You're Welcome in German: Bitte, Bitte schön, and Gern geschehen
You're welcome
Bitte schön
You're welcome in German is Bitte, or a little warmer, Bitte schön. Yes, Bitte is the same word as please. It is also what you say when you hand something over. Germans do not find this confusing, and after a few days you will not either. If you want to say "my pleasure", the phrase is Gern geschehen, or simply Gerne.
The list below has every common reply to Danke, from the formal to the regional, plus the one mistake almost every English speaker makes at least once: saying Willkommen, which means welcome to a place, not you are welcome. Every phrase has audio.
Ways to say you're welcome in German
All of these answer Danke. Bitte and Bitte schön are the neutral choices. Gern geschehen and Gerne say that you were happy to help. The last two are regional and worth recognizing when you hear them.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitte The standard reply. Also means please and here you are | You're welcome | The standard reply. Also means please and here you are | |
| Bitte schön The reply to Danke schön. Slightly warmer than Bitte | You're welcome | The reply to Danke schön. Slightly warmer than Bitte | |
| Bitte sehr The reply to Danke sehr | You're welcome | The reply to Danke sehr | |
| Gern geschehen Literally "gladly done". Warm, works everywhere | My pleasure | Literally "gladly done". Warm, works everywhere | |
| Gerne Short and friendly. What shop and café staff say most | Gladly | Short and friendly. What shop and café staff say most | |
| Nichts zu danken Modest, for a small favor | Nothing to thank me for | Modest, for a small favor | |
| Keine Ursache Literally "no cause". Slightly formal | Don't mention it | Literally "no cause". Slightly formal | |
| Kein Problem Informal | No problem | Informal | |
| Dafür nicht Northern Germany, means "no need to thank me" | Not for that | Northern Germany, means "no need to thank me" | |
| Passt schon Southern Germany and Austria, very relaxed | It's fine | Southern Germany and Austria, very relaxed |
What comes before: the thank-yous these answer
The reply often matches the thank-you. Danke gets Bitte, Danke schön gets Bitte schön, and a big thank you like Vielen Dank gets Gern geschehen.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danke Reply: Bitte or Gerne | Thank you | Reply: Bitte or Gerne | |
| Danke schön Reply: Bitte schön | Thank you very much | Reply: Bitte schön | |
| Danke sehr Reply: Bitte sehr | Thanks a lot | Reply: Bitte sehr | |
| Vielen Dank Reply: Gern geschehen | Many thanks | Reply: Gern geschehen | |
| Danke für die Hilfe Reply: Gern geschehen or Kein Problem | Thanks for the help | Reply: Gern geschehen or Kein Problem |
Example sentences
Danke für den Kaffee. Bitte schön!
Thanks for the coffee. You are welcome!
Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe. Gern geschehen.
Many thanks for your help. My pleasure.
Danke, dass du gekommen bist. Gerne!
Thanks for coming. Gladly!
Danke fürs Mitnehmen. Kein Problem.
Thanks for the ride. No problem.
Das war sehr nett von Ihnen. Keine Ursache.
That was very kind of you. Don't mention it.
Danke! Nichts zu danken.
Thanks! Nothing to thank me for.
Good to know
Bitte has four meanings
Bitte means please when you ask for something (Ein Wasser, bitte), you are welcome when you answer Danke, here you are when you hand something over (Bitte, Ihr Kaffee), and pardon when you did not hear something (Wie bitte?). The situation always makes the meaning clear.
Match schön with schön
If someone says Danke schön, the natural reply is Bitte schön. If they say Danke sehr, reply Bitte sehr. A plain Danke gets a plain Bitte. You will not be wrong if you mix them, but matching sounds native.
Gerne is what you hear in shops
Cashiers, waiters, and bakery staff answer Danke with Gerne dozens of times a day. It is short, friendly, and means "gladly". Copy it and you will sound like you have lived in Germany for years.
Willkommen is not you are welcome
Willkommen means welcome to a place: Willkommen in Berlin, Herzlich willkommen. It is never the reply to Danke. Saying Willkommen after someone thanks you is the most common learner mistake with this phrase, and Germans will understand what you meant, but it sounds like a translation.
Pronunciation
Bitte is BIT-tuh, with a short i as in "bit" and the final e pronounced. Gern geschehen is GAIRN ge-SHAY-en. Gerne is GAIR-nuh. Press play above to hear each one.
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 you're welcome in German?
Why does Bitte mean both please and you are welcome?
What does Gern geschehen mean?
What is the difference between Bitte and Bitte schön?
Is Willkommen the same as you are welcome?
What does Keine Ursache mean?
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
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
Welcome in German
Welcome in German: Willkommen and Herzlich willkommen
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