What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mein (my) and Beileid (sympathy or condolence).
Which one should you use?
While mein Beileid is a common way to express sympathy, you may also use several other variations depending on the context. To be more formal, you can use Mein herzliches Beileid (my heartfelt condolences) or Unser tiefstes Mitgefühl (our deepest sympathy). For more personal and informal settings, you can say Es tut mir so leid (I am so sorry) or Ich fühle mit dir (I feel for you).
How does it change in a sentence?
It is very frequent to use the adjective herzlich (heartfelt) to make the expression sound warmer, such as in the phrase Herzliches Beileid.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɪ̯n ˈbaɪ̯laɪ̯t/
When do people say it?
When expressing sympathy, you might also use the phrase Ich bin in Gedanken bei dir to say "I am thinking of you" or Ich wünsche dir viel Kraft to say "I wish you strength".
Did you know?
- The term Anteilnahme is a compound of Anteil (share/part) and nahme (taking), suggesting that the speaker is literally 'taking a part' of the other person's grief.
- In Germany, it is a traditional custom to send a Trauerkarte (mourning card) with a written expression of Beileid even if you have already spoken to the bereaved in person.
- The word Kraft in the phrase Ich wünsche dir viel Kraft (I wish you much strength) is a very common way to acknowledge the difficult process of grieving in Germany.
Examples in context
- Mein Beileid.My condolences!This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase mein Beileid.Tatoeba #747000 by Manfredo, translation #629043 by Eldad
- Mein herzliches Beileid für deinen Verlust. Ich bin in Gedanken bei dir.My heartfelt condolences for your loss. You are in my thoughts.
- Es tut mir so leid. Wenn du jemanden zum Reden brauchst, bin ich hier.I am so sorry. If you need someone to talk to, I am here for you.
- Unser tiefstes Mitgefühl in dieser schweren Zeit. Möge er/sie in Frieden ruhen.Our deepest sympathy during this difficult time. May he/she rest in peace.
- Ich möchte Ihnen mein Beileid aussprechen.I would like to express my condolences to you.
- Bitte nehmen Sie mein Beileid entgegen.Please accept my condolences.
Example conversation
Julian visits Sarah at her house to offer sympathy after a loss.
- JulianEs tut mir so leid, Sarah.I am so sorry, Sarah.
- SarahDanke, Julian. Es ist eine schwere Zeit.Thank you, Julian. It is a difficult time.
- JulianIch möchte dir mein Beileid aussprechen.I want to express my condolences to you.
- SarahDas ist sehr lieb von dir.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mein, Beileid) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
