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Lesson 233 of 240

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Say thanks properly in German

After the tenants' meeting, Priya sits down to write Herr Schulze a proper letter. It is thanks, not a goodbye: she is staying on Fliederstraße.

Letter German uses Sie, and it has its own formulas. Warm thanks, a small gift, and a closing that sounds like farewell without anyone leaving.

By the end you'll write a formal thank-you and close it cleanly.

By the end of this lesson

Write a formal thank-you letter in Sie and close it without sounding as if you are leaving.

  • Ich möchte mich herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung bedanken.I'd like to thank you warmly for your support.
  • Anbei finden Sie ein kleines Dankeschön.Please find a small thank-you enclosed.
  • Ich habe Ihre Hilfe nie als selbstverständlich gesehen.I have never taken your help for granted.
  • Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in Kontakt bleiben.I very much hope we'll stay in touch.
  • Für die Zukunft wünsche ich Ihnen alles Gute.I wish you all the best for the future.
  • Nochmals vielen Dank und herzliche Grüße.Thank you once again and warm regards.

Scene — the kitchen table

The courtyard meeting is over. Priya's kitchen table in the Hinterhaus is a mess of paper.

Jule leans on the windowsill with Keks at her feet. Across the cobbles, Herr Schulze still has his clipboard.

Priya wants one clean letter: thanks for his help, not a goodbye.

Priya works at her paper-strewn kitchen table while Jule leans on the window sill and Herr Schulze waits across the courtyard with his clipboard.

Learn — a proper thank-you

Six lines for a formal thank-you letter in Sie.

You'll open with warm thanks, mention a small gift, and close without sounding as if you are leaving.

  1. Priya leans toward one clean page amid the scattered papers, ready to begin her thank-you.

    Ich möchte mich herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung bedanken.

    I'd like to thank you warmly for your support.

    When to use it: Open a formal Sie letter when you want to thank someone for their support.

    Use Sie here; Herr Schulze is the landlord, not a friend.

    Say it: The ch in herzlich is the soft ich sound.

  2. Priya slides a small parcel toward a blank envelope on the kitchen table.

    Anbei finden Sie ein kleines Dankeschön.

    Please find a small thank-you enclosed.

    When to use it: Use this when a small gift or card goes in the envelope.

    Anbei comes first, so finden stays in second place.

    Say it: Dankeschön's ö is a rounded vowel, lips pushed forward.

  3. Priya pauses with one palm resting on the papers, considering how to express her gratitude sincerely.

    Ich habe Ihre Hilfe nie als selbstverständlich gesehen.

    I have never taken your help for granted.

    When to use it: Add this when the help mattered and you do not want it to sound automatic.

    habe is second; gesehen waits at the end of the clause.

  4. Priya looks out from the open kitchen window toward Herr Schulze across the courtyard, hopeful that they will stay in touch.

    Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in Kontakt bleiben.

    I very much hope we'll stay in touch.

    When to use it: Write this when you want to stay in touch, even if nobody is leaving.

    After dass the verb bleiben comes last in that clause.

  5. Priya holds a blank page while Jule listens from across the table.

    Für die Zukunft wünsche ich Ihnen alles Gute.

    I wish you all the best for the future.

    When to use it: Use this as a polite future wish, not as a real goodbye.

    Ihnen is the form you use with Sie, not a friend.

    Say it: Zukunft puts the stress on the first syllable.

  6. Priya places the folded page beside the small parcel as Jule stands close by.

    Nochmals vielen Dank und herzliche Grüße.

    Thank you once again and warm regards.

    When to use it: End the letter with thanks again and warm regards.

    This closes the letter; it does not mean you are moving out.

    Say it: Grüße has ü, a tight rounded vowel.

Story — not a goodbye

Priya drafts the letter with Jule, then hands it to Herr Schulze in the courtyard.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The meeting is over. Priya's table is a mess of paper.
  2. JuleDie Versammlung ist vorbei. Schreibst du ihm wirklich einen Brief?The meeting is over. Are you really writing him a letter?
  3. PriyaJa. Ich möchte mich herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung bedanken.Yes. I'd like to thank you warmly for your support.
  4. JuleNa ja. Halt ihn kurz. Er hasst lange Briefe.Well, keep it short. He hates long letters.
  5. PriyaIch habe Ihre Hilfe nie als selbstverständlich gesehen.I have never taken your help for granted.
  6. JuleGut. Und das Päckchen?Good. And the little parcel?
  7. PriyaAnbei finden Sie ein kleines Dankeschön.Please find a small thank-you enclosed.
  8. JuleSchrippen von Renate. Das klingt nicht nach Abschied, oder?Rolls from Renate. That doesn't sound like a goodbye, does it?
  9. PriyaIch ziehe nicht aus. Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in Kontakt bleiben.I'm not moving out. I very much hope we'll stay in touch.
  10. JuleDann wünsch ihm noch etwas Nettes für später.Then wish him something kind for later.
  11. PriyaFür die Zukunft wünsche ich Ihnen alles Gute.I wish you all the best for the future.
  12. JuleSchlusszeile, und du bist fertig.Closing line, and you're done.
  13. PriyaNochmals vielen Dank und herzliche Grüße.Thank you once again and warm regards.
  14. Next morning in the courtyard. Herr Schulze has his clipboard under one arm.
  15. PriyaGuten Morgen. Wie geht es Ihnen?Good morning. How are you?
  16. Herr SchulzeGut, danke. Ist das für mich?I'm good, thanks. Is that for me?
  17. PriyaJa, ein kurzer Brief. Danke, dass Sie sich das angehört haben.Yes, a short letter. Thank you for hearing me out.
  18. Herr SchulzeDie Heizung kommt nächste Woche. Der Brief war nicht nötig.The heating comes next week. The letter wasn't necessary.
  19. PriyaIch wollte es trotzdem schriftlich sagen.I wanted to say it in writing anyway.
  20. Herr SchulzeBleiben Sie im Haus. Das reicht.Stay in the building. That's enough.

Practice — letter formulas

Eleven short tasks mix listening, matching, gaps, and picking a closing.

They keep Sie in place, so a bakery Tschüss never sneaks into the closing.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Anbei finden Sie ein kleines Dankeschön.Drop the English here
    Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in Kontakt bleiben.Drop the English here
    Nochmals vielen Dank und herzliche Grüße.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. Fill the gap

    I have never taken your help for granted.

    Ich habe Ihre Hilfe nie als ____ gesehen.

  4. What do you say?

    You need the line that specifically says a small thank-you is enclosed.

  5. What does it mean?

    Für die Zukunft wünsche ich Ihnen alles Gute.

  6. Swap the word

    You already know him and want the letter to say you will stay in touch.

    Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in Kontakt ____.

  7. Fill the gap

    Thank you once again and warm regards.

    ____ vielen Dank und herzliche Grüße.

  8. Find the mistake

  9. Pick the reply

    Herr Schulze says:

    Guten Morgen.

    Good morning.

    And you reply with:

  10. True or false?

    This thanks someone for listening, not for a gift in an envelope.

  11. Put the chat in order

    1. JuleWhat comes first?
    2. Priya…
    3. Jule…
    4. Priya…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

Say it — read it out

Now you're Priya finishing the letter and handing it over. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JuleNa, der erste Satz.Right, the first sentence.
  2. Priya (you)Thank him warmly for the support he gave.

    Ich möchte mich herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung bedanken.

    I'd like to thank you warmly for your support.

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich möchte mich herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung bedanken.I'd like to thank you warmly for your support.
Anbei finden Sie ein kleines Dankeschön.Please find a small thank-you enclosed.
Ich habe Ihre Hilfe nie als selbstverständlich gesehen.I have never taken your help for granted.
Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in Kontakt bleiben.I very much hope we'll stay in touch.
Für die Zukunft wünsche ich Ihnen alles Gute.I wish you all the best for the future.
Nochmals vielen Dank und herzliche Grüße.Thank you once again and warm regards.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these letter lines on paper? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A short round with the Yak Cards keeps the Sie closings ready for the next envelope.

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