gern geschehen
/ɡɛrn ɡəˈʃeːən/
The German phrase for "you're welcome (informal)" is gern geschehen.
gern geschehen is a polite response used to acknowledge someone's thanks. In casual conversation, Germans often shorten gern geschehen to just gerne to mean "you're welcome" or "my pleasure."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of gern (gladly/with pleasure) and geschehen (happened/occurred), literally meaning "gladly happened."
Which one should you use?
Kein Problem is used similarly to the English "no problem" and is more colloquial than gern geschehen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡɛrn ɡəˈʃeːən/
Did you know?
- The word gern is a distant cousin to the English word 'yearn'. While 'yearn' expresses a painful longing, gern expresses a joyful willingness to do something.
- In some German regions, people respond to 'thanks' with bitte sehr or bitte schön, which literally means 'please very' or 'please beautifully'.
Example conversation
Felix helps Sarah carry a heavy box.
- FelixHier ist die Kiste, Sarah.Here is the box, Sarah.
- SarahVielen Dank für deine Hilfe, Felix!Thank you very much for your help, Felix!
- FelixGern geschehen!You're welcome!
- SarahDu bist sehr nett.You are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gern geschehen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gern, gern geschehen, geschehen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
