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Which German word means both 'please' and 'you're welcome'?

Bitte means please and you're welcome.

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  1. Danke
  2. Bitte ✔
  3. Entschuldigung

Why: Bitte works for 'please' when you ask and 'you're welcome' after someone thanks you. It can also mean 'here you are' when handing something over.

Huh, didn't know that: Wiktionary lists 'bitte schön' and 'gern geschehen' as other ways to say you're welcome.

The dad joke
I learned one German word that means please, you're welcome and here you go. Bitte, my vocabulary just tripled.
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References

Answer: Bitte. Bitte works for 'please' when you ask and 'you're welcome' after someone thanks you. It can also mean 'here you are' when handing something over.

  1. Wiktionary: bitte en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bitte
    bitte please, if you please (used to make a polite request or affirm an offer)
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. Wiktionary: bitte en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bitte
    bitte you're welcome (acknowledgement of thanks)
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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