German Phrase
Die Ehre ist ganz meinerseits, danke.
Meaning
This is a highly formal expression used to reciprocate a compliment or a formal greeting. It literally means 'the honor is entirely on my side,' signaling deep respect and humility.
When to use
Use this phrase in professional environments, formal ceremonies, or when meeting someone of high social or professional standing. It is the standard polite response when someone says 'Es war mir eine Ehre' (It was an honor for me).
✦Grammar Breakdown
DieEhreistganzmeinerseitsdanke
Meinerseits
An adverb meaning 'on my part' or 'from my side', created by combining the possessive 'mein' with the suffix '-erseits'.
Ehre
A feminine noun meaning 'honor'. Remember that all nouns in German are capitalized regardless of their position in the sentence.
🗨In Conversation
Es war mir eine Ehre, Sie kennenzulernen.
It was an honor to meet you.
Die Ehre ist ganz meinerseits, danke.
The honor is all mine, thank you.
✕Common Mistakes
Die Ehre ist ganz mein.
The word 'mein' is incomplete here; the adverbial form 'meinerseits' is required for this specific idiom.
Die Ehre ist ganz mir.
The dative pronoun 'mir' is grammatically incorrect in this context; 'meinerseits' correctly expresses 'on my part'.
↔Alternatives
Ganz meinerseits.
All mine / My pleasure.
Gleichfalls.
Likewise.
Cultural Tip
German social etiquette often relies on specific formal registers. Using 'meinerseits' demonstrates a high level of linguistic competence and respect for traditional German politeness (Höflichkeit), which is still very important in business and formal social circles.