עס טוט מיר לייד
es tut mir leyd
To say "I am sorry" in Yiddish, use עס טוט מיר לייד (es tut mir leyd).
This phrase serves two purposes: it is used to apologize for a mistake or to express sympathy and condolences regarding someone's misfortune.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it does to me sorrow" or "it makes sorrow to me".
How do you pronounce it?
es tut mir leyd
Did you know?
- The word לייד (leyd) for 'sorrow' is a close relative of the English word 'lief', which in older forms related to what is dear or painful.
- Because Yiddish blends languages, the structure of עס טוט מיר לייד mirrors the German phrase es tut mir leid almost exactly, despite using a different alphabet.
- In certain Yiddish dialects, if you are apologizing for a minor social blunder rather than expressing deep sympathy, you might simply say אנטשuldigונג (entshuldikung) instead of the longer phrase.
Examples in context
- עס טוט מיר לייד פֿאַר דיין פארלוסט.es tut mir leid far dein farlust.I am sorry for your loss.
- עס טוט מיר לייד, איך קען נישט קומען.es tut mir leid, ikh ken nisht kumen.I am sorry, I cannot come.
Example conversation
Sarah tells Yitzhak that she lost his book.
- שרה Saraיצחק, איך האב פֿאַרלוירן דיין בוך. עס טוט מיר לייד.Yitzhok, ikh hob farloyrn dayn bukh. Es tut mir layd.Yitzhak, I lost your book. I am sorry.
- יצחק Yitzchakדאָס איז רעכט, איך וועל קויפֿן אַ נייס.Dos iz rekht, ikh vel koyfn a nays.That's okay, I will buy a new one.
- שרה Saraאיך קען עס צאָלן פֿאַר דיר.Ikh ken es tsoln far dir.I can pay for it for you.
- יצחק Yitzchakניין, דאָס איז נישט נאָטיק.Nayn, dos iz nisht notik.No, that is not necessary.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries מיר, עס, CC BY-SA 4.0.
