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

Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät.

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong ikh bin tsoo shpeht

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong ikh bin tsoo shpeht]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Punctuality is taken seriously in Germany, so even five minutes late usually earns an apology. If you'll be later than that, a quick text beforehand is expected.

Phrase Breakdown

Entschuldigung,

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong

Sorry / Excuse me

A polite apology or a way to get attention. Stress the second syllable: ent-SCHUL-di-gung. The 'sch' sounds like English 'sh'.

Example

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?

Excuse me, where is the train station?

Words in this phrase

Entschuldigung

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong]

excuse me; sorry

Used to get attention politely or to apologize lightly.

Example

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?

Excuse me, where is the train station?

ich bin zu spät.

ikh bin tsoo shpeht

I'm late.

'Ich bin' means 'I am' and 'zu spät' means 'late'. Say 'spät' with 'shp' at the start and a long 'ä', like the 'ai' in 'air'.

Example

Heute bin ich zu spät.

Today I'm late.

Words in this phrase

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

bin

[bin]

First-person singular form of 'sein' meaning 'to be.'

Example

Beim Kennenlernen sage ich: Ich bin neu hier.

When meeting people I say: I am new here.

[tsoo]

too

Used to show excess, meaning more than is acceptable.

Example

Es ist zu spät für laute Musik.

It is too late for loud music.

spät

[shpeht]

late

After the expected or usual time.

Example

Es ist spät am Abend.

It is late in the evening.

Guides for German learners

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