Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Note |
|---|---|
| Sorry | informal, from English |
| Es tuet mer Leid | sincere |
For something more sincere, Swiss speakers say Es tuet mer Leid, 'it does me grief', a fuller apology.
What does it mean word for word?
Sorry is the English word used directly, with no change. Es tuet mer Leid joins tue, 'to do', with Leid, 'grief' or 'sorrow'.
Which one should you use?
Sorry fits small, everyday bumps, like stepping on someone's foot. Es tuet mer Leid is for a real apology, such as letting someone down.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Sorry is casual, used constantly in daily speech. Es tuet mer Leid is more formal and sincere.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Sorry is used across German-speaking Switzerland the same way it would be in English, borrowed directly into casual speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
Es tuet mer Leid changes slightly with the pronoun: Es tuet mir Leid is closer to Standard German, while Swiss speech often shortens mir to mer.
How do you pronounce it?
Sorry is pronounced close to the English word, though Swiss speakers often roll the r slightly.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Relying only on Sorry after a serious mistake can feel too light. Es tuet mer Leid carries more real weight.
When do people say it?
Swiss speakers mix in English Sorry so often that it barely registers as a foreign word in casual conversation.
Did you know?
- English Sorry is used so naturally in Swiss German that many speakers barely think of it as a borrowed word anymore.
- Es tuet mer Leid shares its root with Standard German Leid, also found in the word for a funeral or mourning announcement.
Examples in context
- Sorry, das han ich nid gseh.Sorry, I did not see that.
- Es tuet mer Leid, das isch nid okay gsi.I am sorry, that was not okay.
- Sorry, ich bi z spoot.Sorry, I am late.
Example conversation
Dario bumps into his friend Elena on a crowded tram.
- DarioOh sorry, han ich dir weh tah?Oh sorry, did I hurt you?
- ElenaNei, alles guet.No, all good.
- DarioEs tuet mer Leid, s Tram isch so voll.I am sorry, the tram is so full.
- ElenaKei Sorge, passiert.No worries, it happens.
