Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"I'm sorry" in Italian: mi dispiace
mi dispiace
Note: to apologize: scusa
Sorry in Italian for this page is mi dispiace (mee dee-SPYAH-cheh). Use it for real apologies and for sympathy (mi dispiace per te). Scusa/scusi can mean sorry too, but practise mi dispiace as the head phrase here.
Bumping into someone
Mi dispiace! Non ti avevo visto.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mi dispiace
Say it
mee dee-SPYAH-cheh
/mi diˈspja.tʃe/
Mi is mee. Dispiace stresses SPYAH: dee-SPYAH-cheh. Keep spi as one glide into ah.
"I'm sorry" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| mi dispiace | I'm sorry; I regret Apology and sympathy head phrase. | Apology and sympathy head phrase. |
| mi dispiace tanto | I'm so sorry Stronger feeling. | Stronger feeling. |
| mi dispiace per… | I'm sorry about / for… Names the reason or person. | Names the reason or person. |
| scusa / scusi | sorry; excuse me Also common; tu vs lei. Secondary to mi dispiace here. | Also common; tu vs lei. Secondary to mi dispiace here. |
How to use mi dispiace in real life
- 1Bumping into someone
Mi dispiace! Non ti avevo visto.
Sorry! I hadn't seen you.
Mi dispiace opens the apology.
- 2Cancelling plans
Mi dispiace, stasera non posso.
Sorry, I can't tonight.
Soft refusal with mi dispiace.
- 3Comforting a friend
Mi dispiace per la notizia.
I'm sorry about the news.
Sympathy use with per.
Mistakes English speakers make with mi dispiace
Incorrect: Io sono sorry.
Correct: Mi dispiace.
Use mi dispiace, not English sorry.
Incorrect: Mi dispiaccio per il ritardo.
Correct: Mi dispiace per il ritardo.
The fixed phrase is mi dispiace, not mi dispiaccio.
Good to know
Mi dispiace covers both guilt and empathy. For tiny corridor bumps, scusa may be enough; for cancelled dinners or bad news, mi dispiace sounds more complete. Tone matters as much as the words.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Apologising for being late to dinner
ChatPal
Tutto ok? Sembravi di corsa.
Everything ok? You looked rushed.
You
Mi dispiace, il tram era pieno.
Sorry, the tram was packed.
ChatPal
Non preoccuparti. Mi dispiace per il ritardo del servizio.
Don't worry. I'm sorry about the service delay.
You
Grazie. Mi dispiace davvero farvi aspettare.
Thanks. I'm really sorry to make you 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 Italian
Is mi dispiace the same as scusa?
Overlap exists. Scusa is often lighter excuse me/sorry. Mi dispiace fits fuller apology and sympathy.
How do I say I'm so sorry?
Mi dispiace tanto or mi dispiace davvero.
Can mi dispiace mean I don't like it?
Related: non mi piace is dislike. Mi dispiace is regret or sympathy.
How do I pronounce mi dispiace?
mee dee-SPYAH-cheh, stress on SPYAH.
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
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