Thanking & Apologizing
Use these phrases to navigate everyday social interactions in German, from expressing genuine gratitude and apologizing smoothly to politely excusing yourself in public.
Key Phrases
Danke dir vielmals, du hast mir damit echt geholfen!
casualThanks so much, you really helped me out with that!
Casual — common among friends, classmates, and close colleagues.
Vielen Dank für deine Hilfe, ich weiß das wirklich zu schätzen.
neutralThank you very much for your help, I truly appreciate it.
Warm standard phrasing for everyday interactions with acquaintances.
Ich bedanke mich ganz herzlich für Ihre freundliche Unterstützung.
politeI sincerely thank you for your kind assistance.
Formal — suitable for professional contexts, clients, or older adults.
Kein Problem, das habe ich doch gerne gemacht!
casualNo problem, I was happy to do it!
Friendly and relaxed reaction among peers.
Nichts zu danken, das war doch eine Selbstverständlichkeit.
politeDon't mention it, it was truly no trouble at all.
Polite and modest; perfect when helping strangers or in professional situations.
Tut mir leid, das war wirklich keine Absicht von mir!
casualI'm sorry, I really didn't do that on purpose!
Immediate reaction after accidentally bumping into someone or dropping something.
Ich bitte vielmals um Entschuldigung, das ist ganz klar mein Fehler gewesen.
politeI sincerely apologize, that was clearly my mistake.
Formal and accountable; used in business or when addressing a supervisor.
Schon gut, mach dir deswegen bitte keine Gedanken!
casualIt's all right, please don't worry about it at all!
Reassuring reply to calm a friend or colleague who feels bad.
Halb so wild, so etwas kann schließlich jedem mal passieren.
neutralNo big deal, that kind of thing can happen to anyone after all.
Everyday reassurance for small mishaps or minor slip-ups.
Darf ich mal kurz durch? Ich muss an dieser Station aussteigen.
casualCan I squeeze past for a second? I have to get off at this station.
Common and practical on crowded buses and trains.
Entschuldigen Sie bitte, dürfte ich kurz an Ihnen vorbei?
politeExcuse me, please, could I get past you for a moment?
Polite Konjunktiv II phrasing when navigating past strangers.
Entschuldige die Störung, aber hättest du vielleicht kurz Zeit für mich?
neutralSorry to bother you, but would you happen to have a quick minute for me?
Standard polite opener to check if a colleague is available.
Verzeihen Sie die kurze Unterbrechung, dürfte ich Ihnen dazu eine kurze Frage stellen?
politePardon the brief interruption, could I ask you a quick question about that?
Formal and respectful when approaching a speaker, client, or supervisor.
Sorry für die Verspätung, mein Bus ist heute leider komplett ausgefallen.
casualSorry for being late, my bus was completely cancelled today, unfortunately.
Casual excuse when meeting friends or arriving late to an informal meeting.
Bitte entschuldigen Sie meine Verspätung, der Verkehr auf der Autobahn war völlig überlastet.
politePlease excuse my tardiness, traffic on the motorway was completely congested.
Formal apology when arriving late to an official appointment or business meeting.
Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich trotz Ihres vollen Terminkalenders Zeit für mich genommen haben.
politeThank you very much for making time for me despite your busy schedule.
Graceful closing remark after a job interview, consultation, or formal meeting.