French · Real conversations
Apologize for inconvenience naturally in French
An effective apology identifies the inconvenience. You can acknowledge waiting, explain a changed arrangement, or add a concrete step that addresses the problem.
Three ways to say it
Désolé / désolée de te faire attendre.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Acknowledge that the other person has had to wait.
Je suis désolé / désolée pour le changement de programme.
I'm sorry about the change of plans.
Recognize the effect of a change of plans.
Désolé / désolée pour le dérangement. Je t'envoie le bon fichier maintenant.
Sorry for the trouble. I'll send the correct file now.
Acknowledge trouble and immediately explain the corrective action.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'keep you waiting' means cause someone to continue waiting; it does not mean keep or own the person. Learn the target-language construction for making someone wait as a complete phrase.
See the difference in context
Arriving after someone has been waiting
J'attends depuis dix minutes.
I've been waiting for ten minutes.
Désolé / désolée de te faire attendre.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Acknowledging a changed meeting arrangement
Alors, on ne se voit pas aujourd'hui ?
So we won't meet today?
Je suis désolé / désolée pour le changement de programme.
I'm sorry about the change of plans.
Your turn
You sent the wrong file. Apologize for the trouble and say that you will send the correct file now.
Reveal a sample reply
Désolé / désolée pour le dérangement. Je t'envoie le bon fichier maintenant.
Sorry for the trouble. I'll send the correct file now.
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
