Whether you’re writing a thank-you note, expressing sincere gratitude, or offering polite acknowledgment, in German, it all starts with Dank. It’s one of those words that can be formal or heartfelt, casual or profound—depending on how you use it.
The noun Dank means thanks, gratitude, or thankfulness, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It's central to expressions of politeness, appreciation, and humility.
It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Dank.
Pronunciation
Dank is pronounced [dahngk], rhyming with “honk,” but with a softer and flatter "a."
The “d” is voiced and firm,
The “a” sounds like the “a” in “father,”
And the “nk” is strong, nasal, and grounded.
It’s a short, satisfying word that lands with dignity—simple but weighty.
Example sentences:
Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe.
Many thanks for your help.Zum Dank schenkte er ihr einen Blumenstrauß.
As thanks, he gave her a bouquet of flowers.
Nuance and usage tips
Dank appears constantly in German expressions of gratitude, often combined with other words:
Vielen Dank! – Many thanks!
Herzlichen Dank! – Sincere thanks!
Tausend Dank! – Thanks a thousand times!
Ich sage dir meinen Dank. – I offer you my thanks.
You’ll also see it used more formally or abstractly:
Zum Dank – as a token of thanks
In Dankbarkeit – in gratitude
Dankbarkeit zeigen – to show gratitude
It even has a more indirect use:
Dank deiner Hilfe haben wir es geschafft.
Thanks to your help, we managed it.
Its natural antonym is Undank (masculine, der Undank)—ingratitude—though this is more literary or rhetorical than casual.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative: Der Dank war ehrlich und berührend.
The gratitude was sincere and touching.Accusative: Ich möchte dir meinen Dank aussprechen.
I’d like to express my thanks to you.Dative: Mit dem Dank kam auch ein Geschenk.
With the thanks came a gift as well.Genitive: Wegen des Danks wurde er besonders freundlich behandelt.
Because of the thanks, he was treated especially kindly.
Masculine case pattern: der, den, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
danken – to thank
Ich danke dir. – “I thank you.”dankbar – thankful, grateful
Dankbarkeit – gratitude (more abstract or sustained feeling)
Dankeschön – a more affectionate, spoken form of thanks
Undank ist der Welten Lohn – “Ingratitude is the world’s reward” (a proverb often quoted in literature)
Cultural note:
In everyday life, Dank is absolutely essential. You'll hear Danke, Dankeschön, Vielen Dank in shops, emails, family dinners—everywhere. Failing to express it, especially after receiving help or a favor, is considered rude.
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Dank
🎥 Learn Dank and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/
Let's go right on to another Word of the Day in German or two, or? Do you know how to say Mercy in German? Or Grace? Or what Pfund means?