The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising a ratchet-type mechanism (1, 2) substantially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). In addition, at least one spring element (7) having at least one elongate spring leg (8) is provided. The spring leg (8) interacts with the rotary latch (1) for damping the movement thereof. To this end, a contact surface (9) of the rotary latch (1) can be made to contact the spring leg (8) substantially tangentially thereto. According to the invention, the spring leg (8) generates a force (F) at the level of said contact surface (9), which force acts in the opening direction (Ö) of the rotary latch (1).