Thanking
Danke on its own is already taught. To make it warmer, German adds a word: Danke schön (thank you kindly) or Vielen Dank (many thanks). Vielen Dank is the more formal of the two and is the one to write in an email.
| Many thanks! That is very good. | Vielen Dank! Das ist sehr gut. |
Getting attention, and apologising
Entschuldigung does both jobs: it opens a question to a stranger, and it apologises. It is a noun, so it is always capitalised.
Wie bitte? asks someone to repeat themselves. It is not rude — it is the standard repair.
| Excuse me, where is the bus? | Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bus? |
Wishing someone well
| formula | used for |
|---|---|
| Herzlichen Glückwunsch | congratulations — birthdays, exams, news |
| Alles Gute | all the best — a general good wish |
| Viel Glück | good luck — before something risky |
| Guten Appetit | said to everyone at the table before eating |
Guten Appetit is not optional politeness in German — it is expected, and eating before someone says it feels abrupt.
Kein Problem is how you wave away thanks or an apology, and Freut mich is what you say when you are introduced to someone.
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