Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| vielen Dank | |
| danke schön | [ˈdaŋkə ʃøːn] (narrow) |
| danke sehr | |
| danke vielmals | |
| innigsten Dank | |
| schönen Dank | /ˈʃøːnən daŋk/ (word by word) |
| tausend Dank | /ˈtaʊ̯zənt daŋk/ (word by word) |
These phrases are used to express a level of gratitude greater than the standard danke. When you want to specify what you are thankful for, use the preposition für followed by the accusative case, such as in vielen Dank für…
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase danke schön literally translates to 'thank you beautifully', though it is used simply to mean 'thank you very much' or 'thank you kindly'.
Which one should you use?
While vielen Dank is a standard way to say many thanks, tausend Dank is more colloquial and enthusiastic, translating to 'a thousand thanks'. For a highly formal and intense expression of gratitude often found in speeches or written letters, use innigsten Dank, which means 'deepest thanks'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase vielen Dank, the adjective viel uses the accusative masculine form because Dank is a masculine noun being used in the accusative case. When expressing gratitude for something, remember to use the preposition für with the accusative case.
When do people say it?
When someone says vielen Dank, a common and polite way to respond is Bitte sehr! or Gerne geschehen!
Did you know?
- The word sehr in danke sehr shares a surprising history with the English word 'sore'. It originally meant 'wounded' or 'injured', evolving from a sense of feeling something 'sorely' to expressing intensity.
- In Germany, a common non-verbal accompaniment to danke schön is a slight nod of the head, though avoiding direct eye contact during the nod can sometimes signal a more hurried or casual thank you.
- The word vielmals in vielmals danke is a way to say 'many times', essentially turning your thanks into a repetitive action of gratitude.
Examples in context
- Vielen Dank für alles.Thank you very much for everything.This sentence shows how to use vielen Dank to thank someone for everything.Tatoeba #615481 by Dejo, translation #65805 by CK
- Ich bin satt, vielen Dank!I'm full, thank you very much!This sentence uses vielen Dank to express gratitude after eating.Tatoeba #1854836 by Esperantostern, translation #7749800 by Sleepyscreen
- Vielen Dank für Ihren Brief.Thank you very much for your letter.This sentence demonstrates using vielen Dank in the context of a letter.Tatoeba #3934781 by Miyako, translation #64421 by CM
- Hier ist Ihre Beförderungsurkunde. / Vielen Dank, ich fühle mich geehrt.Here is your promotion certificate. / Thank you very much, I feel honored.
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit!Thank you very much for your attention!
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah helps Julian carry a heavy box into his apartment.
- SarahSo, hier ist die Kiste.So, here is the box.
- JulianVielen Dank für deine Hilfe, Sarah!Thank you very much for your help, Sarah!
- SarahGerne geschehen, Julian.You're welcome, Julian.
- JulianDas ist wirklich sehr nett von dir.That is really very kind of you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you very much” translations and entries vielen Dank, danke schön, tausend Dank, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (schönen, Dank, tausend) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dank, dank, danke, schön, sehr, vielmals, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
