😔🙏

How to Say ‘Sorry’ in German

Es tut mir leid

es toot meer lite

[es toot meer lite]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally "it does me sorrow", so the mir "to me" stays even when the subject changes: Es tut uns leid "we're sorry".

Phrase Breakdown

Es tut

es toot

It does

The start of the fixed apology phrase. 'tut' has a long 'u' as in 'toot'. 'Es' sounds like 'ess'.

Example

Es tut weh.

It hurts.

Words in this phrase

[es]

A neutral pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

Es ist ein schöner Tag.

It is a beautiful day.

tut

[toot]

does

Performs an action.

Example

Der Fahrer tut, was er kann, um zu helfen.

The driver does what he can to help.

mir leid

meer lite

to me sorrow (I'm sorry)

'mir' means 'to me'. 'leid' sounds like English 'light' with a soft 'd' at the end, pronounced like a 't'.

Example

Das tut mir leid.

I'm sorry about that.

Words in this phrase

mir

[meer]

to me

Dative pronoun used to show that something matters or happens to the speaker.

Example

Mir ist eine offene Kommunikation besonders wichtig.

Open communication is especially important to me.

leid

[lite]

Sorry

An expression of regret or apology.

Example

Das tut mir leid, dass mein Gerät nicht funktioniert.

I'm sorry that my device isn't working.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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