désolé de vous prévenir si tard
To say sorry for the late notice in French, use désolé de vous prévenir si tard.
Use it when you tell someone about a change, a cancellation or an event only shortly before it happens.
What does it mean word for word?
désolé means sorry, de vous prévenir means to let you know or to warn you and si tard means so late.
How does it change in a sentence?
désolé agrees with the speaker, so a woman writes it with an extra e. vous is the polite or plural you. With a friend you would use the informal you instead.
Did you know?
- In French, the act of 'warning' someone via prévenir is often seen as a social courtesy to avoid causing inconvenience, rather than a signal of danger.
- When apologizing for a late notice in a professional French email, it is common to use the conditional tense to make the apology sound softer and more deferential.
- The verb prévenir actually comes from the Latin word for 'to go before' or 'to anticipate'.
Examples in context
- Je suis désolé de vous prévenir si tard.I am sorry for the late notice.
- Désolé de vous prévenir si tard pour la réunion.Sorry for the late notice regarding the meeting.
- Il est désolé de vous prévenir si tard pour ce soir.He is sorry for the late notice for tonight.
Example conversation
Lucas is canceling a meeting with Chloé at the last minute.
- LucasChloé, je ne peux pas venir. Désolé de vous prévenir si tard.Chloé, I cannot come. Sorry for the late notice.
- ChloéCe n'est pas grave, Lucas. Merci de m'avoir dit.It is not a problem, Lucas. Thank you for telling me.
- LucasOn peut reporter la réunion à demain ?Can we postpone the meeting until tomorrow?
- ChloéOui, c'est possible. À demain alors.Yes, that is possible. See you tomorrow then.
