Danka for Thank You, Bitteschön for Youre Welcome

Courtesy is important no matter what country youre visiting. In Germany, however, there is greater emphasis on formalities and speaking to people in die Hà ¶flichkeitsform:  addressing acquaintances, colleagues, and people you dont know with Sie as opposed to du/ you, which is reserved more for family and close friends.The same goes when expressing thank you and youre welcome in German. There is a more formal way and a less formal way of stating these expressions. Below you will find a list divided as such, however many expressions are fine in both situations since just simply stating thank you and youre welcome is polite in and of itself. The most important thing to keep in mind is to use Sie/Ihnen and du as appropriate. (Please note that the translations are not always literal, but rather an English equivalent.) More Formal Ways of Saying Thank You: Most common: Dankeschà ¶n, Danke sehr Other ways: Schà ¶nen Dank (Many thanks)Besten Dank (Best of thanks)Haben Sie vielen Dank! (Many thanks)Ich bin Ihnen sehr dankbar (Im very grateful/thankful to you)Ich danke Ihnen (I thank you)Herzlichen Dank (Heartfelt thanks)Ein herzliches Dankeschà ¶n (My/Our heartfelt thanks)Danke vielmals (Many thanks), Ich danke Ihnen vielmals Vielen Dank (Many thanks) Less Formal Ways of Saying Thank You DankeVielen Dank (Many thanks)Danke vielmals (Many thanks)Tausend Dank (Thanks a million) More Formal Ways of Saying Youre Welcome Bitteschà ¶n Bitte sehrGern geschehen (It was my pleasure)Mit Vergnà ¼gen (With pleasure) Less Formal Ways of Saying Youre Welcome Bitte Gern geschehen (It was my pleasure)Gern (shortened form of Gern geschehen)Nichts zu danken (Dont mention it.)Schon gut (Thats fine. No problem)Kein Problem (No problem) You may need some other words for polite conversation, including understanding how to say please in German.