Tá brón orm
I am sorry
To say "sorry" in Irish, use Tá brón orm, literally "sorrow is on me". Gabh mo leithscéal means "excuse me" or "pardon me" and is used to get past someone.
Meaning: apology (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | Note |
|---|---|
| Tá brón orm | I am sorry |
| Gabh mo leithscéal | excuse me |
Tá brón orm fits a real apology, while Gabh mo leithscéal fits a small interruption or a bump.
How does it change in a sentence?
Irish uses "on me" for many feelings, so you say Tá brón orm rather than "I am sorry" word for word.
Did you know?
- Irish expresses many feelings with "on me", as in Tá áthas orm for "I am glad".
Examples in context
- Tá brón orm, bhí mé déanach.I am sorry, I was late.
- Gabh mo leithscéal, an bhfuil tú ceart go leor?Excuse me, are you alright?
- Tá brón orm faoi sin.I am sorry about that.
Example conversation
Fionn bumps into Orla in a shop in Limerick.
- FionnGabh mo leithscéal!Excuse me!
- OrlaNíl locht ort.No problem.
- FionnTá brón orm, ní fhaca mé thú.I am sorry, I did not see you.
