Danke dir
casual
The everyday casual way to say "thank you" in German is Danke dir. Young people also say Merci, borrowed from French, and Dankeschön is a warm, friendly form.
Meaning: casual thanks (phrase)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Danke dir | casual |
| Merci | casual, slang |
| Dankeschön | friendly |
Danke dir is used with friends, using the informal dir. With someone you address formally, say Danke Ihnen or Vielen Dank.
Which one should you use?
Merci is common in speech and in texts, and sounds light and informal. Vielen Dank is the safe choice in an email or a formal letter.
Did you know?
- The French word merci is used in German everyday speech, especially in the south and west of Germany.
Examples in context
- Danke dir, das war nett.Thank you, that was nice.
- Merci, bis später!Thanks, see you later!
- Dankeschön für die Hilfe.Thank you for the help.
Example conversation
Ben holds the door for his friend Sara at a café in Cologne.
- BenHier, ich halte die Tür auf.Here, I will hold the door.
- SaraDanke dir!Thank you!
- BenKein Problem.No problem.
