# Thank you, please and sorry in Esperanto: polite phrases

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/thanks-and-politeness/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-07

> Thank you in Esperanto is Dankon!, please is Bonvolu or mi petas, sorry is Pardonu! Pronunciation, replies and a guide to formal and informal use.

"Thank you" in Esperanto is ***Dankon!*** (DAN-kon). "Please" is ***bonvolu*** (bon-VO-lu) before a verb or ***mi petas*** (mi PE-tas) after a request. "Sorry" is ***Pardonu!*** (par-DO-nu), or ***Mi bedaŭras*** (mi be-DAŬ-ras) for real regret. Pronunciation guides on this page show the stressed syllable in capitals; it is always the second-to-last (see the [alphabet](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/alphabet/)).

## Quick reference

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Typical reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thank you | *Dankon!* | DAN-kon | *Ne dankinde.* |
| Thank you very much | *Multan dankon!* | MUL-tan DAN-kon | *Ne dankinde.* |
| You're welcome | *Ne dankinde.* | ne dan-KIN-de | – |
| Please (before a verb) | *Bonvolu sidiĝi.* | bon-VO-lu si-DI-ĝi | *Dankon.* |
| Please (asking for something) | *Akvon, mi petas.* | A-kvon mi PE-tas | *Jen.* |
| Here you are | *Jen!* | jen | *Dankon!* |
| Excuse me / sorry | *Pardonu (min)!* | par-DO-nu (min) | *Ne gravas.* |
| I'm sorry (I regret it) | *Mi bedaŭras.* | mi be-DAŬ-ras | *Ne gravas.* |
| I apologise | *Mi pardonpetas.* | mi par-don-PE-tas | *Ne gravas.* |
| Bless you / cheers | *Sanon!* | SA-non | *Dankon.* |
| Enjoy your meal | *Bonan apetiton!* | BO-nan a-pe-TI-ton | *Dankon, ankaŭ al vi.* |

## Saying thank you

*Dankon* is the [accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/) of *danko* "thanks"; PMEG treats it as a short form of *Mi donas al vi dankon* "I give you thanks". The same root gives *danki* "to thank", *danka* "grateful" and *dankinda* "worth thanking" (see [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/)).

- ***Multan dankon!*** – "many thanks".
- ***Koran dankon!*** (KO-ran DAN-kon) – "heartfelt thanks", from *koro* "heart".
- ***Dankegon!*** (dan-KE-gon) – "big thanks"; *-eg-* intensifies, and PMEG uses this very word as its example.
- ***Mi dankas vin.*** (mi DAN-kas vin) – "I thank you", a full sentence.

Give the reason with *pro* or *por* plus a noun: *Dankon pro via helpo* (DAN-kon pro VI-a HEL-po) "thanks for your help". PMEG calls both correct; Zamenhof's *Fundamento* uses *por* (*Mi dankas vin por la prunto*), while *pro* is now very common. For an action use *ke*: *Dankon, ke vi venis* "thanks for coming".

One trap: ReVo warns that a bare *Dankon* in answer to an offer is unclear. To *Ĉu vi deziras kafon?* ("Would you like coffee?") say *Jes, dankon* or *Ne, dankon*.

## Replying to thanks

***Ne dankinde*** (ne dan-KIN-de) is the standard reply. It is literally "not worth thanking" (*ne* + *dank-* + *-ind-* "worthy" + *-e*) and is also written *nedankinde*. ReVo quotes *Ne dankinde, estas mia plezuro* – "You're welcome, it's my pleasure" – and the joke *Ne dankinde, sed kisinde!* – "not worth thanks, but worth kisses". Text messages shorten it to *ND*.

***Volonte*** (vo-LON-te) means "gladly" and answers a request or offer, as in the *Fundamento* exercises: *Tre volonte, mia bona* – "Very gladly, my good woman". It is not the usual reply to *Dankon*.

## Saying please

Esperanto has no single "please"; it uses several constructions.

- ***Bonvolu*** + infinitive – from *bonvoli* "to be so kind as to" (*bon-* "good" + *vol-* "will"): *Bonvolu sidiĝi* – "Please sit down". PMEG warns against a second imperative (*Bonvolu sidu*), notes that Zamenhof wrote the plainer *volu sidiĝi*, and accepts *Bonvole sidu* as a logical alternative.
- ***…, mi petas*** – "I ask you", added after a request: *Akvon, mi petas* – "Water, please"; *Sidiĝu, mi petas* – "Sit down, please".
- ***Jen!*** – "here you are", said when handing something over; ReVo defines it as a word that draws attention, as in *jen prenu seĝon* "here, take a chair".

## Saying sorry

***Pardonu!*** or ***Pardonu min!*** (par-DO-nu min) is literally "forgive (me)". ReVo defines it as a request to tolerate a nuisance without anger. Use it for bumping into someone, interrupting, or starting a question: *Pardonu, ĉu la sidloko estas okupita?* – "Excuse me, is this seat taken?" *Pardonu min* and *Pardonu al mi* are both correct; the *Fundamento* uses both.

***Mi bedaŭras*** means "I regret it" and suits refusals and bad news: *Mi bedaŭras, sed tio ne eblas* – "I'm sorry, but that is not possible". ***Mi pardonpetas*** is a more formal "I apologise"; PMEG sees *Mi sincere pardonpetas pro la malfruiĝo* as close in meaning to *Pardonu min pro la malfruiĝo!*

Answer an apology with ***Ne gravas*** (ne GRA-vas) – "it doesn't matter" – or *Ne zorgu* "don't worry".

## Other polite phrases

- ***Sanon!*** (SA-non) – literally "health"; said after a sneeze or as a toast.
- ***Bonan apetiton!*** (BO-nan a-pe-TI-ton) – ReVo calls it a wish said before a meal.
- ***Ĝis!*** and ***Ĝis revido!*** – see [greetings and goodbyes](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/greetings/).

More everyday phrases are on [basic Esperanto phrases](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/basic/); the [first lesson of the course](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/course/lesson-01/) puts greetings in a dialogue, and the [dictionary](https://esperantopedia.org/dictionary/) shows how each word is built.

## Are there formal and informal ways to say thank you in Esperanto?

No. Esperanto has no separate formal and informal "thank you": *Dankon!* works with everyone, and you set the tone with extra words such as *multan*, *koran* or *Mi tre dankas vin pro…*. Requests and apologies work the same way.

### A rough scale

This grouping is our own, not an official scale.

| Level | Thanks | Requests |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday | *Dankon!* | *Salon, mi petas.* |
| Polite | *Multan dankon!*, *Dankegon!* | *Bonvolu doni al mi la salon.* |
| Formal | *Koran dankon!*, *Mi tre dankas vin pro…* | *Ĉu vi bonvolus doni al mi la salon?* |

*Ĉu vi povus…?* "Could you…?" also makes a polite request, says PMEG.

### Vi, ci and titles

Esperanto has no formal "you": ***vi*** serves for one person or many, friend or stranger (see [pronouns](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/pronouns/)). A singular *ci* appears in the *Fundamento* word list, but PMEG says it was never really used and has no fixed nuance, so skip it.

Respect shows in titles instead: *sinjoro* "Mr, sir" (sin-JO-ro), *sinjorino* "Ms, madam" (sin-jo-RI-no) and *gesinjoroj* "Mr and Mrs, ladies and gentlemen". Never put *la* before a form of address: *Estimata prezidanto…* "Dear Chairman…" (PMEG's example). To a friend write *Kara Maria* "Dear Maria".

## Common questions

### How do you say thank you in Esperanto?

*Dankon!* (DAN-kon). For "thank you very much" say *Multan dankon!*; for "thanks for your help" say *Dankon pro via helpo*.

### How do you respond to dankon?

With *Ne dankinde* (ne dan-KIN-de), literally "not worth thanking". *Nedankinde* in one word is also correct.

### How do you say please in Esperanto?

*Bonvolu* before an infinitive (*Bonvolu atendi* – "Please wait") or *mi petas* after the request (*Kafon, mi petas* – "A coffee, please").

### How do you say sorry in Esperanto?

*Pardonu!* for "excuse me" or a small apology, *Mi bedaŭras* for real regret, *Mi pardonpetas* for a formal apology.

### Is there a formal "you" in Esperanto?

No. *Vi* is used for everyone. Politeness comes from words such as *bonvolu*, *sinjoro* and *estimata*.

## Sources

- [PMEG: Mallongigitaj frazoj – Dankon! as a short form](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/frazospecoj/mallongigitaj_frazoj.html)
- [PMEG: Ĝentila peto – bonvolu, mi petas, volu](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj/vola.html)
- [PMEG: Pro and Por – thanking with pro or por](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/rolvortetoj/aliaj_rolvortetoj/pro.html), [por](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/rolvortetoj/aliaj_rolvortetoj/por.html)
- [PMEG: Dua persono – vi and ci](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/pronomoj/dua.html)
- [PMEG: Alvoko – addressing someone (sinjoro, estimata)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/sen/alvoko.html)
- [PMEG: Al – Pardonu al mi / Pardonu min](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/rolvortetoj/direktaj_rolvortetoj/al.html)
- [PMEG: Fraztipoj kaj frazfunkcioj – Mi pardonpetas, Ĉu vi povus…?](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/frazospecoj/fraztipoj_frazfunkcioj.html)
- [PMEG: Sufikso EG – dankegon](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/eg.html)
- [Fundamento: Ekzercaro (Mi dankas vin por la prunto; Tre volonte; Pardonu al mi)](https://www.akademio-de-esperanto.org/fundamento/ekzercaro.html) and [Universala Vortaro (ci, bedaŭr', volont', sinjor')](https://www.akademio-de-esperanto.org/fundamento/universala_vortaro.html)
- ReVo: [danki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dank.html), [pardoni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pardon.html), [bedaŭri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bedaux.html), [volonte](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/volont.html), [jen](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jen.html), [apetito](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/apetit.html), [sinjoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sinjor.html)
- Wiktionary: [ne dankinde](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ne_dankinde), [bonvoli](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bonvoli), [sanon](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sanon), [ne gravas](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ne_gravas)
- [Omniglot: Useful Esperanto phrases (Dankon / Dankegon)](https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/esperanto.php)