What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase im Voraus, the word Voraus is a noun meaning "advance".
Which one should you use?
While danke im Voraus is a standard way to say thanks in advance, adding Vielen to the start (as in Vielen Dank im Voraus) makes the expression "Many thanks in advance" and is more polite. For a more casual tone when asking a favor from a friend, you might use Schon mal vielen Dank.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations or business correspondence, use Vielen Dank im Voraus to be extra polite. For informal settings, such as when requesting a favor from someone you have a friendly relationship with, you can use Schon mal vielen Dank or Danke dir/euch schon mal im Voraus.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase im Voraus, because Voraus is a noun, it must always be capitalized.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly write im voraus with a lowercase v. Because it is a noun, you must capitalize it as im Voraus.
Did you know?
- In German business culture, using Vielen Dank im Voraus can occasionally be perceived as slightly presumptive. It can sometimes imply that you are assuming the recipient will definitely comply with your request.
- The term voraus originates from the combination of the words vor, meaning 'before', and aus, meaning 'out'.
- In highly formal German correspondence, some writers avoid danke im Voraus and instead use a phrase like Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar, which means 'I would be very grateful to you'.
Examples in context
- Danke im voraus für eure Hilfe!Thanks in advance for your help.This sentence uses danke im Voraus to thank a group for their help.Tatoeba #13294236 by Waldelfe, translation #4529558 by CK
- Danke im Voraus!Thanks in advance.This sentence is a simple way to say "Thanks in advance".Tatoeba #361557 by Wolf, translation #273600 by CK
- Sehr geehrter Herr Schmidt, könnten Sie mir bitte diese Informationen zukommen lassen? Vielen Dank im Voraus.Dear Mr. Schmidt, could you please send me this information? Many thanks in advance.
- Sehr geehrte Frau Müller, könnten Sie bitte prüfen, ob dieser Antrag genehmigt werden kann? Herzlichen Dank für Ihre Bemühungen.Dear Ms. Müller, could you please check if this application can be approved? Many thanks for your efforts.
- Hey Lisa, könntest du mir bitte bei der Vorbereitung für die Party helfen? Schon mal vielen Dank!Hey Lisa, could you please help me with the preparations for the party? Thanks in advance!
- Hallo Tom, ich brauche deine Unterstützung bei der Präsentation. Danke dir schon mal im Voraus!Hello Tom, I need your support with the presentation. Thanks to you in advance!
- Danke im Voraus für die schnelle Antwort.Thanks in advance for the quick reply.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah is asking Felix for a favor via email.
- HannahKannst du mir bitte das Buch leihen?Can you please lend me the book?
- FelixJa, ich bringe es dir morgen mit.Yes, I will bring it to you tomorrow.
- HannahSuper, danke im Voraus!Great, thanks in advance!
- FelixGerne, bis morgen.You're welcome, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thanks in advance” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries danke, im, voraus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
