How to Say Sorry in Different Languages: 20 Ways to Apologize

It's a universal truth: everyone makes mistakes and sometimes needs to apologize. Furthermore, expressing regret is a fundamental aspect of being polite.

However, even people with extensive vocabularies can find it hard to choose the correct words to show they are sorry. Therefore, learning how to apologize in the language(s) you are studying is a smart move.

This guide will demonstrate how to say sorry in 20 different world languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, and others.

20 Ways to Say Sorry in Different Languages

1. Afrikaans: Jammer

You can hear Afrikaans spoken in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.

2. Arabic: آسف (Aasif)

Since Arabic is the official language in at least 25 countries, learning how to say "I'm sorry" in this language could be very useful!

3. Bosnian: Oprostite

The Bosnian language is used not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro.

4. Chinese: 对不起 (Duì bù qǐ)

Chinese is an official language of the United Nations, alongside Russian, Arabic, English, French, and Spanish. It's estimated that around 1.3 billion people speak a form of Chinese as their first language!

5. Czech: Promiňte

Czech is the official language of the Czech Republic and has over 10 million speakers.

During my visit to Prague, I heard many people speaking Czech. The language has a lyrical quality, and my local friends claimed it is not difficult to learn. Naturally, this might be because they are native speakers.

6. Danish: Undskyld

Danish is spoken not just in Denmark but in several other nations as well. This melodic language can be heard in places like Norway, Iceland, Germany, and Greenland, among others.

If you are late in a Danish-speaking area, saying “Undskyld, jeg kommer for sent” (“Sorry, I’m late”) should help your situation!

7. Dutch: Het spijt me

Dutch is a widely spoken language, with 23 million native speakers.

It is the language of the Netherlands, but were you aware it's also spoken in Suriname in South America and in some Caribbean regions?

8. Finnish: Anteeksi

Finnish is one of Finland's two official languages, the other being Swedish.

I learned an interesting fact about Finnish learners when I was in Finland. Apparently, many people are motivated to learn the language through music. Finland is famous for its heavy metal bands, and many fans begin learning Finnish to better comprehend the lyrics, which are often in their native tongue.

9. French: Désolé (Masculine); Désolée (Feminine)

French is a beautiful language, and this extends to its one-word apology.

However, if you need to ask for directions or get someone's attention, it's better to use excusez-moi (excuse me) instead.

10. German: Es tut mir leid

German holds official language status in six countries: Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Austria, and Belgium!

11. Greek: συγνώμη (Signómi)

If you're an English speaker saying συγνώμη (signómi) in Athens, you might be met with an understanding smile and perhaps even an offer of freshly baked baklava. I can confirm this from experience—I still remember the delicious, sweet pastry I was given after apologizing for spilling a water glass at a street café!

12. Hungarian: Sajnálom

Close to 10 million people in Hungary speak this lovely language as their mother tongue!

13. Icelandic: Fyrirgefðu

As mentioned, saying "I'm sorry" in Icelandic isn't done excessively. But when it's truly needed, fyrirgefðu is the appropriate word to use.

14. Italian: Mi dispiace

While Mi dispiace is the standard Italian phrase for an apology, you will more commonly hear scusi (sorry). For most minor incidents, scusi is perfectly acceptable.

15. Japanese: すみません (Sumimasen)

As previously indicated, Japanese offers multiple ways to express regret or offer an apology. すみません (Sumimasen) literally means "excuse me" but is also recognized as a polite way to apologize.

16. Korean: 미안합니다 (Mianhamnida) ; 죄송합니다 (Joesonghamnida)

The phrase 미안합니다 (mianhamnida) is suitable for informal settings, while 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is more formal and therefore used more frequently.

17. Norwegian: Beklager

Norwegian is the official language of Norway—a wonderful destination where you might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights! I witnessed them during my trip, and I can assure you, it's an experience you won't regret.

18. Portuguese: Sinto muito

Portuguese is a major world language with more than 279 million speakers globally!

19. Russian: извини (Izveni); извините (Izvinite)

Russian is spoken by over 265 million people and is the official language of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.

The word извините (izvinite) is for formal contexts, while прости (prosti) is also commonly used. The formal version of this latter word is простите (prostite).

20. Spanish: Lo siento

It's common to add mucho (very) to this phrase, making it lo siento mucho (I'm very sorry).

Another word used to ask for forgiveness in Spanish is perdón (which literally means "pardon").

To hear "I'm sorry" pronounced in more languages, you can watch this excellent video on YouTube. It's a great resource for language learners working on their pronunciation!

How Different Cultures View Apologies

While cultural approaches to apologies vary, the phrase "I'm sorry" is generally used after making an error. That said, many cultures also use it after a misunderstanding or to express sympathy when someone is going through a tough time.

For instance, if a coworker informs you of a recent family loss, a typical response would be "I'm sorry for your loss," or a similar expression of condolence.

It can also be a way to express regret for missing an event or for being late.

Indeed, apologies and the act of saying sorry can be a complex cultural element to define. The following video illustrates the many different ways this simple sentiment is expressed in English alone!

Occasionally, an apology is paired with a gift. In Brazil, for example, someone apologizing might give the other person a small present along with a note.

In Japanese culture, politeness is highly valued. There are numerous ways to say "I'm sorry," some of which are accompanied by specific gestures.

In Iceland, a country known for its stunning glaciers and very friendly people, apologies are not overused. The tone of voice when saying "I'm sorry" often indicates whether it's a sincere "excuse me" or just a conversational filler.

To hear the phrase used in context by native speakers across different languages, you can use a platform like Lingflix. Lingflix uses real-world videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and transforms them into tailored language lessons. A free trial is available for two weeks. Visit the website to learn more. P.S. Click here to check out our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Use these expressions for "I'm sorry" to make amends, resolve a disagreement, or accept responsibility for a mistake.

So if you happen to make an error? You can now apologize easily with these words and phrases in your repertoire.

And if you are learning multiple languages? Don't worry, we have you covered there too!

Your international friends will value your attempt to be courteous—no matter the language!