Saying sorry is one of the most powerful ways to show respect, kindness, and responsibility. Every culture values apologies, but the words used to express regret differ across languages.
Learning how to say sorry in different languages can help travelers, language learners, and global communicators connect better with people from around the world.
In this guide, you will discover 70 languages and their translations for “sorry.” The table below shows the native phrase, simple pronunciation, and a short example sentence with its English meaning.
This makes it easy to understand how apologies are used in everyday conversations across cultures.
Sorry in All Languages (70 Translations)
| Language | Sorry Phrase & Pronunciation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| English | Sorry (SOR-ee) | Sorry I’m late — I apologize for arriving late. |
| Spanish | Lo siento (loh see-EN-toh) | Lo siento por llegar tarde — Sorry for arriving late. |
| French | Désolé (day-zoh-LAY) | Désolé pour le retard — Sorry for the delay. |
| German | Entschuldigung (ent-SHOOL-dee-goong) | Entschuldigung für die Verspätung — Sorry for the delay. |
| Italian | Mi dispiace (mee dee-SPEE-ah-cheh) | Mi dispiace per il ritardo — Sorry for the delay. |
| Portuguese | Desculpa (des-KOOL-pah) | Desculpa pelo atraso — Sorry for the delay. |
| Dutch | Sorry (SOR-ee) | Sorry voor de vertraging — Sorry for the delay. |
| Russian | Извини (iz-vee-NEE) | Извини за опоздание — Sorry for being late. |
| Ukrainian | Вибач (vy-BAHCH) | Вибач за запізнення — Sorry for being late. |
| Polish | Przepraszam (psheh-PRAH-sham) | Przepraszam za spóźnienie — Sorry for being late. |
| Czech | Promiň (PRO-meen) | Promiň za zpoždění — Sorry for the delay. |
| Slovak | Prepáč (PREH-paach) | Prepáč za meškanie — Sorry for being late. |
| Hungarian | Sajnálom (SHOY-naa-lom) | Sajnálom a késést — Sorry for the delay. |
| Romanian | Îmi pare rău (eem PAH-reh ruh-OO) | Îmi pare rău că întârzii — Sorry I am late. |
| Greek | Συγγνώμη (see-GNO-mee) | Συγγνώμη για την καθυστέρηση — Sorry for the delay. |
| Turkish | Özür dilerim (OH-zur dee-leh-reem) | Özür dilerim geç kaldım — Sorry I’m late. |
| Arabic | آسف (aasif) | آسف على التأخير — Sorry for the delay. |
| Hebrew | סליחה (slee-KHA) | סליחה על האיחור — Sorry for being late. |
| Persian | متاسفم (mo-te-AS-se-fam) | متاسفم دیر رسیدم — Sorry I arrived late. |
| Hindi | माफ़ कीजिए (maaf KEE-jee-ye) | माफ़ कीजिए, मैं देर से आया — Sorry I came late. |
| Urdu | معاف کریں (maaf ka-RAIN) | معاف کریں میں دیر سے آیا — Sorry I came late. |
| Bengali | দুঃখিত (duk-KHI-to) | দুঃখিত আমি দেরি করেছি — Sorry I was late. |
| Punjabi | ਮਾਫ ਕਰਨਾ (maaf KAR-naa) | ਮਾਫ ਕਰਨਾ ਮੈਂ ਦੇਰ ਨਾਲ ਆਇਆ — Sorry I came late. |
| Gujarati | માફ કરશો (maaf KAR-sho) | માફ કરશો હું મોડો આવ્યો — Sorry I came late. |
| Marathi | माफ करा (maaf KA-ra) | माफ करा मी उशीर केला — Sorry I was late. |
| Tamil | மன்னிக்கவும் (man-NIK-ka-vum) | மன்னிக்கவும் நான் தாமதமாக வந்தேன் — Sorry I came late. |
| Telugu | క్షమించండి (ksha-MIN-chaN-dee) | క్షమించండి నేను ఆలస్యంగా వచ్చాను — Sorry I came late. |
| Kannada | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ (ksha-MI-see) | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ ನಾನು ತಡವಾಗಿ ಬಂದೆ — Sorry I came late. |
| Malayalam | ക്ഷമിക്കണം (ksha-MIK-ka-num) | ക്ഷമിക്കണം ഞാൻ വൈകി — Sorry I am late. |
| Sinhala | සමාවෙන්න (sa-MA-ven) | සමාවෙන්න මම පමා වුණා — Sorry I was late. |
| Thai | ขอโทษ (khor-thot) | ขอโทษที่มาสาย — Sorry for coming late. |
| Vietnamese | Xin lỗi (sin loy) | Xin lỗi tôi đến muộn — Sorry I arrived late. |
| Indonesian | Maaf (mah-AHF) | Maaf saya terlambat — Sorry I am late. |
| Malay | Maaf (mah-AHF) | Maaf saya lewat — Sorry I am late. |
| Filipino | Paumanhin (pow-man-HIN) | Paumanhin nahuli ako — Sorry I was late. |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 对不起 (dway boo chee) | 对不起我迟到了 — Sorry I arrived late. |
| Japanese | ごめんなさい (go-men-na-sai) | ごめんなさい遅れました — Sorry I am late. |
| Korean | 미안합니다 (mee-an-ham-ni-da) | 미안합니다 늦었습니다 — Sorry I am late. |
| Mongolian | Уучлаарай (ooch-LAA-rai) | Уучлаарай би хоцорлоо — Sorry I was late. |
| Swahili | Samahani (sa-ma-HA-ni) | Samahani nimechelewa — Sorry I am late. |
| Zulu | Ngiyaxolisa (ngi-ya-kho-LEE-sa) | Ngiyaxolisa ngiphuzile — Sorry I am late. |
| Afrikaans | Jammer (YAH-mer) | Jammer ek is laat — Sorry I am late. |
| Somali | Waan ka xumahay (waan ka hoo-MA-hay) | Waan ka xumahay waan soo daahay — Sorry I arrived late. |
| Amharic | ይቅርታ (yi-KIR-ta) | ይቅርታ ዘግይቻለሁ — Sorry I am late. |
| Yoruba | Ma binu (mah bee-NOO) | Ma binu mo pẹ — Sorry I am late. |
| Hausa | Yi hakuri (yee ha-KOO-ree) | Yi hakuri na makara — Sorry I am late. |
| Igbo | Ndo (N-DOH) | Ndo maka oge — Sorry for the delay. |
| Danish | Undskyld (OON-skyld) | Undskyld jeg er forsinket — Sorry I am late. |
| Swedish | Förlåt (fur-LOHT) | Förlåt jag är sen — Sorry I am late. |
| Norwegian | Unnskyld (OON-shyld) | Unnskyld jeg er sen — Sorry I am late. |
| Finnish | Anteeksi (AN-teyk-see) | Anteeksi myöhästyin — Sorry I was late. |
| Icelandic | Fyrirgefðu (FEE-rir-gev-thu) | Fyrirgefðu ég er seinn — Sorry I am late. |
| Estonian | Vabandust (VA-ba-n-doost) | Vabandust ma hilinesin — Sorry I was late. |
| Latvian | Piedod (PIE-dod) | Piedod es kavēju — Sorry I was late. |
| Lithuanian | Atsiprašau (at-si-PRA-shau) | Atsiprašau pavėlavau — Sorry I was late. |
| Albanian | Më fal (muh FAHL) | Më fal jam vonë — Sorry I am late. |
| Serbian | Izvini (iz-VEE-nee) | Izvini kasnim — Sorry I am late. |
| Croatian | Oprosti (oh-PROS-tee) | Oprosti kasnim — Sorry I am late. |
| Bosnian | Izvini (iz-VEE-nee) | Izvini kasnim — Sorry I am late. |
| Bulgarian | Съжалявам (sa-zha-LYA-vam) | Съжалявам закъснях — Sorry I was late. |
| Macedonian | Извини (iz-VEE-nee) | Извини доцнам — Sorry I am late. |
| Georgian | ბოდიში (bo-DEE-shee) | ბოდიში დამაგვიანდა — Sorry I am late. |
| Armenian | Ներեցեք (ne-re-TSEK) | Ներեցեք ուշացա — Sorry I was late. |
| Nepali | माफ गर्नुहोस् (maaf gar-NOO-hos) | माफ गर्नुहोस् म ढिला भएँ — Sorry I am late. |
| Lao | ຂໍໂທດ (khor-thot) | ຂໍໂທດຂ້ອຍມາຊ້າ — Sorry I came late. |
| Khmer | សុំទោស (som toh) | សុំទោសខ្ញុំមកយឺត — Sorry I arrived late. |
| Burmese | တောင်းပန်ပါတယ် (taung-pan-ba-deh) | တောင်းပန်ပါတယ်နောက်ကျခဲ့တယ် — Sorry I was late. |
Why Learning “Sorry” in Different Languages Matters
Learning how to say sorry in different languages helps people communicate respectfully in multicultural environments. Whether you are traveling, learning languages, or working internationally, knowing the correct apology phrase shows humility and cultural awareness.
Apologies are often one of the first phrases taught in language learning because they help maintain polite communication and avoid misunderstandings.
Cultural Differences in Apologies Around the World
Different cultures express apologies in unique ways:
- Asian cultures often emphasize humility and respect when apologizing.
- European languages may have both formal and informal apology forms.
- Middle Eastern languages sometimes combine apologies with expressions of regret or responsibility.
Understanding these differences helps you use sorry translations around the world more naturally and appropriately.
Conclusion
Learning sorry in different languages is a simple but powerful way to connect with people globally. From Spanish “Lo siento” to Japanese “Gomen nasai,” apologies exist in every culture and language. By understanding these phrases, you can communicate more politely, travel with confidence, and show respect across cultures.
FAQs
1. How do you say sorry in different languages?
You can say sorry using phrases like “Lo siento” in Spanish, “Désolé” in French, “Entschuldigung” in German, and “Gomen nasai” in Japanese.
2. Why is learning sorry in all languages useful?
It helps travelers, language learners, and professionals communicate politely and show respect in multicultural settings.
3. What is the most common translation of sorry worldwide?
Many languages have a direct translation meaning apology or regret, such as “Lo siento,” “Désolé,” and “Mi dispiace.”
4. Are there formal and informal ways to say sorry?
Yes. Some languages, like Japanese, Korean, and German, have different apology forms depending on politeness level.
5. How can I remember sorry translations easily?
Practice with short example sentences, repeat the pronunciation, and use the phrases in real conversations.
