dankzij

Thanks to

Level 4

Use dankzij to explain why something good happened. It is followed directly by a noun or pronoun.

How It Works

The word dankzij is a combination of the noun dank (thanks) and the old verb form zij (be), literally meaning 'thanks be to'.

1. Usage and Orthography
In modern Dutch, dankzij is always written as a single word. It functions as a standard preposition, placed directly before a noun phrase or pronoun. If you start a sentence with this phrase, remember to use inversion (Verb-Subject order) because the prepositional phrase occupies the first position.

  • Dankzij de zon gaan we... (Thanks to the sun we are going...)

2. Positive vs. Neutral Nuance
Traditionally, dankzij is reserved for positive outcomes. While contemporary Dutch often uses it for neutral causes (e.g., dankzij de regen), it is safest for learners to use door for neutral events. For negative causes where blame is involved, use door toedoen van or the verb phrase te wijten aan (to be blamed on). Note that native speakers sometimes use dankzij ironically to emphasize blame (e.g., Dankzij jou zijn we nu te laat!).

3. Dankzij vs. Te danken aan
Do not confuse the preposition dankzij with the verb phrase te danken aan (to owe to/to have to thank for).

  • Dankzij hem winnen we. (Preposition)
  • We hebben het aan hem te danken. (Verb phrase)

4. Linking to Clauses
You cannot follow dankzij directly with a verb. To express 'thanks to the fact that...', use the construction dankzij het feit dat... followed by subordinate clause word order.

5. Pronominal Adverb Constraint
Unlike prepositions like met (daarmee), dankzij cannot form pronominal adverbs. You must use the full pronoun: dankzij dat or dankzij hem.

Examples (4)

  1. Dankzij jouw hulp heb ik de opdracht op tijd afgekregen.

    Thanks to your help, I finished the assignment on time.

    Word by Word: Thanks-to your help have I the assignment on time finished.

    Here, 'dankzij' points to a helpful cause (your help) that led to a successful result.

  2. De patiënt is snel hersteld dankzij een nieuwe behandelmethode.

    The patient recovered quickly thanks to a new treatment method.

    Word by Word: The patient is quickly recovered thanks-to a new treatment-method.

    This shows 'dankzij' used in a medical/scientific context to highlight a beneficial factor.

  3. Dankzij het feit dat het regende, bleven we binnen.

    Thanks to the fact that it rained, we stayed inside.

    Word by Word: Thanks-to the fact that it rained, stayed we inside.

    This demonstrates how to link 'dankzij' to a full action using 'het feit dat'.

  4. We hebben de wedstrijd gewonnen dankzij hem.

    We won the match thanks to him.

    Word by Word: We have the match won thanks-to him.

    When using a pronoun after 'dankzij', use the object form (hem, haar, mij, etc.).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'dankzij' for a negative cause.

    Different MeaningDankzij de storm is het dak kapot.
    Door de storm is het dak kapot.

    The wrong sentence is grammatical, and 'dankzij' is increasingly used for neutral causes. Traditionally it implies a positive result, so with a disaster like a storm it can sound sarcastic. For negative causes, use 'door' or the formal 'door toedoen van'.

  • Confusing the preposition 'dankzij' with the verb phrase 'te danken aan'.

    Ik dankzij mijn succes aan mijn ouders.
    Ik heb mijn succes te danken aan mijn ouders.

    'Dankzij' is a preposition (thanks to), while 'te danken aan' is a verb phrase (to owe to). You cannot use 'dankzij' as the main verb of a sentence.

  • Forgetting word order inversion after a 'dankzij' phrase.

    Dankzij de zon we gaan naar het strand.
    Dankzij de zon gaan we naar het strand.

    When a sentence starts with a 'dankzij' phrase, it triggers inversion, meaning the verb must come immediately after the phrase.

How It Connects

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

dankzijLevel 4Thanks to

Learn This First

To use 'dankzij' (thanks to), you need to understand how to form basic noun phrases using articles and possessive pronouns, as this pattern functions as a preposition that introduces a positive cause.

Words in This Pattern

dankzij