Other word to say sorry

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.

1. Excuse me
2. Ever so sorry.
3. How stupid/careless/thoughtless of me.
4. I apologize.
5. I had that wrong.
6. I hope you can forgive me.
7. I owe you an apology.
8. I sincerely apologize.
9. I take full responsibility.
10. I want to apologize.
11. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry.
12. I was wrong about that.
13. I’d like to apologize.
14. I’d like to apologize for how I reacted yesterday.
15. I’m (so/very/terribly) sorry.
16. My apologies.
17. My fault, bro (US)
18. My mistake.
19. Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry. I should have watched where I was going.
20. Oh, my bad.
21. Pardon (me)
22. Please accept our (sincerest) apologies.
23. Please don’t be mad at me.
24. Please excuse my (ignorance)
25. Sorry about that.
26. Sorry, my apologies. I had that wrong.
27. Sorry. It was all my fault.
28. That was wrong of me.
29. That’s my fault.
30. Whoops! Sorry!
31. I beg your pardon
32. My bad (US)
33. Excuse me for interrupting.
34. I was wrong. Can you forgive me?
35. 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

Pin

Pin

Last Updated on January 29, 2023

Saying sorry is a crucial part of any relationship, personal or professional. It signifies humility, empathy, and accountability and can go a long way in repairing relationships and restoring trust. But sometimes, the word “sorry” can start to feel overused, and it may not carry the same weight as it once did. In such cases, finding other ways to express your remorse and show that you take your mistakes seriously can be helpful.

Here are some alternative ways to say sorry:

1. Acknowledge the impact of your actions: Instead of just saying “I’m sorry,” try to express the impact of your actions on the person you have wronged. For example, you could say, “I understand that what I did hurt you, and I’m sorry for that.” This shows that you have taken the time to understand the situation and are genuinely remorseful.

2. Take responsibility: Own up to your mistakes and take responsibility for them. Instead of saying, “I’m sorry you feel that way,” try saying, “I’m sorry I did that, and I take full responsibility.” This takes the focus away from the other person’s feelings and places it on your actions.

3. Offer a solution: If possible, offer a solution or a way to make things right. For example, you could say, “I’m sorry for what I did. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” This shows that you are not just saying sorry to appease the other person but that you are willing to take steps to make amends.

4. Express empathy: Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and show that you understand their feelings. For example, you could say, “I can imagine how upset you must be, and I’m sorry for that.” This type of apology can be particularly effective in repairing relationships as it shows that you care about the other person’s feelings.

5. Ask for forgiveness: Sometimes, all it takes is a simple request for forgiveness. You could say, “I’m sorry for what I did, and I would like to ask for your forgiveness.” This can be a powerful way to show your remorse and rebuild trust.

6. Make amends: One of the best ways to show that you are genuinely sorry is to make amends. This could mean fixing the problem, compensating the person for any losses, or taking steps to prevent the mistake from happening again.

Final Words

In short, saying sorry is crucial to repairing relationships, but sometimes, the word “sorry” can start to feel overused. In such cases, finding alternative ways to express your remorse and show that you take your mistakes seriously can be helpful. Whether acknowledging the impact of your actions, taking responsibility, offering a solution, expressing empathy, asking for forgiveness, or making amends, there are many ways to say sorry that can go a long way in repairing relationships and restoring trust.

The Ultimate List of “I’m Sorry” Synonyms

powered by

LanguageTool

Saying “I’m sorry” can be hard. This list of synonyms can help you learn how to apologize sincerely in any situation.

While many poets and songwriters may say that “sorry” is the hardest word to say, learning how to say sorry in different languages is important.

One of the first things that you need to learn in a foreign language is basic phrases, such as
how to say “hello” and goodbye and how to
say “yes” and how to say “no”. How to say “sorry” is also important because, well, it’s only polite to take responsibility for your actions.

If you accidentally hurt or insulted someone, one way to make sure that it was only a momentary mistake and not an unforgivable error is to apologize properly. This is why learning to say sorry is so important.

In this post, we’ve gathered 31 words and phrases for sorry in different languages all over the world (we’ve also placed these words in a downloadable PDF). Take a look and maybe you’ll find that sorry isn’t that hard a word to learn.  

1. Spanish

What do you say? Lo siento

 Another common way to say sorry in Spanish is to use either “perdona” or “perdone”, this translates to “forgive me”. “Perdona” is what you use among friends and family, while “perdone” is what you use when addressing a stranger or a superior. 

2. Italian

What do you say? Mi dispiace

This is the formal way to say sorry in Italian, but you can also simply say “scusi”.

3. German 

What do you say? Es tut mir leid

You might also hear a German-speaker say “entschuldigung” if they want to apologize for a minor offense like bumping into you in the street.

4. French

What do you say? Je suis désolé/désolée

In accordance with
French word gender rules, f you are speaking to a man, use désolé. If you are speaking to a woman, use désolée. You can also skip adding “Je suis” which is a French phrase that translates to “I am”. 

5. Portuguese

What do you say? Sinto muito

This phrase is understood to mean “I’m sorry” by Portuguese speakers all over the world; however, you can also simply say the word “desculpa” if you want to apologize for your actions.

6. Russian

What do you say? Izvinite

This is the word to use if you are in a formal situation or apologizing for a small fault. You can also use “prostit”. 

Here is a body language tip for apologizing in Russian, look down as it makes your apology seem more sincere. 

7. Danish

What do you say? Undskyld

This is the word for “sorry” in Danish, so you can say “undskyld” and add what you are sorry for like being late or spilling a drink. You can also say “Je er ked af det” which means “I’m sorry.”

8. Dutch 

What do you say? Het spijt me

The literal translation of this Dutch phase is something like “it spites me” and Dutch speakers use it to express regret for their actions or, sorry.

9. Swedish 

What do you say? Förlåt

If you need to say sorry to someone who is senior to you or an elder, you might want to try the more formal “Jag skulle vilja be om ursäkt” which translates to I would like to apologize. 

10. Finnish

What do you say? Anteeksi

This Finnish word roughly translated to “I’m sorry” or “to apologize”.  You can just say this to mean that you are sorry or you can also say “olen pahoillani” which is a phrase that means “I’m sorry.”

11. Polish

What do you say? Przepraszam

This is the literal equivalent of “sorry” in Polish and is used both to apologize and also as a sort of “excuse me” if you want to get someone’s attention.

If you want to apologize on behalf of a group, you can say “przepraszamy” which is “we are sorry”.

12. Albanian

What do you say? Më fal

You can also say “Falni” which means “forgive me”.

13. Bosnian

What do you say? Žao mi je

You can say this if you want to say sorry to a Bosnian.

14. Hungarian 

What do you say? Sajnálom

While just saying “Sajnálom” is an appropriate way to say sorry in Hungarian, you can also try the more formal “szeretnék bocsánatot kérni”. This longer, more formal phrase might be more appropriate if you want to apologize to a superior or an elder.

15. Czech 

What do you say? Promiňte

Just saying “promiňte” is an acceptable way to say sorry in Czech, but you can also try using the more formal  “chtěl bych se omluvit”.

16. Icelandic

What do you say? Fyrirgefðu

You can say this is you want to apologize in Icelandic, and it can also be used to say excuse me or pardon me. 

17. Norwegian

What do you say? Unnskyld

This is the most basic way to say “I’m sorry” in Norwegian, but if you are looking for a more formal way to apologize in Norwegian, you can say “Jeg vil gjerne be om unnskyldning”.

18. Greek 

What do you say? Signómi

If you want to say sorry in Greek, you can just use this phrase.

19. Arabic

What do you say? Ana assif

Strictly speaking, this is how you say sorry to a male. If you are addressing a female, it’s “ana assifa” and if you want to apologize for a group say “aasifeen”.

20. Afrikaans 

What do you say? Jammer

Other words that you might hear for sorry aside from “jammer” would be “askies” or “verskoon my” but “jammer” is more common.

21. Mandarin Chinese 

What do you say? Duì bu qǐ

If you feel a more formal apology is needed, you can say “bào qiàn”.

22. Japanese

What do you say? Sumimasen

Another common way to say sorry in Japanese is “Gomen’nasai” but this is considered informal and mostly for use with those you are close to like family and friends. 

23. Korean

What do you say? Joesonghamnida

This is the more formal and polite way to say sorry in Korean. You might hear another phrase, “mianhamnida” in more casual situations.

24. Indonesian 

What do you say? Maaf

The word “maaf” is pronounced similar to “uh-oh”, so “MA-af”. While the word “maaf” is an acceptable way to apologize in all situations, there is a more formal phrase of apology in Indonesian which is “Saya minta maaf”.

25. Filipino 

What do you say? Patawad

While just saying “patawad” is usually enough to apologize in Filipino, if you want to be a little more polite, consider adding “po” or “ho” afterwards. Adding “po” or “ho” at the end of a sentence is a way of showing respect in Filipino, so saying “Patawad, po” or “Patawad, ho” sounds a little more sincere.  

26.Vietnamese

What do you say? Tôi xin lỗi

This is the basic Vietnamese phrase that you can use to apologize to someone. Take note that, if you are speaking to an elder or someone of a higher social status, you might want to use the more formal” Tôi muốn xin lỗi”.

27. Thai

What do you say? Khǎaw-thôot

This is the equivalent of the word “sorry” in Thai. You can use this for both formal or informal apologies. If you are hanging around with younger Thai-speakers, you might hear “thôot thii” or “saaw-rîI” which is are slang words for sorry.

28. Hindi

What do you say? Main ksamaa caa haTaa huun

This Hindi phrase translates to “I apologize” and is the formal way to say “sorry”. Another informal way to say sorry in Hindi is “mujhe maaf kar Do”.

29. Bengali

What do you say? Ami dukkhito

If you are speaking to a native Bengali speaker, you can say this if you want to say sorry.

30. Swahili

What do you say? Samahani

This is the word for sorry that you can use when speaking in Swahili. There is a more formal phrase to use to say sorry in Swahili and this is “ningependa kuomba msamaha.”

31. Turkish

What do you say? Özür dilerim

This is the most basic phrase that you can use to say that you are sorry in Turkish. In more formal situations, you might hear or want to use “Özür dilemek isterim”.

Conclusion

Every culture around the world has its own
way of apologizing and expressing regret. One of the most basic ways to do so is to learn the word or phrase for sorry in the language that you are trying to learn. 

The word for sorry is one of the first
words and phrases that you need to learn in any language, however, sometimes a proper apology requires more than just a “sorry”. 

Different cultures have different norms of behavior and there may be different cultural nuances to apologizing. Body language may play a part in an apology coming off as sincere. They may also be other more appropriate phrases to use to say sorry that depend on social status or even age.

To make sure that you know the proper way to say sorry in the language you are trying to learn, you should work with an online native-speaking tutor. They will be able to coach you on the specific ways to say sorry that are inherent to the culture and make sure that your “sorry” really does earn forgiveness.