merci / wannechgelift

Thank You and Please

Level 1

Merci = thank you, wannechgelift = please: E Kaffi, wannechgelift. – Merci! – Gär geschitt!

How It Works

Thank you

  • Merci! – thank you.
  • Villmools merci! or Merci villmools! – thank you very much.
  • Merci fir d'Hëllef! – thanks for the help. Fir takes the accusative, so the article is d', not der.
  • Nee, merci. – no, thank you.

You’re welcome
Answer a thank you with Gär geschitt! or the longer Et ass gär geschitt!

Please
Wannechgelift usually comes after the request, separated by a comma, or at the end of a question:

  • E Kaffi, wannechgelift. (A coffee, please.)
  • Wéi vill Auer ass et, wannechgelift? (What time is it, please?)

In notes and messages it is often shortened to wgl. (older texts write w.e.g.). See common abbreviations.

Being extra polite
To be even more polite, ask with a conditional such as ech hätt gär or Kéint Dir ...?, and still add wannechgelift.

Didn’t hear?
Watgelift? is the polite way to ask someone to repeat what they said.

Examples (6)

  1. E Kaffi, wannechgelift.

    A coffee, please.

    Word by Word: A coffee, please.

  2. Villmools merci!

    Thank you very much!

    Word by Word: Many-times thanks!

  3. Merci fir Är Hëllef!

    Thank you for your help!

    Word by Word: Thanks for your help!

    Är is the polite your, used when you say Dir to someone.

  4. Merci! – Gär geschitt!

    Thanks! – You’re welcome!

    Word by Word: Thanks! – Gladly happened!

  5. Wéi vill Auer ass et, wannechgelift?

    What time is it, please?

    Word by Word: How much hour is it, please?

  6. Wëlls du nach Téi? – Nee, merci.

    Would you like some more tea? – No, thank you.

    Word by Word: Want you still tea? – No, thanks.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the dative after fir.

    Merci fir der Hëllef!
    Merci fir d'Hëllef!

    Fir always takes the accusative. For a feminine noun like Hëllef, the accusative article is d'.

  • Using the pronoun Iech instead of the possessive Är.

    Merci fir Iech Hëllef!
    Merci fir Är Hëllef!

    Iech means you. To say your help, use the possessive Är (polite) or deng (to a friend): Merci fir deng Hëllef!

How It Connects

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

merci / wannechgeliftLevel 1Thank You and Please

Learn This First

Before Thank You and Please, learn Hello and Goodbye: Moien and Äddi.

Words in This Pattern

geschéien