Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hartelijk dank | /ˈɦɑrtələk dɑŋk/ (word by word) | |
| dank u wel | /ˌdɑŋk y ˈʋɛl/ | formal |
| heel hartelijk bedankt | /ɦeːl ˈɦɑrtələk bəˈdɑŋkt/ (word by word) | formal |
| dank je wel | /ˌdɑŋk jə ˈʋɛl/ | informal |
| vriendelijk bedankt | /ˈvrindələk bəˈdɑŋkt/ (word by word) |
These phrases are used to express a level of gratitude that is greater than a simple dank je. While dank je is a casual way to say thanks, using dank je wel, hartelijk dank or other forms adds emphasis to express much more gratitude.
What does it mean word for word?
The term hartelijk dank literally translates to "heartfelt thanks", as the word hartelijk is derived from hart, meaning heart.
Which one should you use?
While dank je is a short and casual way to say "thanks", using dank je wel or hartelijk dank provides the necessary emphasis to express much more gratitude. Other variations include heel hartelijk bedankt, which means "very heartily thanked" and duizendmaal dank, which means "a thousand times thanks".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, such as when speaking to elders, strangers or in professional settings, use dank u wel or heel hartelijk bedankt. The phrase hartelijk dank and vriendelijk bedankt are also appropriate. In informal settings, you should use dank je wel, super bedankt or echt heel erg bedankt, the latter of which translates to "I really appreciate it".
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice between dank u wel and dank je wel depends on the pronoun used: dank u wel uses the formal pronoun u, while dank je wel uses the informal pronoun je.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɦɑrtələk dɑŋk/
When do people say it?
When someone offers you a strong expression of thanks like dank u wel or hartelijk dank, a common and natural response is to say Graag gedaan, which means "You're welcome" or "My pleasure".
Did you know?
- The formal u used in dank u wel has a history linked to the highly polite address uwe edelheid, meaning 'your nobility'.
- In Dutch, the response to a big thank you is often Graag gedaan, which literally means 'done with pleasure'.
Examples in context
- Dank u wel voor het vertrouwen!Thank you very much for the trust!This sentence shows how to use dank u wel to express gratitude for trust.Tatoeba #12260357 by PaulP, translation #12260562 by Miktsoanit
- Ik wil je hartelijk danken voor je bijzondere hulp.I would like to thank you very much for your special support.This sentence demonstrates using hartelijk dank to thank someone for special help.Tatoeba #10015348 by Micsmithel, translation #7890143 by Tesorium
- Hartelijk dank!Thank you very much!This sentence provides a simple example of using hartelijk dank.Tatoeba #477024 by PaulP, translation #1564 by adjusting
- Heel hartelijk bedankt voor je hulp.Thank you very much for your help.
- Super bedankt, dat is echt fantastisch!Thank you very much, that is truly fantastic!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie is handing Daan a gift after he helped her move.
- SophieHartelijk dank voor al je hulp, Daan.Thank you very much for all your help, Daan.
- DaanGraag gedaan, Sophie! Het was geen probleem.You're welcome, Sophie! It was no problem.
- SophieJe bent echt een topper.You are truly a star.
- DaanDat is lief van je.That is kind of you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you very much” translations and entries dank u wel, dank je wel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hartelijk, dank, heel, bedankt, vriendelijk) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dank, hartelijk, heel, u, wel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
