Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سمح لي | smehli | |
| متأسف | mt'assef | more formal |
سمح لي, literally 'forgive me', is the everyday apology for bumping into someone, interrupting or making a small mistake. متأسف (mt'assef), closer to 'I am sorry', is heard in more careful or formal speech.
What does it mean word for word?
سمح لي comes from the verb سمح (smeh), 'to forgive' or 'to allow', plus لي, 'to me'. متأسف is built on the root for 'regret', shared with Standard Arabic.
Which one should you use?
سمح لي fits almost any everyday apology, from stepping on someone's foot to arriving late. متأسف sounds more serious and is closer to a formal apology.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
سمح لي works in both casual and polite settings. متأسف leans formal and is common in writing or careful speech, such as an apology at work.
Is it said differently in some regions?
سمح لي is used the same way across Morocco.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes with who you ask forgiveness from: سمح لينا, smeh lina, is 'forgive us', said by a group.
How do you pronounce it?
The h in سمح is a deep throat sound, and the stress falls on the first syllable: SMEH-li.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying only سمح without لي sounds incomplete. Moroccans always attach the 'to me' ending in everyday apologies.
When do people say it?
A quick سمح لي is said constantly in Morocco for the smallest things, passing closely in a crowded street or reaching in front of someone, much like 'excuse me' in English.
Did you know?
- سمح لي literally means 'forgive me' and is used for both small bumps in the street and genuine apologies, the way English uses 'excuse me' and 'sorry' for different weights of situation.
- Moroccans often say سمح لي before asking a stranger for directions, as a polite way to interrupt them.
Examples in context
- سمح لي، ماشفتكش.smehli, ma shuftekesh.I'm sorry, I didn't see you.
- سمح لي على التأخير.smehli 3la t'akhir.Sorry for the delay.
- متأسف بزاف على هاد الغلطة.mt'assef bzzaf 3la had lghalta.I am very sorry for this mistake.
Example conversation
Soufiane bumps into his neighbour Houda while rushing out of the building.
- Soufianeسمح لي، كنت مزربان.smehli, kent mzerben.I'm sorry, I was in a hurry.
- Houdaماشي مشكل، لاباس عليك؟mashi mushkil, labas 3lik?No problem, are you okay?
- Soufianeلاباس الحمد لله، سمح لي مرة أخرى.labas lhamdulillah, smehli merra khra.I'm fine thank God, sorry again.
- Houdaماكاين شي مشكل، سير بسلامة.ma kayen shi mushkil, sir bslama.There's no problem at all, go safely.
