How to Say You're Welcome in German: 14 Responses Beyond Bitte

The Short Answer

The most common way to say you're welcome in German is Bitte (BIT-teh), the exact same word that means "please." Context makes the meaning clear: when someone says Danke, your Bitte means "you're welcome." When you are making a request, it means "please." This dual function makes Bitte one of the most versatile and frequently used words in the entire German language.

German is spoken by over 130 million people worldwide across six countries where it holds official status. According to Ethnologue's 2024 data, it ranks among the top twelve most spoken languages globally. Across this linguistic territory, the ways people respond to thanks range from the brisk Bitte of a Berlin commuter to the melodic Bitteschön of a Viennese waiter to the understated Dafür nicht of a Hamburg dockworker. Whether you're looking up "youre welcome in german" for travel, study, or conversation, this guide covers everything you need.

"Politeness in German is not about elaborate verbal displays. It is about precision: choosing the right formula for the right moment. The response to thanks, whether Bitte or Gern geschehen, signals social awareness as much as goodwill."

(Brown & Levinson, Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage, Cambridge University Press, 1987)

This guide covers 14 essential German ways to say you're welcome, organized by category: standard, formal, casual, and regional. Each includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and cultural context so you know exactly when to use it.

Quick Reference: German "You're Welcome" Expressions at a Glance

Standard Responses

These are the go-to responses understood everywhere in the German-speaking world. The Duden, Germany's authoritative dictionary, lists all three as standard High German (Hochdeutsch).

Bitte

Bitte is the Swiss Army knife of German. The Duden documents at least six distinct usage contexts for this single word, and the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (GfdS) ranks it among the ten most frequently spoken words in everyday German. It derives from the verb bitten (to ask, to request), which explains its dual role: when you request something, Bitte means "please"; when someone thanks you, it means "you're welcome."

This double duty confuses many learners at first, but in practice the meaning is always obvious from context. Someone hands you a coffee and says Bitte, that means "here you go." You say Danke and they reply Bitte, that means "you're welcome." You ask for directions and start with Bitte, that means "please."

Bitte schön

Just as Danke schön is the warmer version of Danke, Bitte schön elevates Bitte with the addition of schön (beautiful, nice). The two expressions form a natural conversational pair that you will hear dozens of times in any German-speaking city: Danke schön!: Bitte schön!

Service staff use Bitte schön almost reflexively, when placing a dish on your table, handing you a receipt, or returning your change. It carries a warmth that plain Bitte lacks, without crossing into formality. Note the pronunciation of schön: the German ö has no direct English equivalent, sitting between "uh" and "er" with rounded lips. SHURN is the closest approximation.

Bitte sehr

Bitte sehr parallels Danke sehr just as Bitte schön parallels Danke schön. The distinction is subtle: schön adds warmth (literally "beautifully"), while sehr adds emphasis (literally "very"). In practice, Germans use them almost interchangeably, but Bitte sehr carries a marginally more composed, professional tone.

In business settings and formal correspondence, Bitte sehr edges slightly ahead of Bitte schön as the preferred choice. In everyday conversation, most native speakers switch between them without noticing the difference.

Formal Responses

When the situation calls for more than a quick Bitte, a significant favor, a professional context, or a conversation with someone you want to show particular respect. German offers several elevated alternatives.

Gern geschehen

Gern geschehen literally translates to "gladly happened", emphasizing that whatever you did, it happened gladly and willingly. This is German's way of saying "it was my pleasure" with authentic warmth. Unlike a reflexive Bitte, Gern geschehen carries emotional weight: it tells the other person their thanks is appreciated, but truly unnecessary because you enjoyed helping.

The word gern (gladly, with pleasure) comes from Old High German gerno and is one of the most positive words in the language. According to the GfdS, gern appears in numerous German fixed expressions, all carrying connotations of willingness and joy.

Gerne!

Gerne! is the streamlined version of Gern geschehen, just the core sentiment, stripped to a single word. It is bright, friendly, and efficient, which makes it extremely popular in everyday German. You will hear it in shops, offices, and among friends alike. It also works well in text messages and emails where brevity is valued.

Keine Ursache

Keine Ursache literally means "no cause", there is no cause, no reason for you to thank me. It is German's equivalent of "don't mention it," politely deflecting gratitude by minimizing the effort involved. This expression sits in a refined, slightly formal register and works particularly well in professional environments.

The construction is characteristically German in its logic: rather than affirming the other person's gratitude (like Gern geschehen), it denies the premise entirely. There is no cause for thanks because what was done required no special effort. This reflects a broader pattern in German politeness identified by Brown and Levinson: minimizing the imposition rather than maximizing the positive.

Mit Vergnügen

Mit Vergnügen is the most refined way to say you're welcome in German. You will hear it from concierges at luxury hotels, in formal professional correspondence, and in diplomatic exchanges. It translates to "with pleasure" and communicates both politeness and genuine satisfaction in having been of service.

Casual Responses

Among friends, colleagues, and in relaxed settings, Germans reach for shorter, more informal responses. These are the phrases you will hear constantly in everyday life, especially among younger speakers.

Kein Problem

Kein Problem mirrors the English "no problem" and has become thoroughly integrated into contemporary German. It is casual, direct, and works perfectly among friends and colleagues. The Duden lists it as standard usage, even though some purists note its English-influenced directness. In practice, nobody thinks twice about it.

Kein Ding

Kein Ding (no thing) is the younger generation's response of choice. If you spend time with German university students or listen to German podcasts aimed at younger audiences, you will hear this constantly. It carries the same energy as English "no biggie" or "it's nothing", dismissive in the friendliest way possible. The GfdS has noted the rising frequency of Kein Ding in its annual surveys of spoken German trends.

Schon gut

Schon gut means "it's already good", everything is fine, no further thanks or apology needed. It works particularly well when someone seems overly grateful or apologetic. By saying Schon gut, you reassure them that the matter is settled and there is nothing to worry about.

Passt schon

Passt schon literally means "it fits already", everything is in order, no further acknowledgment required. This expression is especially prevalent in Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland, where it functions as a warm, casual "no worries." You will hear it in pubs, on ski slopes, and among friends across the southern German-speaking world.

Regional Variants

German-speaking territory spans three major countries and several distinct dialect regions. Just as greetings vary dramatically between Hamburg, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich, so do responses to thanks.

Dafür nicht

Dafür nicht is northern Germany's signature response to thanks. It means "not for that", as in, that particular thing is not worth thanking me for. It is dismissive, but in the most friendly, self-effacing way. This expression captures the northern German communication style perfectly: understated, efficient, and genuine without being effusive.

If you have heard of Moin as the northern German greeting, think of Dafür nicht as its counterpart in the thank-you/you're-welcome exchange. Both reflect a regional personality that values brevity and authenticity over elaborate verbal politeness.

Bitteschön (Viennese Style)

While Bitte schön is used across all German-speaking countries, in Vienna it becomes something special. Viennese Bitteschön (often written as one word in Austrian German) carries a distinctive melodic intonation, a slight rise and fall that turns the phrase into a gracious performance. In the city's legendary coffeehouses, the waiter's Bitteschön as they place a Melange on your marble table is as much a part of the cultural experience as the coffee itself.

Austrian politeness, deeply studied by linguists at the Universität Wien, tends to be more ceremonial than the German standard. Where a Berlin waiter might offer a clipped Bitte, a Viennese counterpart delivers a Bitteschön that lingers in the air. It is the same word, but the cultural performance transforms it entirely.

Gärn gscheh

In the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland, Gern geschehen becomes Gärn gscheh in Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch). What makes Switzerland particularly fascinating is its multilingual reality: even in German-speaking regions, the French Merci is commonly used instead of Danke, so a typical exchange might be Merci vilmal!: Gärn gscheh!

Depending on the canton and the speaker's proximity to the French-speaking Romandie, you might also hear the French De rien (it's nothing) mixed into otherwise German conversation. This code-switching is completely natural in Swiss daily life and reflects the country's unique position at the crossroads of German, French, Italian, and Romansh linguistic territories.

When to Use Each Expression

Choosing the right response depends on context, formality, and your relationship to the other person. Here is a practical guide.

Practice With Real German Content

Reading about these expressions is a strong start, but hearing them spoken naturally by native speakers is what makes them stick. German-language films and shows are excellent for this you will hear Bitte schön exchanged in a Berlin bakery, Bitteschön delivered with Viennese flair in a coffeehouse scene, and Dafür nicht muttered in a Hamburg harbor, each with authentic intonation and regional character.

Wordy lets you take this further. Watch German movies and shows with interactive subtitles, tapping on any expression to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from real conversations with authentic intonation and body language.

For more German content, explore our blog for guides including the best movies to learn German. You can also visit our German learning page to start practicing with native content today.