How to Say "You're Welcome" in German

German is the third-most widely taught foreign language worldwide.

Among the first phrases encountered when learning to speak a new language are the translations of "thank you" and "you're welcome." The common courtesy that those utterances convey finds expression in all languages, including German, which---for people whose first language is English---is considered more easily learnable than many other languages.

Instructions

1. Say "Bitte schon" which is pronounced as bit-tuh shurn. This is the basic "you're welcome" in German. For a formal conversation, this is the most appropriate way to respond to an individual's "thank you"---or "danke."

2. Say just "bitte" prounounced as bit-tuh. This is a less formal version of "you're welcome" and should be used among friends and family, but not in formal situations. Though this does suit most situations, it shouldn't be used with strangers.

3. Say "nichts zu danken" which is pronounced as "nihtz zou dun-kin." This means "not at all" rather than "you're welcome" and is often used in place of the formal "you're welcome."
   "Nichts zu danken" should be used in situations similar those in which English speakers would usually say "not a problem" or "it's no problem."

4. Say "gern geschehen," pronounced "ghern guh-shay-un." This term means "my pleasure" instead of the traditional "you're welcome," but it can be used in most situations to convey that expressing thanks isn't necessary.

References

• Free Language Tutorials: Basic Phrases, Vocabulary and Grammar
• Dict.cc: English-German Dictionary: You're Welcome
• Learn German: How to Pronounce German Words
• University of Michigan Germanic Languages & Literatures: German Studies