désolé
/de.zɔ.le/
The English phrase "sorry to a man" is expressed in French using désolé.
The phrase is used to express regret or to apologize to a male person.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the person speaking is female, the word must change to the feminine form désolée.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /de.zɔ.le/.
Did you know?
- The word désolé comes from the verb désoler, which originally meant to make someone completely desolate or heartbroken.
- In France, désolé is often considered too strong for minor accidents. For a small mistake like bumping into someone, French speakers prefer pardon or excusez-moi.
- While désolé describes the speaker's state of feeling sorry, the phrase je suis désolé is not always used as a request for forgiveness, but often as a way to express sympathy for bad news.
Examples in context
- Je suis désolé, Monsieur.I am sorry, sir.
Example conversation
Manon accidentally bumps into Lucas in the hallway.
- ManonOh, pardon ! Je suis désolé, Lucas.Oh, excuse me! I am sorry, Lucas.
- LucasCe n'est pas grave, Manon.It's no big deal, Manon.
- ManonTu n'es pas blessé ?Are you not hurt?
- LucasNon, tout va bien.No, everything is fine.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry désolé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
