What is the difference in usage between “Vielen Dank” and “Danke schön”?

Question

I know that they are both essentially polite and mean "Thanks a lot", "Many thanks" etc. but I've always wondered if there is a specific difference between the two.

Is there a specific context or situation where one is clearly more appropriate to use than the other? Or are both terms entirely interchangeable?

Answer 1

I cannot tell you anything about etymology and so forth, but my (native German) gut tells me this:

As an interjection in a conversation, I'd say both terms are virtually equivalent, at least it's hard to think of any situation where one would be appropriate while the other would not. Even if you encounter the counterpart of "Danke schön" — "Bitte schön" — it is still fine to use either.

However, if used with "für", it would sound odd not to use "... Dank":

• Hab' [vielen] Dank für das nette Geschenk! <— okay
• [Haben Sie] vielen Dank für die Blumen! <— okay and even idiomatic
• Danke schön für das Eis! <— sounds weird (and wrong) to me, but I'm not sure if it is technically admissible

In written text, such as e-mails, I would rather not use "Danke schön" but always "Vielen Dank".

Answer 2

I asked some native German speakers about it, they answered:

(1): Das ist fast gleich

(2): Wenn jemand eine nette Rede hält, sage ich: vielen Dank,
Wenn jemand etwas Gutes für mich macht sage ich: danke schön
Aber das ist eigentlich alles gleich

(3): Als Deutscher ist beides für mich gleich

So there isn't a situation where one is more appropriate than the other, it's a matter of taste. Just like English, people don't say "thanks a lot" as much as "thanks" or "thank you" and "thank you" is more formal. I'd say "vielen Dank" is like "thanks a lot", as someone else said:

Für mich ist "vielen dank" noch höflicher als nur "danke schön"
Außerdem würde ich in einer offiziellen email nur "vielen dank" und nicht "danke schön" schreiben.

"Dankeschön" is less formal than "Vielen Dank" and is widely used among friends and families in Germany.

It depends on social class of the person somehow. As I found out, educated people distinguish between them but normal people do not.

Answer 3

No, there is no difference in usability.

---

Nein, es gibt keinen Unterschied in der Verwendung.

Answer 4

Just to point it out, what bitmask already mentioned.

Danke schön sounds awkward in any sentences. I will copy his example:

Danke schön für das Eis!

It's not completely wrong, at least in colloquial use, but I think, if you want to phrase it like this (in written text), I would place a comma:

Danke schön, für das Eis!

Now you have an interjection Danke schön and in addition an separate phrase explaining what for you said thanks.

So, Danke schön is more just an interjection and stands alone. Example: You get an gift and you hug the person while saying:

Danke schööööön!

(Most people stresses the ö extremely ;p)

In written context, imho, you use Danke schön only for direct speech.

Als ich Max das Geschenk überreichte, sagte er "Danke schön".

but better would be

Als ich Max das Geschenke überreichte, bedankte er sich bei mir.

In formal context or whenever you want to phrase a full sentence, you take Vielen Dank. That sounds much better:

Für die Aufmerksamkeit noch vielen Dank, aber das wäre nicht nötig gewesen.

Although this isn't any good example, because most (or every) native speaker wouldn't phrase it like this. I just did it this way to show that is is theoretically possible.

Answer 5

I would say "Vielen Dank" can be both speaking (semi-formal) and writing, whereas "Danke schön" is used only in speaking and more casual way.