😔

How to Say ‘I'm sorry’ in Italian

Mi dispiace

mee dee-SPYAH-cheh

[mee dee-SPYAH-cheh]

💬 Usage Tip: Mi dispiace literally means "it displeases me", so it's for regret, not for getting someone's attention. To squeeze past someone or call a waiter, use scusi "excuse me".

Phrase Breakdown

[mee]

to me

Indirect object pronoun meaning to me; used to express personal reaction.

Example

Nella frase Mi fa piacere, Mi indica la persona che prova la sensazione.

In the phrase 'Mi fa piacere,' 'Mi' indicates the person feeling the emotion.

dispiace

[dee-SPYAH-cheh]

displeases

Verb meaning something causes regret; with 'mi' it means 'I'm sorry'.

Example

Ci dispiace per il ritardo.

We're sorry for the delay.

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

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