German · Greetings & Essentials
"I'm sorry" in German: es tut mir leid
es tut mir leid
Sorry in German is often es tut mir leid for a real apology. For bumps and small interruptions, Entschuldigung or short Entschuldigung! is more common than the full phrase.
Canceling plans
Es tut mir leid, ich kann heute nicht kommen.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce es tut mir leid
Say it
es toot meer lite
/ɛs tuːt miːɐ ˈlaɪt/
es toot meer lite. Tut like English toot with a short u; leid like light without a strong final t release.
"I'm sorry" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| es tut mir leid | I'm sorry Genuine apology. | Genuine apology. |
| Entschuldigung | excuse me / sorry Passing through, getting attention, small faults. | Passing through, getting attention, small faults. |
| Tut mir leid! | Sorry! Shortened spoken form of es tut mir leid. | Shortened spoken form of es tut mir leid. |
| Das tut mir leid | I'm sorry to hear that Sympathy when someone shares bad news. | Sympathy when someone shares bad news. |
How to use es tut mir leid in real life
- 1Canceling plans
Es tut mir leid, ich kann heute nicht kommen.
I'm sorry, I can't come today.
Full phrase before the reason.
- 2After a mistake
Es tut mir leid wegen des Missverständnisses.
I'm sorry about the misunderstanding.
Wegen + reason after the apology.
- 3Sympathy
Das tut mir leid. Kann ich helfen?
I'm sorry to hear that. Can I help?
Das tut mir leid answers bad news.
Mistakes English speakers make with es tut mir leid
Incorrect: Es tut mich leid.
Correct: Es tut mir leid.
The fixed dative is mir, not mich.
Incorrect: Es tut mir leid! (only, after bumping someone lightly)
Correct: Oh, Entschuldigung!
For small physical interruptions Entschuldigung is the usual quick sorry.
Good to know
Germans separate apology weight carefully. Es tut mir leid admits fault or shows real sympathy. Entschuldigung covers excuse me in crowds. Over-apologizing for tiny things can sound odd; a clear Entschuldigung is enough.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Running late to meet a friend
ChatPal
Alles okay? Du wirkst gestresst.
Everything okay? You seem stressed.
You
Es tut mir leid. Die Bahn hatte Verspätung.
I'm sorry. The train was delayed.
ChatPal
Kein Problem. Es tut mir leid, dass du hetzen musstest.
No problem. I'm sorry you had to rush.
You
Danke. Wirklich, es tut mir leid fürs Warten.
Thanks. Really, I'm sorry for the wait.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"I'm sorry" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "I'm sorry" in German
What is the difference between es tut mir leid and Entschuldigung?
Es tut mir leid is a fuller apology or sympathy. Entschuldigung is excuse me / sorry for smaller moments.
Can I shorten es tut mir leid?
Yes. Tut mir leid! is common in speech.
How do you say sorry to hear that?
Das tut mir leid.
Is mir or mich correct?
Mir: es tut mir leid.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
