piedodiet
The English phrase 'sorry' can be expressed in Latvian as piedodiet.
In Latvian, saying 'sorry' is often a literal request for forgiveness rather than an adjective describing a person's state of being.
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form piedodiet is the second-person plural or polite singular imperative of the verb piedot (to forgive). The singular informal imperative form is piedod.
Did you know?
- In English, 'I am sorry' can be used to express sympathy, such as 'I am sorry for your loss'. In Latvian, using piedodiet in a funeral context would be a mistake, as you would be asking the grieving person to forgive you instead of expressing sympathy.
- The root of piedot is linked to the concept of 'giving' or 'granting'. To say 'sorry' is linguistically closer to 'grant me forgiveness' than it is to 'I feel regret'.
- While piedodiet is used for apology, Latvians often use atsvainojiet to say 'excuse me' when trying to get someone's attention or passing through a crowd.
Examples in context
- Piedodiet, bet kāds bija jūsu vārds?I am sorry, but what's your name again?This sentence shows how to use piedodiet when asking for someone's name.Tatoeba #5935053 by SilverBirdLV, translation #4910934 by minmin123
- Nav problēmas, es tevi atvainoju.No problem, I forgive you.
Example conversation
Jānis accidentally bumps into Laura in a store.
- JānisPiedodiet, es nejaušām jūs aizskāra.Sorry, I accidentally bumped into you.
- LauraNekas, viss ir kārtībā.It's okay, everything is fine.
- JānisVai jums nepiecieleka palīdzība?Do you need any help?
- LauraNē, paldiņš, es esmu labi.No, thank you, I am fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries piedodiet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
