Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dank je | /ˈdɑŋk jə/ | |
| dank u | /ˈdɑŋky/ | formal |
These phrases are used to express gratitude. You can make your thanks more emphatic by adding wel to the end, creating dank je wel, which is similar to saying "thank you very much" in English. For a more formal way to say "thank you very much", you can use Dank u wel or Hartelijk bedankt. Conversely, if you want to be informal, you can use Bedankt, which is equivalent to "thanks" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dank je combines the verb danken (to thank) and the pronoun je (you).
Which one should you use?
dank je is the informal version, while dank u is the formal version. Use dank u when addressing elders, strangers or superiors.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dank je and dank je wel are informal. dank u and Dank u wel are formal. Bedankt is an informal way to say "thanks", while Hartelijk bedankt is a formal expression meaning "thank you very much".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase dank je is formed by conjugating the verb danken in the second person singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdɑŋk jə/
When do people say it?
When someone says dank je or dank u, a common way to respond is geen dank, meaning "don't mention it" or "you're welcome". Another frequent response to "thank you" is alstublieft, which can mean "you're welcome".
Did you know?
- The response geen dank literally translates to 'no thanks', but it functions as 'don't mention it'.
- The formal pronoun u used in dank u may have evolved from the phrase uwe edelheid, which means 'your nobility'.
- Dutch speakers often use the phrase dank je wel not just for gratitude, but as a polite way to decline an offer.
Examples in context
- Dank je wel, Tom.Thank you, Tom.This example shows how to use dank je in a sentence.Tatoeba #11779284 by Ag12x, translation #7733948 by CK
- Ik ben oké, dank je.I'm fine, thank you.This example demonstrates the use of dank je to express being fine.Tatoeba #1108634 by megamanenm, translation #65115 by CM
- "Dank u." "Geen dank.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This example shows a formal exchange using dank u and the response geen dank.Tatoeba #6572950 by Micsmithel, translation #2077 by Swift
- Dank u wel voor uw hulp.Thank you very much for your help.
- Hartelijk bedankt voor de uitnodiging.Thank you very much for the invitation.
- Bedankt voor je hulp.Thanks for your help.
- Heel erg bedankt voor het cadeau.Thank you very much for the gift.
- Dank je wel voor je steun.Thank you for your support.
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas gives Julia a small gift.
- LucasHier is een klein cadeautje voor jou, Julia.Here is a small gift for you, Julia.
- JuliaOh, dank je, Lucas!Oh, thank you, Lucas!
- LucasGraag gedaan.You're welcome.
- JuliaHet is echt heel lief van je.It is really very sweet of you.
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.
