😔

How to Say ‘I'm sorry’ in German

Tut mir leid

toot meer lite

[toot meer lite]

💬 Usage Tip: Word for word, this is "does me sorrow". It's for apologising or sympathising, not for getting someone's attention; use Entschuldigung for that.

Phrase Breakdown

Tut

[toot]

does

Acts as a specified outcome.

Example

Das tut uns leid.

We are sorry about that.

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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