Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dank je | /ˈdɑŋk jə/ | |
| dank u | /ˈdɑŋky/ | formal |
The Dutch language uses several expressions to convey gratitude. The standard forms are dank je and dank u. For a more heartfelt expression of gratitude in formal settings, you might use Hartelijk bedankt. If you wish to express a deeper level of gratitude, specifically "I am very grateful to you", you can say Ik ben u zeer dankbaar.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dank je literally means "thank you", where dank is the verb stem for "thank" and je is the informal "you".
Which one should you use?
dank je is the informal version of dank u, intended for use with friends, family and peers. In contrast, dank u is the formal version used when addressing strangers, elders or people in professional settings. You may also encounter Dank je wel as an informal way to say thank you, and Bedankt as a shorter, slightly more casual version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dank je is informal. dank u is formal. For formal situations, you can also use Dank u wel or Hartelijk bedankt to convey heartfelt gratitude. Among younger generations, the English loanword Thanks is also common.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdɑŋk jə/
When do people say it?
When someone thanks you, a common and slightly more casual response is geen dank, which means "no thanks [needed]" or "don't mention it". Another very common and polite way to respond is graag gedaan, which literally means "done gladly" and is equivalent to "my pleasure".
Did you know?
- The formal u in dank u may have evolved from the phrase uwe edelheid, meaning 'your nobility'.
- Adding wel to create dank je wel does not change the basic meaning of 'thank you' but serves as a linguistic softener to make the phrase sound more natural.
- Using the formal u is not just about age but can be a strategic social distance marker in professional Dutch environments.
Examples in context
- Dank je wel, Tom.Thank you, Tom.This sentence shows how to use dank je when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #11779284 by Ag12x, translation #7733948 by CK
- Ik ben oké, dank je.I'm fine, thank you.This sentence shows how to use dank je to say you are fine.Tatoeba #1108634 by megamanenm, translation #65115 by CM
- "Dank u." "Geen dank.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This sentence demonstrates a formal exchange using dank u and the response Geen dank.Tatoeba #6572950 by Micsmithel, translation #2077 by Swift
- Dank u wel voor het cadeauThank you for the gift
- Hartelijk bedankt voor het openhouden van de deurThank you for holding the door open
- Dank je wel voor je hulpThank you for your help
- Bedankt voor de tipThanks for the tip
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie hands Lucas a glass of water.
- LucasDank je, Sophie.Thank you, Sophie.
- SophieGraag gedaan, Lucas.You're welcome, Lucas.
- LucasIk had echt dorst.I was really thirsty.
- SophieGeen probleem!No problem!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries dank je, dank u, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dank, u, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
