😔🙏

How to Say ‘I'm sorry.’ in German

Das tut mir leid.

dahs toot meer lite

[dahs toot meer lite]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally, the phrase says "that does sorrow to me", which is why it uses mir and not ich. A common variant is Es tut mir leid.

Phrase Breakdown

Das tut

dahs toot

That does

This is the start of a fixed apology phrase. 'Tut' sounds like 'toot'.

Example

Das tut weh.

That hurts.

Words in this phrase

Das

[dahs]

that / it

Can refer to a thing, item, or dish in front of you.

Example

Was ist das? Das Wort das can mean that or it.

What is that? The word das can mean that or it.

tut

[toot]

does

From 'tun'; part of the common phrase 'gut tun'.

Example

Musik tut mir gut.

Music does me good.

mir leid.

meer lite

I'm sorry (literally 'to me sorrow').

This completes 'Das tut mir leid' (I'm sorry). 'Leid' sounds like 'lite'.

Example

Es tut mir leid.

I'm sorry.

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

Express regret or Sympathy.

Example

Es tut mir leid, dass ich zu spät bin.

I'm sorry that I'm late.

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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