désolé de vous déranger
The English phrase "sorry to bother you" is translated into French as désolé de vous déranger.
This phrase is a polite expression used to apologize for interrupting someone or asking for their attention. In spoken French, it is common to drop the Je suis (I am) and simply start the sentence with Désolé de vous déranger.
Which one should you use?
While désolé de vous déranger focuses on the apology itself, Excusez-moi de vous déranger is a more direct way to initiate an interruption.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form désolé de vous déranger is used when addressing a group of people or a single person formally. If the person speaking is female, the word désolé must be written with an extra e as désolée.
Did you know?
- While désolé is the standard word for 'sorry', it carries a much heavier emotional weight than the English version, often implying a deep sense of being 'devastated' or 'heartbroken'. For minor social interruptions, French speakers often prefer Excusez-moi to avoid sounding overly dramatic.
- The verb déranger originally stems from the Old French desrengier, which literally meant to throw things out of order or to disarrange. Using it to apologize for an interruption is a way of saying you have disrupted the person's internal or physical order.
- In French, the word déranger can be used for physical objects as well as people. You might use it to describe moving a chair or a piece of furniture that is in the way.
Examples in context
- Je suis désolé de vous déranger.I'm sorry to bother you.This sentence is useful for saying "I'm sorry to bother you."Tatoeba #2334371 by sacredceltic, translation #64416 by CK
- Je suis désolé de vous déranger si souvent.I'm sorry to bother you so often.Tatoeba #1441113 by sacredceltic, translation #1439702 by CK
- Je suis désolé de vous déranger dans un moment pareil.I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this.Tatoeba #9738194 by lbdx, translation #3110500 by CK
- Excusez-moi, Monsieur Dupont, je suis désolé de vous déranger, mais auriez-vous quelques instants pour discuter de ce projet important?Excuse me, Mr. Dupont, I'm sorry to bother you, but do you have a few moments to discuss this important project?
- Madame, pardonnez-moi de vous importuner, mais j'aurais une requête à formuler.Madam, forgive me for troubling you, but I have a request to make.
- Excusez-moi de vous déranger, mais pourriez-vous m'indiquer comment arriver à la gare?Excuse me for bothering you, but could you tell me how to get to the train station?
- Salut Marie, désolé de te déranger, mais aurais-tu un peu de temps pour me rendre un service?Hi Marie, sorry to bother you, but do you have some time to do me a favor?
- Excuse-moi de t'importuner, je voulais juste te poser une question rapide.Excuse me for troubling you, I just wanted to ask you a quick question.
- Pardon de te déranger, est-ce que tu pourrais m'aider à déménager ce week-end?Sorry to bother you, could you help me move this weekend?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma is asking Lucas for help in the office.
- EmmaBonjour Lucas, désolé de vous déranger.Hello Lucas, sorry to bother you.
- LucasCe n'est pas grave, Emma. Je vous écoute.It's no problem, Emma. I'm listening.
- EmmaAvez-vous un moment pour ce dossier ?Do you have a moment for this file?
- LucasOui, on peut regarder ça ensemble.Yes, we can look at that together.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, déranger, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
