German Phrase
Danke.
Meaning
A short, polite way to say ‘thank you’ in German. It can be used in almost any situation where you want to express gratitude, from receiving a coffee to being helped with directions.
When to use
Use ‘Danke’ after a favor, a gift, or any small act of kindness. It works well in casual conversation among friends, colleagues, or strangers. In very formal settings you might prefer ‘Vielen Dank’ or add ‘schön’ for extra politeness.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Danke
Interjection
‘Danke’ functions as an interjection meaning ‘thank you’; it is not conjugated and does not require a subject.
Politeness level
‘Danke’ is informal to neutral. For more formal gratitude use ‘Vielen Dank’ or ‘Herzlichen Dank’.
Pronunciation tip
The ‘a’ is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘father’, and the final ‘e’ is a short, unstressed schwa.
🗨In Conversation
Danke.
Thank you.
Bitte.
You’re welcome.
✕Common Mistakes
Danke Sie.
‘Sie’ is a formal pronoun; you never attach it directly to ‘Danke’. Use ‘Danke, Frau …’ or ‘Vielen Dank, Herr …’ instead.
Danke dir.
‘Dir’ is informal dative; it’s only correct when you say ‘Ich danke dir’. As a standalone ‘Thank you’, just say ‘Danke’.
Dankes.
‘Dankes’ is a genitive form used only in compounds (e.g., ‘Dankeswort’). It is not used as a standalone thank‑you.
↔Alternatives
Vielen Dank.
Many thanks.
Danke schön.
Thank you very much.
Danke sehr.
Thank you very much.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries, saying ‘Danke’ is expected after any gesture of help, even a small one. Adding ‘Bitte’ after someone thanks you is the standard reply. In Southern Germany and Austria, you’ll hear ‘Danke’ followed by a friendly ‘Gern geschehen’ (gladly done). Be careful not to over‑formalise; ‘Danke’ alone is perfectly polite in most everyday contexts.