îmi pare rău
/ɨmʲ ˌpare ˈrəw/
îmi pare rău is the Romanian way to say I am sorry.
This phrase is used to express regret for a mistake or to show sympathy for someone else's misfortune.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'it seems bad to me'.
Which one should you use?
While îmi pare rău expresses genuine regret or sympathy, the word scuze is a casual way to say sorry for minor social blunders. For a formal apology or when asking someone to repeat themselves, pardon is often used instead of the more emotive îmi pare rău.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I am sorry to [do something]', use the construction îmi pare rău să followed by the subjunctive form of the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɨmʲ ˌpare ˈrəw/
Did you know?
- The word rău in the phrase îmi pare rău shares a root with the Latin word for 'defendant' or 'accused'. This suggests a historical link between the concept of being 'bad' and being legally charged.
- While îmi pare rău is for deep regret, Romanians use scuze for small things like bumping into someone. Using the deeper phrase for a minor mistake can sound overly dramatic or sarcastic.
- In very formal settings, a Romanian might avoid îmi pare rău and instead use a more complex phrase to express 'regret' (regret), moving from a feeling of 'badness' to a formal state of remorse.
Examples in context
- Îmi pare rău să vă informez că nu ați fost acceptat.I am sorry to inform you that you have not been accepted.This sentence is useful for learning how to express regret when delivering bad news using îmi pare rău.Tatoeba #8962220 by elenacristina260, translation #8962091 by Nylez
- Îmi pare rău că am întârziat la întâlnirea noastră.I am sorry I was late for our meeting.
- Vă rog să mă iertați pentru greșeala mea.Please forgive me for my mistake.
- Îmi pare rău că am uitat să-ți aduc cadoul.I am sorry I forgot to bring your gift.
- Îmi pare rău că am întârziat.I am sorry that I am late.
- Îmi pare rău pentru ce s-a întâmplat.I am sorry for what happened.
Example conversation
Gabriel apologizes to Ioana for accidentally breaking her favorite mug.
- GabrielIoana, îmi pare rău, am spart cana ta.Ioana, I am sorry, I broke your mug.
- IoanaNu mai fi supărat, Gabriel.Don't be upset, Gabriel.
- GabrielÎmi pare rău cu adevărat.I am truly sorry.
- IoanaE în regulă, nu contează.It is okay, it doesn't matter.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry îmi pare rău, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rău, îmi, îmi pare rău, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
