😔⏰

How to Say ‘Sorry I'm late.’ in French

Désolé d'être en retard.

day-zoh-LAY dee eh-tra on ruh-tar

[day-zoh-LAY dee eh-tra on ruh-tar]

💬 Usage Tip: Désolé takes an extra e when a woman says it: Désolée. It sounds exactly the same, so it only matters in writing.

🇫🇷 In France: Walking in late, a quick Désolé to the teacher is expected, then you sit down quietly. A long excuse in front of the class is unusual.

Phrase Breakdown

Désolé

[day-zoh-LAY]

sorry

An adjective meaning sorry; masculine form.

Example

Je suis désolé. Le rendez-vous du plombier est reporté.

I am sorry. The plumber's appointment has been postponed.

d'être en retard.

dee eh-tra on ruh-tar

for being late.

Say 'deh-truh-ahn ruh-tar'. Link 'être' into 'en', and keep the 'd' of 'retard' silent.

Example

Il est en retard.

He is late.

Words in this phrase

[dee]

Used to indicate possession or connection.

Example

Le livre d'un ami.

The book of a friend.

être

[eh-tra]

Exist or occur; denotes possibility or existence of a state.

Example

Peut-être être là.

Might be there.

[on]

A preposition indicating inclusion within a space.

Example

Il est en France.

He is in France.

retard

[ruh-tar]

lateness / delay

A noun meaning delay or being late.

Example

Dans « Un peu de retard ? », « retard » parle d'une arrivée tardive.

In "A little late?", "retard" refers to arriving late.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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