How to say Sorry! List of different ways to say “I’m Sorry” in English you should know. Learn these synonyms for I’m sorry to improve your English speaking skill.
Learn more about how to make and accept an apology in English.
- Excuse me
- Ever so sorry.
- How stupid/careless/thoughtless of me.
- I apologize.
- I had that wrong.
- I hope you can forgive me.
- I owe you an apology.
- I sincerely apologize.
- I take full responsibility.
- I want to apologize.
- I wanted to tell you I’m sorry.
- I was wrong about that.
- I’d like to apologize.
- I’d like to apologize for how I reacted yesterday.
- I’m (so/very/terribly) sorry.
- My apologies.
- My fault, bro (US)
- My mistake.
- Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry. I should have watched where I was going.
- Oh, my bad.
- Pardon (me)
- Please accept our (sincerest) apologies.
- Please don’t be mad at me.
- Please excuse my (ignorance)
- Sorry about that.
- Sorry, my apologies. I had that wrong.
- Sorry. It was all my fault.
- That was wrong of me.
- That’s my fault.
- Whoops! Sorry!
- I beg your pardon
- My bad (US)
- Excuse me for interrupting.
- I was wrong. Can you forgive me?
- Pardon me for being so rude.
How and When to Use Other Ways to Say I’m Sorry
- Excuse me
“Excuse me” is a polite way of asking for forgiveness. If you commit a social crime like interrupting a conversation you may say “excuse me for interrupting” to show your adherence to social expectations. If unaware of the social indiscretion you committed you could apologize by saying “please excuse my ignorance”.
- Beating yourself up
Sometimes people say “I’m sorry” by verbally beating themselves up. Using statements like “how stupid/careless/thoughtless of me” or “oh my goodness! I’m so sorry. I should have watched where I was going” expresses condemnation for your actions.
- I take full responsibility
Being direct and taking responsibility for your actions is a good way to say that you are sorry. Statements like “I wanted to tell you I’m sorry”, “sorry, it was all my fault”, “that was wrong of me”, “sorry about that”, and “that’s my fault” show accountability.
- Admitting mistakes
Sometimes people express mistakes without directly saying “I’m sorry”. They admit their failings by stating “I was wrong about that” or “I had that wrong”. In these instances, they imply that they are sorry.
- I’m (so/very/terribly) sorry
So, very, and terribly are adverbs of degree. They express the intensity of your feelings of regret. Use degree adverbs when committing larger mistakes. Using these adverbs when apologizing for smaller mistakes seems over the top. In these situations, an apology can be read as sarcastic and insincere.
- My apologies
Use my apologies when formally apologizing to co-workers in a business environment. Sometimes individuals utter my apologies when greeted with solicitations that they must decline.
Do not insert “my apologies” or “ever so sorry” into a conversation in a relaxed setting. Using a formal apology in this setting can give off a sarcastic vibe. They come to mean the opposite of the thought you initially wanted to express.
Stating “Sorry, my apologies. I had that wrong.” is another way to formally express regret for a mistake in a business setting. In addition, “I apologize”, “I want to apologize”, “I owe you an apology”, “I sincerely apologize”, “Please accept our (sincerest) apologies”, “I’d like to apologize for how I reacted yesterday”, and” I’d like to apologize” all indicate regret in a formal manner.
- Oh, my bad/My mistake/My fault, bro (US)
Employ any of the above slang expressions when you commit any tiny infraction in a casual setting. You can say “oh, my bad” to take responsibility for missing a shot on the court or for bumping into someone.
- Please don’t be mad at me
Instead of uttering apologies, some people communicate regret by asking for your generosity and forgiveness indirectly. “Please don’t be mad at me” expresses regret for the consequences of an action indirectly.
- Whoops! Sorry!
People often exclaim “Whoops! Sorry” when they want to acknowledge a small faux pas they made in a social setting. You can often hear this expression uttered when someone spills a drink. People utter this expression when apologizing for small infractions that have no long-term consequences.
- I beg your pardon
“I beg your pardon”, “pardon me”, “pardon” or “pardon me for being so rude” are all ways you can ask another person to excuse your behavior or mistake. When used as a verb “pardon” means courtesy, but when used as a noun “pardon” demands forgiveness.
- Forgiveness appeals
Asking for forgiveness is another way that people communicate that they are sorry. “I was wrong. Can you forgive me?” and “I hope you can forgive me.” are examples of how asking for forgiveness can equal “I.m sorry”.
Ways to Say I’m Sorry in Speaking and Writing | Images
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Last Updated on January 29, 2023
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Last updated:
August 16, 2022
Oh no, I did something wrong.
I wish I hadn’t said that.
I feel really bad about what I did.
All of us have felt bad about something we did or said.
Wouldn’t life be so much easier if it came with an “undo” button?
Unfortunately, we can’t change the past. We have to live with the consequences (results or effects) of our previous choices.
But there’s a magic word that we can use to make things a little better.
Can you guess what it is? (Hint: It’s only five letters long!)
Yes, you’re right. It’s “sorry.”
Learning to say sorry in English is essential to speaking polite English. It’ll help you in personal relationships as well as professional ones. Keep reading to learn essential phrases, tips and tricks for saying sorry in English.
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This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Saying Sorry: The Absolute Basics
Saying “sorry” means we admit our mistake (whatever we did wrong) and take responsibility for our actions. It means we’ve done something bad and now we’re trying to do better.
I’m sorry for hurting your feelings. I promise I will not be mean to you again.
We also say “sorry” when we’re feeling really bad about someone and we want to show that we understand and care for their feelings.
I’m really sorry to hear that you lost your job.
The word “sorry” is used in many situations.
Also, depending on what we did and who we’re speaking to, the way we apologize (say sorry) changes.
Common Vocabulary Words for Saying Sorry
Sometimes, just saying sorry isn’t enough.
There are specific words and phrases we can use to express or explain our feelings.
I’ll be using them in this post, so first let’s learn some of the most important words related to saying sorry:
Apologize (verb): To say sorry.
Regret (noun or verb): The horrible feeling when we wish that we hadn’t done a certain thing.
I have lots of regrets about the way I acted. (Noun)
I regret signing up for that stressful job. (Verb)
Apologetic (adjective): Showing regret for something you’ve done.
She was really apologetic about shouting at you in the meeting.
Ashamed (adjective): Feeling really bad or embarrassed about past actions.
I am ashamed of how hurtful I was to my sister.
Remorseful (adjective): The painful awareness of our wrongdoing. Similar to “ashamed.”
After fighting with his best friend, he was remorseful about the way he had treated her.
Fault (noun): A flaw or an error. When used with a personal pronoun like “my” or “your,” it means taking responsibility for your actions or assigning blame.
It was my fault that we arrived late, and I’m sorry.
I’m sorry we’re late, but it was her fault, not mine.
Mistake (noun): Any error or misunderstanding. We frequently use the word “mistake” with the verb “make.”
I made too many mistakes, so we failed the group project.
Forgive (verb): To stop feeling angry or upset at a person who did something bad.
I don’t know if I can forgive her yet.
Quick Tips for Sincere Apologies
Saying sorry won’t fix a problem immediately. An apology isn’t a good apology until you mean it and you really want to do better. Here are some quick tips for sincere apologies in English:
- Take responsibility for your mistake(s): Admit that it was your fault, using the first person (I, me, my, mine). Don’t blame anyone else for your actions.
- Focus on your body language and tone: Make eye contact with your listener and try to speak in a soft and calm voice. Your apology must sound sincere and heartfelt.
- Ask for forgiveness: If it’s a major mistake, you must ask for forgiveness. But be prepared for the fact that there’s a chance that you may not be forgiven.
Saying Sorry in English: Essential Phrases for Perfect English Apologies
As I’ve mentioned before, saying sorry depends on context.
In other words, apologizing is different depending on the situation. Did you really make somebody feel bad, or did you make a very small mistake, like bumping into somebody at the store? Are you talking to a boss, or are you talking to your best friend? Did you make a mistake, or are you offering comfort?
All of these things will impact how you say sorry.
I’ve included many different phrases that can be used in each of these situations.
Check out my examples. Pay special attention to the phrases in bold. These are the essential (most important) phrases you need to learn to say sorry.
To get you started, check out the video below, which gives a helpful overview of the different ways to use sorry in English with explanations, context-specific examples and native clips.
Saying Sorry When You’ve Done Something Wrong
Very often, we make major mistakes or we mess up.
Some of these mistakes might be deliberate—that is, done on purpose. (Perhaps you got angry at a coworker, so you took something from their desk.) Some mistakes could be accidents or misunderstandings.
But either way, if the mistake was your fault, you should own up to it (accept responsibility) and apologize.
I’m so sorry. I was incorrect.
I apologize for my mistake. I should have been paying more attention.
That was wrong of me. I promise I will never do it again.
I messed up and I’m sorry. I will try to do better next time.
Saying Sorry When You’ve Hurt Someone’s Feelings
All our actions have consequences and affect people around us.
Sometimes what we say or do can upset people.
In such cases, it’s important to apologize as well as to ask for forgiveness. You can also ask what you can do to make the other person feel better.
I’m very sorry for forgetting the groceries. Please don’t be mad at me.
I didn’t mean to hurt you but I’m sorry I did. Will you please give me another chance?
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.
I’m filled with remorse for what I did last night.
It was my fault that I lost my temper. Will you please forgive me?
I’m so sorry. I’m ashamed of lying to you.
I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to make this up to you?
I truly regret what I did.
Saying Sorry When You’ve Made a Small Mistake
Not all of our mistakes are big. Bumping into someone in a store or stepping on someone’s toes when you’re in a hurry are minor mistakes. They might happen when we’re careless or distracted.
However, we should still apologize in these situations.
Here are some simple phrases for small mistakes. Remember to say these phrases with a smile and a cheerful tone:
Oh, sorry! I didn’t see you there! (Used when you step on someone’s toes or bump into someone)
Sorry about that!
Sorry, it was an accident!
Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that!
Saying Sorry When You Want to Express Sympathy for Others
Saying sorry isn’t just for when you make a mistake.
We also say it when we want to sympathize with others. In other words, we say sorry to show that we understand and care about our family members, friends or acquaintances when they experience difficulties.
Here are some phrases you can use to sympathize with someone:
I’m so sorry to hear about your break-up. How are you coping now that she has left?
I’m sorry that this happened to you. It must have been so terrible. No one should have to go through that.
I’m very sorry. I’ve been through this and I understand how you feel.
I cannot express how sorry I am to hear about this.
I’m really sorry to hear that you lost your job. I’m here for you if you wish to talk about it.
However, if the context is the death of someone, we usually use the phrase “my condolences.”
I’m sorry to hear about your father. My condolences. He must have been a great man.
Saying Sorry When You’re Trying to Get Someone’s Attention
In certain cases, you can use “sorry” to get someone’s attention. This is useful when you need somebody to repeat something, or when you need somebody to move.
Sorry, could you please repeat what you said?
Sorry, could you move over a bit so I can get through?
Sorry, could you pass me my jacket?
In these situations, we can also use words like “pardon” or “excuse me.”
Pardon? Could you repeat that?
Excuse me, can you pass me the salt?
Bonus Phrases: Saying Sorry in Special Situations
So far, I’ve talked about some of the most common situations where we need to apologize.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of saying sorry, let’s look at some more advanced phrases that native speakers might use. These are some phrases you might use in very informal situations (such as talking to a close friend), or very formal situations (such as a professional email).
Saying Sorry in Very Informal Situations
The way we apologize to a stranger is different from the way we speak to a close friend.
In fact, when it comes to casual situations with friends, we often use informal or “slang” language. These terms are especially good for talking about small mistakes.
My bad, I forgot to bring the book.
Oops, sorry!
How silly/careless/stupid of me to say that!
I goofed, sorry!
Whoops!
Sometimes, if we’re texting with friends, we can shorten the word “sorry” or modify the spelling.
Sry. See ya soon! (Sorry. See you soon!)
Saying Sorry in Formal Situations
Apologies are really important in crucial situations, such as the workplace or an official environment.
For instance, employees may have to apologize to their bosses, either in writing or in person, if their work isn’t good enough. Or, workers may have to say sorry to customers or clients when something goes wrong.
In these cases, it’s best to use formal phrases. For example:
I would like to sincerely apologize for my mistake.
My apologies. I take full responsibility for that failure.
I owe you an explanation for my disappointing behavior.
In a professional email, you can use phrases that are even more formal. For example:
Please accept my sincerest apologies regarding…
Please accept this as my formal apology for…
Allow me to apologize on behalf of the entire company.
It’s really uncomfortable when you know you’ve done something wrong, but you don’t know the right words or phrases to admit your faults.
After reading this, you’ll never feel that way again!
Now, you know how to say sorry in any situation. Try practicing the above words and phrases by saying them out loud in front of the mirror.
If you’re unsure of how to pronounce certain words, look them up in an online dictionary. And remember, an apology isn’t an apology until you mean it. So try to be as sincere as you can, and keep practicing until you get it right!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Англичане — настоящий образец вежливости. Всем известно, что если британец случайно заденет вас на улице — он попросит прощения, даже если не виноват.
Недаром в английском языке существует много слов, обозначающих извинения: от простого sorry до beg your pardon. Все это — apologizing words and phrases (извинительные слова и фразы). У каждого из них есть своя степень сожаления и уместное применение.
В этой статье вы узнаете как сказать «прости меня», «извините», «прошу прощения» по-английски, чем отличаются друг от друга эти выражения и в каких случаях употребляются.
Excuse me vs I’m sorry
Оба слова переводятся на русский язык как «простите», но употребляются в разном контексте. Давайте раз и навсегда разберемся с ними:
Excuse me
Это выражение обычно применяется как «предпрощение», то есть, вы заранее извиняетесь за то, что будет сейчас сделано или сказано.
И это не обязательно будет какая-то подлость с вашей стороны. Если вы намереваетесь спросить у незнакомца время, как пройти до достопримечательности или узнать у смотрителя где находится платформа — то ваша фраза должна начинаться с excuse me.
Excuse me, could you tell me what time it is? – Простите, вы не подскажете, который сейчас час?
Excuse me, where is the nearest flower shop here? — Простите, вы не подскажете, где здесь ближайший цветочный магазин?
Так, excuse me — это самый вежливый способ обратиться к человеку с просьбой или привлечь его внимание. Конечно, некоторые могут обратиться к вам на улице просто кликнув «Hey!» («Эй!») или похлопав по плечу, но мы сейчас говорим о хороших манерах.
Sorry
В отличие от excuse me, слово sorry выражает извинения и сожаления уже постфактум. На русский язык переводится как «простите» или «сожалею».
Так, если вы наступили кому-то на ногу в метро, разбили чью-то чашку или опоздали на встречу — будет уместнее сказать «I’m sorry».
I’m sorry I have broken your favourite coffee cup — Прости, что я разбил твою любимую кофейную кружку.
I’m sorry for being late — Извините за опоздание.
Также, словом sorry можно выразить сожаления по поводу какого-то события с помощью фразы «I’m sorry about that» (Я сожалею об этом).
Основное отличие этих выражений — разница между попыткой заранее извиниться (excuse me) и сожалением о чем-то уже произошедшем (sorry). Они сильно меняют эмоциональный окрас фразы и общий посыл сказанного. Давайте сравним на примере.
Ситуация: вы пришли в кинотеатр, купили билет, заходите в зал и обнаруживаете, что кто-то сидит на вашем месте. Как вы поступите и что скажете? «Excuse me, but this is my seat» (Простите, но это мое место) или «I’m sorry, but this is my seat» (Очень сожалею, но это мое место)?
«I’m sorry» в данном случае не подойдет: вы будто извиняетесь, что этот человек сидит не на своем месте, хотя в подобной ситуации извиняться нужно скорее ему. Так что верный вариант — «Excuse me, but this is my seat». Эту фразу можно произнести холодно и твердо, тогда человек ответит вам «I’m sorry» и освободит место.
Sorry
И еще раз, о самом распространенном извинении в английском языке. Оно переводится на русский как «прости», «извини» и используется в самых разных ситуациях. Если вы бежали на остановку и задели зонтом случайного прохожего или наступили кому-то на ногу в толпе, то должны остановиться и сказать «I’m sorry!» (Извините!).
Также, если хотите переспросить собеседника в случае, когда не расслышали его предыдущую фразу — можете сказать «Sorry?» с вопросительной интонацией, это будет означать «Что?». Хотя чаще всего переспрашивают что-то фразой «Pardon?», о которой мы поговорим чуть ниже.
У слова sorry и степени сожаления есть свои градации. Вспомогательные слова so, very и другие помогают выразить эту степень:
Sorry — Извини
I’m sorry — Я извиняюсь / Я сожалею
I’m so sorry — Мне так жаль
I’m very sorry — Я очень сожалею / Мне очень жаль
I’m really sorry — Я действительно сожалею
I am awfully sorry — Я ужасно сожалею / Я дико извиняюсь
I am very, very sorry about it! – Я очень, очень сожалею об этом!
Есть еще одна изысканная фраза, которую не часто встретишь в повседневной речи, и годится она больше для высшего общества и формальных ситуаций. Но знать ее будет не лишним:
I beg your pardon — Я прошу прощения
Помните, что в извинениях гораздо большую ролью играет тон речи, ваши жесты и мимика, чем то, что вы говорите.
Так, если в слове «pardon» интонация к концу фразы понижается — это извинение за что-то, оно переводится как «простите пожалуйста».
Но когда интонация в «pardon» повышается и все указывает на вопрос, то это просьба повторить сказанное ранее, если человек вас не расслышал.
Forgive me
Это выражение также переводится с английского как «прости меня», но имеет намного больший вес. Так, фразой «forgive me» просят прощения за какие-то давние дела, сильные обиды, измены, предательство и прочее. Это буквально «умолять, стоя на коленях».
Please, forgive me! I was such a fool! — Пожалуйста, прости меня! Я был таким дураком!
Так что если вы опоздали на назначенную встречу на 15 минут — просто скажите «I’m sorry for coming late» (Извините, что задержался), а вот если предали близкого друга много лет назад и хотите восстановить отношения — стоит идти к нему с повинной и фразой «forgive me».
Apologize
Достаточно официальный вариант, который переводится на русский язык как «принести извинения». Такая фраза встречается в основном в деловой корреспонденции, официальных объявлениях и ряде подобных случаев.
We apologize for any inconvenience — Приносим свои извинения за доставленные неудобства.
Please accept our humble apology — Просим принять наши глубочайшие извинения.
В повседневной речи мало кто использует такие обороты, обычно просто говорят «We’re so sorry about that» (Мы очень сожалеем об этом).
Нестандартные фразы для извинений:
My fault — Виноват
It’s my fault — Это моя вина
No offence — Без обид / Не обижайся
Oops! I really didn’t want to — Ой, я не хотел, честно-честно!
That’s my bad — Виноват!
Please don’t be angry with me — Пожалуйста, не злись на меня.
Please forgive me, if you can — Пожалуйста прости, если сможешь.
Изысканные варианты:
Excuse my omission — Простите мою оплошность.
I want to ask your forgiveness — Позвольте попросить у вас прощения.
I must apologize to you — Я должен извиниться перед вами.
I deeply regret — Я глубоко сожалею.
Как ответить на извинение
Когда вам приносят извинения — стоит также вежливо их принять. Сделать это можно как угодно, но вот несколько распространенных фраз:
That’s OK / It’s OK — Всё в порядке
That’s quite all right — Да всё в порядке
I’m fine — Я в порядке
None taken — Я не обиделся (ответ на фразу «No offence»)
И конечно, британцы сразу же предлагают не волноваться и забыть о случившемся:
Don’t’ worry — Не волнуйтесь
Never mind — Не бери в голову
It doesn’t matter — Это не важно
I quite understand — Я понимаю
Forget it — Забудьте об этом
Don’t mention it — Не обращайте внимания
No need to be sorry — Не стоит извиняться
Есть и официальный вариант, который можно употребить, если вы очень злитесь на кого-то близкого, уже простили его, но хотите «держать марку»:
Apology accepted — Извинения приняты
Ну а если не хотите принимать извинения — начните с фразы «That is no excuse» (Это не оправдание). Но наш совет: just forget about it (просто забудьте об этом) и не ссорьтесь с близкими по пустякам.
Примеры предложений с извинениями:
Oh! I’m sorry! – Ой, извините!
I don’t feel like dancing right now, I’m sorry — Мне не хочется сейчас танцевать, извини.
Listen, I’m sorry about last night — Слушай, я сожалею о прошлой ночи.
Now, excuse me, I have to work it out with my homework — А сейчас извини. Мне нужно разобраться с моей домашней работой.
Coming through, excuse me, yes, thank you — Разрешите пройти, простите, да, спасибо.
I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me — Я надеюсь, ты найдешь в себе силы меня простить.
I was so afraid you would never forgive me — Я так боялась, что ты никогда не простишь меня.
Nothing I say or do will take that action away, but now I want to make it up to you by apologizing — Ничего из того, что я скажу или сделаю, не изменит случившегося, но я хочу загладить вину перед тобой своими извинениями.
I truly apologize for everything that happened last week — Я искренне раскаиваюсь во всем, что произошло на прошлой неделе.
I didn’t mean to hurt you — Я не хотел обидеть тебя.
I hope we can still be friends — Надеюсь, мы все еще можем остаться друзьями.
How to say sorry to someone you hurt? Different ways to say sorry to girlfriend. Creative ways to say sorry. Ways to say sorry without saying sorry
Creative Ways to Say Sorry
- I want to apologize.
- Whoops! Sorry!
- I’m admitting my mistakes.
- I apologize for…
- I’m so sorry.
- That’s my fault.
- Beating yourself up
- I apologize.
- Please, forgive me for my…
- That was wrong of me.
- Ever so sorry.
- I beg your pardon.
- Please, accept my apologies for…
- That was rude of me. I’m sorry.
- Excuse me!
- I had that wrong.
- Please excuse my late response.
- Sorry. It was all my fault.
- Excuse me for interrupting.
- I’m very sorry.
- I hope you can forgive me.
- Please don’t be mad at me.
- Sorry, my apologies. I had that wrong.
- Forgive me for what I said earlier. I didn’t mean to hurt you.
- Forgiveness appeals.
- Please accept our (sincerest) apologies.
- Sorry about that.
- How stupid thoughtless of me.
- I hope you’ll forgive me for…
- Pardon me for this…
- Please, forgive me for…
- I am so sorry for…
- I must apologize for…
- Pardon me for being so rude.
- Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry.
- I shouldn’t have…
- My mistake.
- I’m terribly sorry.
- I’m ashamed of…
- Oh my bad!
- My fault, bro!
- My apologies!
- It’s all my fault.
- I’d like to apologize for how I reacted yesterday.
- I owe you an apology.
- I sincerely apologize.
- My apologies for the delay.
- I was wrong. Can you forgive me?
- I was wrong about that.
- I’m extremely sorry.
- I take full responsibility
- My bad!
- I wanted to tell you I’m sorry.
- I’m really ashamed of what I did.
- I’d like to apologize for…
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