German · Everyday expressions
How to pronounce es tut mir leid in German
es tut mir leid
I'm sorry
Standard German · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
es tut mir leid is pronounced /ˌʔɛs ˈtuːt ˌmiːɐ ˈlaɪ̯t/ in German. In es tut mir leid: Let the ending relax into a short central vowel. The IPA /ɐ/ represents a vowel, rather than a strongly pronounced consonant r. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in es tut mir leid
Read es tut mir leid in these IPA segments: ˌʔɛs · ˈtuːt · ˌmiːɐ · ˈlaɪ̯t. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.The reduced r vowel /ɐ/
In es tut mir leid: Let the ending relax into a short central vowel. The IPA /ɐ/ represents a vowel, rather than a strongly pronounced consonant r.
Watch out: Avoid adding a full English “er” with a curled tongue.
2.The open /ɛ/ vowel
In es tut mir leid: Keep the vowel open, like the vowel in many pronunciations of English “bed”, without a final glide.
Watch out: Avoid turning this vowel into English “ay”.
3.Front-vowel position
In es tut mir leid: Listen for the distinction between the closer /i/ and the more relaxed /ɪ/ when shown. Keep your tongue toward the front.
Watch out: Do not decide vowel quality from English spelling alone.
Hear it in context
Es tut mir leid, ich kann heute nicht kommen.
I'm sorry, I can't come today.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
es tut mir leid is presented using Standard German. Regional accents and connected speech can change details. The isolated word and the example let you compare the dictionary form with a short spoken context.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about es tut mir leid
How do you pronounce es tut mir leid?
es tut mir leid is pronounced /ˌʔɛs ˈtuːt ˌmiːɐ ˈlaɪ̯t/ in German. In es tut mir leid: Let the ending relax into a short central vowel. The IPA /ɐ/ represents a vowel, rather than a strongly pronounced consonant r. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In es tut mir leid: Let the ending relax into a short central vowel. The IPA /ɐ/ represents a vowel, rather than a strongly pronounced consonant r. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
