Over 60 ways to say sorry in English to someone

How to say sorry to someone you have hurt

When you apologize to someone you’ve hurt, you essentially take the blame for something that was mostly or entirely your fault so that the other person can forgive you and move on. In this case, you want to make it clear that you understand why they are upset with you, and make a genuine effort to make things right again.

To express our apologies in English, we use a variety of words and phrases with different levels of formality. The most common way is to use the phrase “I’m sorry”. We can also add “for” followed by a noun, for example: “I’m sorry for the mistake I made” or “I’m sorry for the way I reacted”. If we want to give a slightly longer explanation with a verb, we can add “that”, for example: “I’m sorry that I forgot your birthday”, or “I’m sorry that I offended you”.

Here are other ways to say sorry to someone you’ve hurt.

How to say you are sorry when something bad has happened to someone you care about

If you want to express your empathy for something bad that has happened to someone you care about, you can simply say, “I’m sorry”. In this case, “I’m sorry” doesn’t mean that what happened was your fault or that you’re somehow admitting the blame. It means that you simply feel sad because of a misfortune or a loss that someone is going through.

However, there are other expressions you can use to say you’re sorry when someone close to you is having a hard time.

How to apologize when you bump into someone by accident, or you want to get past someone blocking the way

How many times have you accidentally bumped into someone on the street or had to politely ask someone to move out of the way when you were trying to get off the subway? It happens all the time, and it’s not a big deal. However, not apologizing in those situations can come off as extremely rude.

So, here are a few phrases you can use to apologize whenever you bump into someone or need to get past them on the street.

How to apologize when you need to ask someone to repeat something

If you’re an English learner, you may often need to ask someone to repeat what they’ve said. But don’t worry! It happens to the native speakers too! We understand that asking someone to repeat can often feel awkward, especially if you don’t really know how to do it politely.

These expressions will help you find the right words to apologize whenever you want to ask someone to repeat something.

How to apologize when you have made a small mistake (that did not hurt anyone)

Whether we’re at work, at a family dinner, or out with friends, we all make small mistakes from time to time. It can be something like spilling coffee while having breakfast with a friend, or accidentally stepping on someone’s toe while dancing salsa (not based on a real example).

While an apology isn’t always necessary, it’s good to know how to say sorry (without going overboard) when you’ve made a small error that didn’t hurt anyone (or just someone’s toe).

How to say sorry in a professional, formal, or business environment

When you’ve made a mistake at work or a formal gathering, sometimes an apology is in order. Being able to say “sorry” with style and sincerity is vital for anyone who wants to be taken seriously at their workplace or in another community.

Sometimes informal apologies may also be appropriate in the workplace. If you accidentally spilled coffee on your boss’ new suit, saying “I’m so sorry!” will be enough to right the situation. You may even provide a little extra explanation, like “I’m sorry, I didn’t notice your coffee sitting on the table!”, which will help clarify the situation.

However, “sorry” isn't the only way to convey remorse in the office. There are plenty of ways to say sorry in English to help you make amends with your coworkers and supervisors.

How to ask for forgiveness

Asking for forgiveness is tough. It requires you to put yourself in a vulnerable position, and it’s possible that you may not get the answer you’re hoping for. Still, it’s one of the most important things to learn how to do. When you’ve made a mistake that hurt someone, intentionally or otherwise, it’s often your responsibility to make amends.

There are many ways to ask for forgiveness in English. These expressions will be appropriate most of the time.

How to express regret

Regret is something all of us will experience in our lives at one time or another. And when it comes to expressing that regret, there are plenty of ways to do so. Whether you accidentally offended someone or did something that you wish you could take back, there are many phrases that can help you express feelings of regret and remorse.