Děkuji / Díky

Thanking Formulas

Level 1

Use děkuji for a neutral thank you, děkuju in less formal speech, and díky for casual thanks.

How It Works

1. Děkuji and Děkuju
Děkuji means thank you and is a neutral standard form. Děkuju is also standard Czech, with a more conversational tone. Děkuji suits formal settings as well as everyday exchanges.

2. Casual Thanks: Díky
Díky is casual thanks. It can fit friends, family and relaxed everyday encounters, including a friendly exchange at a café. It is not limited to people you address with ty. In a formal letter or ceremony, děkuji is a safer choice. Dík is another casual variant.

3. Thanking Someone
The person you thank takes the dative case: Děkuji vám addresses someone formally or addresses several people; Děkuji ti addresses one person informally.

4. Thank You For Something
Use za with the accusative for a noun phrase: Děkuji za kávu. (Thank you for the coffee.) For an action, use a clause such as Děkuji, že jsi přišel. or Děkuji za to, že jsi přišel. (Thank you for coming.) Do not translate English for + verb-ing by placing a bare infinitive directly after děkuji.

5. Stronger Thanks
Moc (a lot) and mockrát (many times) strengthen the thanks: Moc děkuji, Děkuji moc or Díky moc. Děkuji pěkně is another established expression of thanks.

6. Thanks To as a Preposition
Díky also means thanks to and takes the dative: Díky tobě (Thanks to you). It traditionally presents a cause as helpful. Modern Czech also uses it with neutral or negative results, so those uses are not automatically incorrect or sarcastic. For a negative cause, kvůli with the dative can avoid suggesting gratitude.

7. Responding and Speaking for a Group
When handing you something, a person may say Prosím (Here you are). You can reply Děkuji. Replies to thanks include Prosím, Není zač, Za málo and Rádo se stalo.

Děkuji is the first-person singular form of děkovat (to thank). When speaking for a group, use děkujeme (we thank).

Examples (5)

  1. Děkuji vám za pomoc.

    Thank you for your help.

    Word by Word: I-thank to-you for help.

    A formal and polite way to thank someone, using the dative 'vám' (to you) and 'za' + accusative.

  2. Děkuju ti za to, že jsi přišel.

    Thank you for coming.

    Word by Word: I-thank to-you for it, that you-are came.

    An informal 'thank you' for an action. Notice the use of 'ti' (informal 'to you') and 'za to, že' before the verb.

  3. Díky moc za kávu.

    Thanks a lot for the coffee.

    Word by Word: Thanks a-lot for coffee.

    An informal expression suitable for friends, family, or casual daily encounters. 'Moc' intensifies the thanks.

  4. Děkujeme za krásný večer.

    Thank you for a beautiful evening.

    Word by Word: We-thank for beautiful evening.

    Uses 'děkujeme' (we thank), which is perfect when thanking someone on behalf of a group or a couple.

  5. Mám se dobře, děkuji.

    I am doing well, thank you.

    Word by Word: I-have myself well, I-thank.

    A standard, polite response to being asked how you are.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'pro' instead of 'za' to say 'thank you for'.

    Děkuji pro vodu.
    Děkuji za vodu.

    For the thing you are thanking someone for, use za with the accusative: za vodu. This does not mean every expression of thanks contains za; Děkuji alone and clauses with že are also possible.

  • Replying to 'děkuji' with 'vítej'.

    A: Děkuji. B: Vítej.
    A: Děkuji. B: Prosím. (or Není zač.)

    'Vítej' means 'welcome' as a greeting when someone arrives at a physical place. To say 'you're welcome' in response to thanks, use 'prosím' or 'není zač'.

  • Putting the person being thanked in the accusative instead of the dative.

    Děkuje mě za pomoc.
    Děkuje mi za pomoc.

    Děkovat takes the dative for the person being thanked. Use mi or the stressed form mně for to me, not accusative mě.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Děkuji / DíkyLevel 1Thanking Formulas

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

díky