How to Say “Sorry About That” in French

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désolé pour ça
The English phrase "sorry about that" is translated into French as désolé pour ça.
désolé pour ça is a phrase used to apologize for a mistake or a minor inconvenience caused to someone else. It is typically used for small mistakes rather than serious offenses.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of désolé (sorry), pour (for) and ça (that).

Which one should you use?

Using cela instead of ça and including the subject Je suis désolé pour cela makes the apology more formal.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For more formal apologies, you might use Veuillez m'excuser (Please excuse me), Je vous présente mes excuses (I apologize) or Je m'en excuse (I apologize for it).

Is it said differently in some regions?

In France, the word Pardon is commonly used for informal apologies. In Quebec, people may use the phrase Je m'excuse more frequently.

How does it change in a sentence?

The form of the adjective changes based on the gender and number of the person speaking. If the person speaking is female, use désolée pour ça. If the speaker is part of a group of men or a mixed group, use désolés pour ça. If the speaker is part of a group of only women, use désolées pour ça.

Did you know?

  • While English speakers often say 'I apologize' for errors, saying Je m'excuse in France can sometimes be seen as grammatically impolite because you are technically 'excusing yourself' rather than asking for forgiveness.
  • The word désolé shares an unexpected root with the English word 'desolate', both tracing back to the Latin 'desolatus' meaning 'lonely' or 'abandoned'.
  • While désolé is a standard apology, the word pardon in France is often used as a social 'shield' to push through a crowded space or get someone's attention without actually having committed a mistake.

Examples in context

  • Désolé pour ça.
    Sorry about that.
    This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase désolé pour ça.
    Tatoeba #6630979 by Aiji, translation #869496 by CK
  • Désolé(e), j'ai oublié de te rappeler hier soir.
    Sorry, I forgot to call you back last night.
  • Je m'excuse d'avoir pris ton stylo sans permission.
    I apologize for taking your pen without permission.
  • 1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Example conversation

Lucas accidentally spills a bit of water on Manon's table.

  1. Lucas

    Oups, j'ai renversé ton eau, désolé pour ça.
    Oops, I spilled your water, sorry about that.
  2. Manon

    Ce n'est pas grave, Lucas.
    It's not a big deal, Lucas.
  3. Lucas

    Je vais essuyer la table tout de suite.
    I will wipe the table right away.
  4. Manon

    Ne t'inquiète pas, Manon s'en occupe.
    Don't worry, Manon will take care of it.

Sources

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Lillian Leah
Lillian LeahHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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