DANkon

Dankon is a word in Esperanto meaning “thank you” or “thanks.” It is the language’s most common expression of gratitude and is used as an interjection in everyday speech and writing. As a noun, danko means “a thank” or “thanks,” with the related verb danki meaning “to thank.” The form Dankon commonly appears as the fixed exclamatory expression, though it is related to the accusative form dankon of the noun danko in Esperanto grammar.

Etymology and structure: danko derives from the root dank- found in the verb danki. In Esperanto, most words are built from roots with affixes, and dank- is a standard root for gratitude. The interjection Dankon is widely understood as the conventional way to express gratitude, rather than as a grammatical object in a sentence.

Usage: Dankon pro via helpo means “Thank you for your help.” Other common intensifiers include Multan dankon (“many thanks”) and Grandan dankon (“a large thanks” or “thank you very much”). In more explicit statements, one can say Mi dankas vin, meaning “I thank you,” but Dankon is the usual, autonomous form used in casual and formal contexts alike.

Pronunciation: Dankon is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: DAN-kon [ˈdanko].

Cultural note: As a core courtesy expression in Esperanto, Dankon appears frequently in conversation, correspondence, and public discourse among Esperantists worldwide, reflecting the language’s emphasis on politeness and clarity in communication.