To err is to be human, but to apologize for your mistakes is a clear sign of class and politeness that transcends cultural barriers. Using kind words like “bitte” in German or knowing how to say “thank you” in German can only take you so far until that first major blunder. Once you know how to say “no” in German, you can soften the social blow of declining with one of the ways to say “sorry” in German you’ll find here.
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3 formal ways to say ‘I’m sorry’ in German
Professional settings, talking to strangers, and communicating with your elders are all examples of formal settings in German culture that require a certain level of tact. Find three handy German phrases here to use to apologize when formality and manners are of the utmost importance.
Es tut mir leid
- Es tut mir leid. = I’m sorry.
As a golden standard for apologies, Es tut mir leid literally translates to “It does me sorrow.” This not only shows that you take responsibility for your error, but you are also burdened by how your actions have affected others.
Ich bedauere das sehr
- Ich bedauere das sehr. = I deeply regret that.
When what you’ve done or allowed to happen intensely troubles you in a formal setting, you can acknowledge this by saying Ich bedauere das sehr (I deeply regret that). This phrase takes personal responsibility and contriteness a step beyond a basic apology and can be used to smooth over blunders, for example, when you forget to file that critical document before the deadline.
Ich hoffe, Sie können mir verzeihen
- Ich hoffe, Sie können mir verzeihen = I hope you can forgive me.
While the previous phrases acknowledge how you feel about your mistake, this phrase can be used to communicate your desire to be forgiven for what’s been done. To a German, this shows how important your professional relationship is to you and how much you want to be on good terms to continue it.
3 casual ways to say ‘I’m sorry’ in German
Amongst friends or people younger than yourself, the casual approach is usually taken more seriously than an overly stiff apology. Match the energy of a casual interaction with the three informal ways to say I’m sorry in German in the following sections.
Sorry!
- Sorry! = Sorry!
The easiest informal apology is a simple sorry! (sorry!) This is a convenient German cognate that looks, sounds, and means the same thing in both English and German. It’s a quick and easy way to say I’m sorry in German that takes ownership of your faults or errors.
Mein Fehler!
- Mein Fehler! = My bad!
As a particularly casual version of I’m sorry in German, mein Fehler (my bad) can be used for minor mistakes that don’t cause much issue or harm. However, if the mistake is great enough, this apology can be seen as insufficient or even insulting, as the recipient might think you don’t see the issue as being as bad as they do.
Ich hab’s vermasselt.
- Ich hab’s vermasselt. = I messed up.
We’re all human, and sometimes you just mess up even though you didn’t mean to. Ich hab’s vermasselt (I messed up) shows that you’re taking ownership of what you’ve done and communicating that you realize the damage it could have caused.
Use these regional phrases to apologize in other German dialects
Though the exact number is a subject of hot debate, there are hundreds of Deutschdialekte, which is a long German word meaning “German dialects,” to explore as you travel around German-speaking countries. Sound like a native as you visit these places with the regional variants for how to say sorry in German shown below:
| German | English | Region |
| Pfiat di, und ‘tschuidigung! | Bye, and sorry! | Austria |
| Vergib ma, bittschee! | Forgive me, please! | Bavaria |
| Sorry vilmal. | So sorry. | Switzerland |
| Verzieh mir! | Forgive me. | Lowland Germany |
| Tut ma leid. | I’m sorry. | Northern Germany |
Other handy ways to say ‘sorry’ in German
Still need a certain phrase to perfectly sum up just how sorry you are in German? Refer to the list below for 14 more ways to say “I’m sorry” in German:
| German | English |
| Bitte entschuldigen Sie mein Verhalten. | Please excuse my behavior. |
| Echt jetzt, tut mir leid. | Seriously, I’m sorry. |
| Entschuldigen Sie bitte. | Excuse me, please. |
| Es war ein Missverständnis. | It was a misunderstanding. |
| Ich bitte um Entschuldigung. | I ask for your forgiveness. |
| Ich entschuldige mich aufrichtig. | I sincerely apologize. |
| Ich hab Mist gebaut. | I screwed up. |
| Ich stehe zu meinem Fehler. | I own up to my mistake. |
| Ich wollte das nicht. | I didn’t want that to happen. |
| Sorry nochmal. | Sorry again. |
| Ups, das war ich! | Oops, that was me! |
| Vergib mir, bitte. | Forgive me, please. |
| War dumm von mir. | That was stupid of me. |
| War keine Absicht. | Wasn’t on purpose. |
Now you can show your acknowledgement for your misdoings in German in a wide range of contexts and regions! If you appreciate the practical approach to language learning, consider learning German with Rosetta Stone’s app to be immersed in the language with native speakers.
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