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How to Say ‘Oh, I'm sorry about that.’ in German

Oh, das tut mir leid.

oh dahs toot meer lite

[oh dahs toot meer lite]

💬 Usage Tip: leid here is not leider. Das tut mir leid works as a fixed unit meaning "I'm sorry".

Phrase Breakdown

Oh, das

oh dahs

Oh, that

A sympathetic opener. Say a long 'oh', then a short 'das' with a crisp 's'.

Example

Oh, das ist schön!

Oh, that is nice!

Words in this phrase

[oh]

An exclamation showing surprise, sympathy, or realization.

Example

Oh, der Taxifahrer ist schon da.

Oh, the taxi driver is already there.

das

[dahs]

that / it

Used to refer to a situation or thing being discussed.

Example

Das ist nicht die richtige Straße.

That is not the right street.

tut mir leid.

toot meer lite

I'm sorry (literally: does me sorrow).

A fixed phrase for 'I'm sorry'. 'tut' has a long 'oo' sound and 'leid' sounds like 'light' with a 'd'.

Example

Es tut mir leid.

I'm sorry.

Words in this phrase

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

[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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