In German
Bitte
Meaning: please / you're welcome
Formal or informal? “Bitte” is polite in every situation. “Bitte schön” is a slightly warmer way to hand something over.
Example sentences
Bitte,nimmPlatz.
Please, take a seat.
EinenKaffee,bitte.
A coffee, please.
Bitteschön!–Danke!
Here you go! – Thank you!
Grammar note
“Bitte” is not a verb or a noun; it's a short word that can go almost anywhere in the sentence, and it means “please” or “here you are”, depending on context.
Common mistake
Don't use “Bitte” as a reply to “Entschuldigung”. For that, say “Kein Problem”.
Quick check
Which of these means “please”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Is “Bitte” the same as “Danke”?
No. “Danke” means thank you; “Bitte” means please, and it's also the common reply to “Danke”.
What do Germans say when they hand you something?
“Bitte schön” or simply “Bitte”, meaning “here you are”.