Crossing

Courtesy

How to say “I'm sorry” in 16 languages

Here is “I'm sorry” in all 16 languages Crossing covers, with each language's regional variants side by side. Every version shows the native script, a romanization where the script isn't Latin, and a pronunciation guide written for English speakers, with notes on formality and other forms.

EnglishI'm sorryAlso: “My apologies”

Spanish Español

French Français

  • France

    Pardon

    par-DON

    More ways to say this

    • Je suis désolé

      zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY

      Stronger than "Pardon", for a real apology. Men write "désolé" and women "désolée"; both sound the same.

    • Je suis désolée

      zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY

      Stronger than "Pardon", for a real apology. Women write "désolée" and men "désolé"; both sound the same.

    French travel phrases

German Deutsch

Italian Italiano

  • Italy

    Mi dispiace

    mee dees-PYAH-cheh

    For a quick apology, such as bumping into someone, say "Mi scusi" (mee SKOO-see).

    Italian travel phrases

Portuguese Português

Greek Ελληνικά

  • Greece

    Συγγνώμη

    Syngnómi

    seegh-NOH-mee

    The same word as "excuse me". For regret or sympathy, Greeks say "Λυπάμαι" (Lypámai).

    Greek travel phrases

Turkish Türkçe

  • Türkiye

    Özür dilerim

    er-ZEWR dee-leh-reem

    For a small slip, like bumping into someone, "Pardon" is common.

    Turkish travel phrases

Russian Русский

  • Russia

    Простите

    Prostite

    prah-STEE-tee

    Formal

    "Извините" (izvinite) works just as well.

    Russian travel phrases

Hindi हिन्दी

  • India

    मुझे माफ़ करें

    Mujhe māf kareṅ

    moo-JHAY maaf kuh-REN

    Formal

    Hindi travel phrases

Bengali বাংলা

Gujarati ગુજરાતી

Mandarin Chinese 中文

  • China

    对不起

    Duìbuqǐ

    dway-boo-chee

    For small slips, like bumping into someone, "不好意思" (bù hǎoyìsi) is lighter.

    Mandarin Chinese travel phrases

Japanese 日本語

Korean 한국어

Arabic العربية

  • Egypt

    آسف

    Āsif

    EH-sef

    Men say "آسف"; women say "آسفة" (āsfa). For a small slip, anyone can say "معلش" (maʿlish).

    More ways to say this

    • آسفة

      Āsfa

      EHS-fah

      Women say "آسفة"; men say "آسف" (āsif). For a small slip, anyone can say "معلش" (maʿlish).

    Arabic phrases for Egypt

Hebrew עברית

  • Israel

    אני מצטער

    Ani mitsta'er

    ah-NEE meets-tah-EHR

    Men say "אני מצטער" (ani mitsta'er); women say "אני מצטערת" (ani mitsta'eret, ah-NEE meets-tah-EH-reht). For small things, like bumping into someone, "סליחה" (slikha) is enough.

    More ways to say this

    • אני מצטערת

      Ani mitsta'eret

      ah-NEE meets-tah-EH-reht

      Women say "אני מצטערת" (ani mitsta'eret); men say "אני מצטער" (ani mitsta'er, ah-NEE meets-tah-EHR). For small things, like bumping into someone, "סליחה" (slikha) is enough.

    Hebrew travel phrases

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