Meaning
A polite and stronger way to express gratitude.
Cultural Background
In Germany, saying 'Danke' is expected even for small things. Using 'Danke vielmals' makes you stand out as particularly well-mannered. Swiss people are famous for being extremely polite. 'Merci vielmals' is heard everywhere, from mountain huts to banks. Austrians often use 'Küss die Hand' (old-fashioned) or 'Besten Dank', but 'Danke vielmals' is very common in Viennese cafes. In German business culture, clarity and politeness are key. 'Danke vielmals' is a safe, professional way to end a request.
The Swiss Secret
If you want to sound like a local in Switzerland, use 'Merci vielmals'. It's the ultimate Swiss-German politeness hack.
Don't forget the 'S'
Saying 'Danke vielmal' sounds incomplete and is a common beginner mistake. Always keep that 's' at the end!
Meaning
A polite and stronger way to express gratitude.
The Swiss Secret
If you want to sound like a local in Switzerland, use 'Merci vielmals'. It's the ultimate Swiss-German politeness hack.
Don't forget the 'S'
Saying 'Danke vielmal' sounds incomplete and is a common beginner mistake. Always keep that 's' at the end!
Email Etiquette
Use 'Danke vielmals' as the very last sentence of an email before your sign-off to leave a lasting polite impression.
Grammar Hack
If you are confused by the endings of 'Vielen Dank', just use 'Danke vielmals'. It never changes!
Test Yourself
Which phrase is the most polite for a business email?
Sie möchten Ihrem Chef für {die|f} Hilfe danken. Was sagen Sie?
'Danke vielmals' is formal and grammatically correct. 'Danke vielmal' is missing the 's'.
Complete the sentence with the correct adverb.
Ich danke Ihnen ________ für das Geschenk.
'Vielmals' is the correct adverb to use with the verb 'danken' in this context.
Match the 'Thank you' to the situation.
1. A friend gives you a candy. 2. A stranger returns your lost wallet. 3. You are in a job interview.
Casual situations get 'Danke', high-stakes or formal situations get 'vielmals'.
Complete the dialogue in a polite way.
Kellner: 'Hier ist Ihr {der|m} Nachtisch.' Du: '________________'
When receiving something, 'Danke vielmals' is a perfect polite response.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Levels of Gratitude in German
Where to use 'Danke vielmals'
Work
- • Emails
- • Meetings
- • Colleagues
Public
- • Shops
- • Restaurants
- • Bus drivers
Formal
- • Letters
- • Applications
- • Authorities
Practice Bank
4 exercisesSie möchten Ihrem Chef für {die|f} Hilfe danken. Was sagen Sie?
'Danke vielmals' is formal and grammatically correct. 'Danke vielmal' is missing the 's'.
Ich danke Ihnen ________ für das Geschenk.
'Vielmals' is the correct adverb to use with the verb 'danken' in this context.
1. A friend gives you a candy. 2. A stranger returns your lost wallet. 3. You are in a job interview.
Casual situations get 'Danke', high-stakes or formal situations get 'vielmals'.
Kellner: 'Hier ist Ihr {der|m} Nachtisch.' Du: '________________'
When receiving something, 'Danke vielmals' is a perfect polite response.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, slightly. 'Vielen Dank' is the standard, while 'Danke vielmals' feels a bit more deliberate and traditional.
Yes, but if you use it for something tiny (like passing the salt), it might sound a bit funny or overly formal.
'Vielmals' is the correct adverb. 'Vielmal' is rarely used on its own in modern German.
The most common reply is 'Gerne geschehen' (Gladly done) or 'Bitte sehr' (You're very welcome).
Yes, but it is especially popular in Switzerland, Austria, and Southern Germany.
Yes! That is a very nice way to thank a friend personally.
Historically yes, but today it just functions as an intensifier like 'very much'.
It's better to say 'Nein, danke'. 'Nein, danke vielmals' sounds a bit too intense for a simple refusal.
It's perfect for A1 because it's a fixed phrase with no tricky grammar changes.
'Herzlichen Dank' is more emotional ('from the heart'), while 'Danke vielmals' is more about formal politeness.
Related Phrases
Vielen Dank
synonymMany thanks
Herzlichen Dank
similarHeartfelt thanks
Besten Dank
similarBest thanks
Tausend Dank
informalA thousand thanks
Entschuldigen Sie vielmals
builds onI apologize profusely
