danke

Danke is the German word for "thank you," commonly used as an interjection to express gratitude. It can function as a standalone expression or be embedded in phrases such as Danke! (Thanks!), Danke schön, or Danke sehr (thank you very much).

Usage varies by formality: Danke is informal; in more formal situations people say Vielen Dank or Herzlichen Dank, and in direct address one may say Ich danke Ihnen (I thank you).

Origin and related terms: Danke derives from the German verb danken, meaning to thank. The root is of Germanic origin associated with gratitude; Dank is the noun for gratitude, and Danksagung means an act of thanksgiving.

Regional notes: In German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, parts of Switzerland) Danke is common; in Swiss German, Merci is frequently used, though Danke is understood. In written communication, Danke followed by a name or closing is common in informal emails; in formal emails, one uses Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe or Besten Dank.

Pronunciation: Danke is pronounced [ˈdaŋ.kə].