Danksagungen

Danksagung is a German noun meaning an expression of gratitude. It can refer to the act of giving thanks in a personal, religious or public sense, as well as to a formal acknowledgments section in written works. The plural form is Danksagungen.

In religious contexts, Danksagung denotes thanksgiving addressed to God. It appears in prayers, hymns, and liturgical forms such as Dankgebete or Dankgottesdienste. In Germany and other German-speaking regions, thanksgiving is also linked to harvest celebrations like Erntedankfest, a church-centered event that combines gratitude for providence and fruitfulness with communal worship.

In academic and professional writing, Danksagung refers to the acknowledgments section of a book, thesis, dissertation, or report. This section is typically placed at the end of the work and offers thanks to supervisors, mentors, colleagues, funding agencies, institutions, and family or friends who supported the project. The tone is usually formal, though it may include a brief personal note. The heading is commonly labeled Danksagung (singular); Danksagungen is used when speaking of multiple such expressions or a collection of works.

Etymologically, Danksagung derives from Dank (gratitude) with the suffix -ung, forming a noun that denotes the act or process of giving thanks. In English-language usage, the corresponding term for the publication context is “acknowledgments” or “acknowledgement.” Danksagung thus encompasses both ritual acts of gratitude and the practical, written acknowledgment of support in scholarly and professional contexts.