désolé
/de.zɔ.le/
The French word for 'sorry' is désolé.
désolé is an expression used to apologize or express regret for a mistake or an unfortunate situation. You can use it alone, but adding Je suis (I am) makes the apology more complete and formal. To specify the reason for your regret, use the preposition de followed by a verb or a noun, such as in Je suis désolé de… (I am sorry for…).
Which one should you use?
While désolé can be used as a standalone exclamation, using the full phrase Je suis désolé provides a more complete and formal sense of apology.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québécois French, speakers may use the English-borrowed term 'sorry' more frequently than désolé.
How does it change in a sentence?
The spelling of the word changes to agree with the gender and number of the person expressing regret. Use désolé for masculine speakers. Add an extra e to form désolée if the person speaking is female. To express regret as a group of men or a mixed group, add an s to form désolés. If a group of only women is expressing regret, use désolées.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/de.zɔ.le/', 'syllables': 3}
Did you know?
- The word désolé literally translates to 'devastated' or 'desolate'. This means that saying Je suis désolé is linguistically more intense than saying 'I am sorry'.
- In certain contexts, désolé can be used sarcastically to mean 'too bad' or 'tough luck' when someone is complaining about a situation that cannot be changed.
- While 'sorry' in English is often used as a filler word to acknowledge a misunderstanding, using désolé in French to simply mean 'pardon?' can sound strange. If you did not hear someone, it is better to use Comment? or Pardon?
Examples in context
- Excuse-moi, je suis en retard.Sorry, I'm late.
- Je suis désolé pour le retard.I am sorry for the delay.
- Il est désolé d'avoir oublié ton anniversaire.He is sorry for having forgotten your birthday.
- Je suis vraiment désolé de ce malentendu.I am truly sorry about this misunderstanding.
Example conversation
Gabriel accidentally bumped into Chloé in a crowded cafe.
- GabrielOh, désolé, je ne vous ai pas vue.Oh, sorry, I did not see you.
- ChloéCe n'est rien, ne vous inquiétez pas.It is nothing, do not worry.
- GabrielJe suis désolé, je suis un peu pressé.I am sorry, I am in a bit of a hurry.
- ChloéJe comprends, bonne journée, Gabriel.I understand, have a good day, Gabriel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry désolé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
