es tut mir sehr leid
The German phrase for "I am very sorry" is es tut mir sehr leid.
You use es tut mir sehr leid to express genuine regret for a mistake or to show deep sympathy for someone's misfortune.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it does me much sorrow".
Which one should you use?
While Es tut mir leid expresses regret or sympathy, the word Entschuldigung is more commonly used for a quick apology like "Excuse me" or "Sorry" for a minor social slip.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the pronoun mir is in the dative case because the sorrow is being "done" to the person.
When do people say it?
For minor offenses, such as bumping into someone or interrupting a conversation, you should use Entschuldigung instead of this phrase.
Did you know?
- While es tut mir sehr leid is for deep regret, Germans often use the word Entschuldigung for minor slips. This word literally means 'de-guilting' or asking for the removal of guilt.
- The word sehr meaning 'very' originally meant 'sored' or 'injured'. This mirrors the English word 'sorely' in the sense of feeling something deeply.
- Depending on the tone, es tut mir leid can be used to reject a request politely. It functions similarly to saying 'I am sorry, but I cannot' without needing the 'but'.
Examples in context
- Es tut mir sehr leid.I am very sorry.This sentence is useful for a simple statement of being very sorry.Tatoeba #459124 by Espi, translation #436449 by lukaszpp
- Es tut mir sehr leid, was ich gesagt habe.I am very sorry for what I said.This sentence is useful for apologizing for something you said using es tut mir sehr leid.Tatoeba #1792463 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1792459 by Spamster
- Es tut mir leid, dass ich deine Pläne für heute Abend ruiniert habe.I am sorry for ruining your plans for tonight.
- Entschuldige bitte, es tut mir leid, dass ich dein Buch versehentlich mitgenommen habe.I am sorry for accidentally taking your book.
- Tut mir echt leid, dass ich deinen Geburtstag vergessen habe. Ich werde es wiedergutmachen.I am really sorry for forgetting your birthday. I will make it up to you.
- Es tut mir aufrichtig leid, dass ich Ihren Termin verpasst habe.I sincerely apologize for missing your appointment.
- Ich möchte mich in aller Form für mein unangemessenes Verhalten entschuldigen.I would like to apologize formally for my inappropriate behavior.
- Es tut mir sehr leid, dass ich zu spät gekommen bin.I am very sorry that I arrived late.
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are talking in the hallway after an appointment.
- JuliaEs tut mir sehr leid, Felix, ich habe deine Nachricht übersehen.I am very sorry, Felix, I missed your message.
- FelixKein Problem, Julia, das kann passieren.No problem, Julia, that can happen.
- JuliaDanke für dein Verständnis.Thank you for your understanding.
- FelixGerne, wir sehen uns morgen.You're welcome, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, leid, mir, sehr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
