Welcome in German: Willkommen and Herzlich willkommen
Welcome
Herzlich willkommen
Welcome in German is Willkommen, and the warmer version you will see on signs, in shops, and at the door of a German home is Herzlich willkommen, literally "heartily welcome". You use it when a guest arrives, when someone joins a group, or when someone comes back after being away.
One thing to know before you use it: Willkommen only means welcome as a greeting. It is never the reply to Danke. If someone thanks you, the answer is Bitte or Gern geschehen, not Willkommen. The list below has the ways to welcome someone, what to say when you are the guest, and audio for every phrase.
Ways to say welcome in German
Willkommen is the word, and everything else is what you add to it: the place, the occasion, or a short sentence that makes the guest feel at home.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willkommen Short and neutral | Welcome | Short and neutral | |
| Herzlich willkommen The most common form. Literally "heartily welcome" | A warm welcome | The most common form. Literally "heartily welcome" | |
| Willkommen in Deutschland / in Berlin Willkommen in, not Willkommen zu, for places | Welcome to Germany / to Berlin | Willkommen in, not Willkommen zu, for places | |
| Willkommen zu Hause | Welcome home | ||
| Willkommen zurück After a trip, a holiday, or an illness | Welcome back | After a trip, a holiday, or an illness | |
| Willkommen an Bord On planes and ships, and for a new colleague | Welcome aboard | On planes and ships, and for a new colleague | |
| Schön, dass du da bist / Schön, dass Sie da sind du is informal, Sie is formal. Very warm | Nice that you are here | du is informal, Sie is formal. Very warm | |
| Komm rein / Kommen Sie rein What you say at the door | Come in | What you say at the door | |
| Fühl dich wie zu Hause Informal. Literally "feel like at home" | Make yourself at home | Informal. Literally "feel like at home" |
What to say when you are welcomed
A short thank you is enough. If someone invited you, thank them for the invitation.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danke | Thank you | ||
| Vielen Dank A little more formal | Many thanks | A little more formal | |
| Danke für die Einladung | Thank you for the invitation | ||
| Schön, hier zu sein | Nice to be here |
Example sentences
Herzlich willkommen in Berlin!
Welcome to Berlin!
Willkommen zurück! Wie war der Urlaub?
Welcome back! How was the holiday?
Kommen Sie rein, fühlen Sie sich wie zu Hause.
Come in, make yourself at home.
Schön, dass du da bist. Möchtest du etwas trinken?
Nice that you are here. Would you like something to drink?
Willkommen an Bord, ich bin Ihre neue Kollegin.
Welcome aboard, I am your new colleague.
Danke für die Einladung, es ist schön, hier zu sein.
Thank you for the invitation, it is nice to be here.
Good to know
Willkommen is never "you are welcome"
This is the biggest mistake English speakers make. When someone says Danke, the reply is Bitte, Bitte schön, or Gern geschehen. Answering Willkommen sounds like you are greeting them at a door.
Willkommen in, not Willkommen zu
For places, German uses in with the dative: Willkommen in Deutschland, Willkommen in der Schweiz, Willkommen im Hotel. Willkommen zu is only used for events: Willkommen zur Party, Willkommen zum Deutschkurs.
Lowercase willkommen, capital Willkommen
In Herzlich willkommen the word is an adjective and stays lowercase. As a noun it is capitalized: ein herzliches Willkommen (a warm welcome). On signs you will see both, and both are correct in their place.
Willkommenskultur
You may see the word Willkommenskultur (welcome culture) in the news. It describes a society that welcomes newcomers, and it shows how Willkommen can be the start of a compound noun.
Pronunciation
Willkommen is vil-KOM-en. The German w sounds like an English v, the stress is on the second syllable, and the double m is short. Herzlich is HERTS-likh, with the tz sound and the soft ch at the end. Press play on any phrase above to hear it.
Practice with flashcards
This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say welcome in German?
Does Willkommen mean "you are welcome"?
What does Herzlich willkommen mean?
How do you say welcome to Germany in German?
How do you say welcome back in German?
How do you reply to Willkommen?
Continue learning
Common German Phrases
Greetings, goodbyes, please and thank you, yes and no, and more, all with audio
German Phrases Flashcards
Drill the common phrases from English to German
Hello in German
Hello and Hi in German: Hallo, Guten Tag, and the Regional Greetings
Good morning in German
Good Morning in German: Guten Morgen, Morgen, and Moin
Thank you in German
Thank You in German: Danke, Danke schön, and Vielen Dank
Yes in German
Yes in German: Ja, Doch, Genau, and the Other Ways to Agree
No in German
No in German: Nein, Nicht, Kein, and the Casual Nee
You're welcome in German
You're Welcome in German: Bitte, Bitte schön, and Gern geschehen
How are you in German
How Are You in German: Wie geht's, Wie geht es dir, Wie geht es Ihnen
Goodbye in German
Goodbye in German: Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, and Bis bald
Cheers in German
Cheers in German: Prost, Zum Wohl, and Other Toasts
Please in German
Please in German: Bitte and Its Four Meanings
Good night in German
Good Night in German: Gute Nacht, Schlaf gut, and Sweet Dreams
Excuse me in German
Excuse Me in German: Entschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie, and Verzeihung
Sorry in German
Sorry in German: Es tut mir leid, Entschuldigung, and How to Apologize
Good evening in German
Good Evening in German: Guten Abend, Schönen Abend, and Guten Tag
My name is in German
My Name Is in German: Ich heiße, Ich bin, and Mein Name ist
Happy birthday in German
Happy Birthday in German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag and Herzlichen Glückwunsch
I love you in German
I Love You in German: Ich liebe dich, Ich hab dich lieb, and Mein Schatz