern geschehen, ich habe eine Frage zu Ihrem Service.You're welcome, I have a question about your service.
- HannahIch helfe Ihnen sehr gerne weiter.I would be very happy to help you.
- JulianDas ist sehr freundlich von Ihnen, Hannah.That is very kind of you, Hannah.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dank, dank, für, CC BY-SA 4.0.
