interjection

danke

DUNK-uh

Danke (interjection) means Thank you, in German. Example: “Danke, that's very kind of you.”

interjection

Thank you, in German.

"Danke, that's very kind of you."

"She smiled and said 'danke' as he held the door."

How to Use Danke

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe German word for 'thank you'.

When to use it

Casual and everyday in German. English speakers use it playfully or when travelling; it is not part of ordinary English writing.

Memory tip

The reply to danke is bitte, which does double duty as 'please' and 'you're welcome'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

danke vs bitte danke vs danke schön danke vs Dank

Common pairings

danke schön danke sehr vielen Dank na dann, danke

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Test yourself on “danke” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, that's very kind of you.

Etymology

German danke 'thanks', from danken 'to thank', related to English thank.

Origin: German

Synonyms

View more →

thanks danke schön vielen Dank merci

Antonyms

bitte (you're welcome)

Related Words

thanks cheers TA Thanksgiving gratitude merci thank you

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between danke and danke schön?

Danke is a plain 'thanks' and works in almost any situation. Danke schön adds warmth, closer to 'thank you very much', and is what you would use for a real favour or a gift.

How do you pronounce danke?

Roughly DUNK-uh: the a is short as in 'bun', and the final e is a soft unstressed 'uh', never silent.

What do you say back to danke?

Bitte is the standard reply, meaning 'you're welcome'. Gern geschehen or kein Problem are warmer, more informal alternatives.

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