Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| Entschuldigung | /ɛntˈʃʊldiɡʊŋ/ |
| sorry | /ˈzɔʁi/ /ˈsɔʁi/ |
| entschuldigen Sie bitte | |
| verzeihen Sie bitte | |
| es tut mir leid | /ˌʔɛs ˈtuːt ˌmiːɐ ˈlaɪ̯t/ |
| ich bitte um Entschuldigung | |
| Verzeihung | /fɛɐ̯ˈtsaɪ̯ʊŋ/ |
German offers various ways to express regret or sorrow. Es tut mir leid is a common and versatile way to say 'I am sorry' or 'I regret it'. You can also use Entschuldigen Sie bitte to mean 'Please excuse me'.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun Entschuldigung literally means 'excuse'.
Which one should you use?
Entschuldigung is used both to ask for forgiveness for a mistake and to get someone's attention, much like 'Excuse me' in English. While Entschuldigung is often used for minor social slips, es tut mir leid is used to express genuine regret or sympathy for a situation. Verzeihung is a slightly more formal or old-fashioned noun used to ask for pardon, often used as a standalone exclamation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a highly formal apology in professional or very polite social contexts, you can use ich bitte um Entschuldigung, which means 'I beg your pardon' or 'I ask for your forgiveness'. The English loanword sorry is used colloquially, typically among younger people or in very casual settings. Es tut mir leid is a common way to express regret in formal situations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase entschuldigen Sie bitte uses the formal Sie and is a polite way to ask for an excuse or to get someone's attention.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛntˈʃʊldiɡʊŋ/
Did you know?
- The word Entschuldigung is built from the word for 'guilty', meaning that to apologize is literally to 'de-guilt' someone.
- The word schuldig (guilty), which sits at the heart of many German apologies, is also the root of the word for 'debt'.
- Using Es tut mir leid translates literally to 'It does me sorrow', which sounds more poetic and internal than the English 'I am sorry'.
Examples in context
- Es tut mir leid, Tom.I'm sorry, Tom.This sentence is useful for saying 'I'm sorry, Tom.' using es tut mir leid.Tatoeba #7592252 by wolfgangth, translation #6664964 by CK
- Es tut mir leid für dich.I'm sorry for you.This sentence is useful for saying 'I'm sorry for you.' using es tut mir leid.Tatoeba #6644992 by Felixjp, translation #64683 by Zifre
- Sag ihm, es tut mir leid.Tell him I'm sorry.This sentence is useful for saying 'Tell him I'm sorry.' using es tut mir leid.Tatoeba #12502283 by Naina, translation #3908061 by CH
- 684 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah accidentally bumps into Lukas in a hallway.
- HannahEntschuldigung, ich habe dich nicht gesehen!Sorry, I didn't see you!
- LukasKein Problem, Hannah.No problem, Hannah.
- HannahEntschuldigung, geht es dir gut?Sorry, are you okay?
- LukasJa, alles ist gut.Yes, everything is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries Entschuldigung, sorry, es tut mir leid, Verzeihung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Entschuldigung, Sie, bitte, entschuldigen, sie, sorry, verzeihen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
