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How to Say I am Sorry in German

One day you are walking through the biggest tourist hotspots in Germany when you bump into the waiter serving your drinks spilling food and water all over the rooms. You need to be able to apologize to rectify this situation. You do this by saying. “I’m sorry”, the German words to say this is “Es tut mir Leid”

There is nothing more award then being in another country and fumbling for words to say when you mess up or cause a scene. In Germany sorry is not used for everything and anything like it is here in America. We may use sorry for little mishaps such as knocking a book off a desk or a huge life event like a friend being diagnosed with a severe illness. Germany reserves its use for such terms for bigger issues.

You can use I’m sorry to get someone’s attention, to ask someone to repeat themselves, or if you bump into someone. More profound ways of saying sorry are used in Germany for bigger situations such as Illness, loss, or any other sympathetic issue.

Examples of how to say I’m sorry in German

„Es tut mir leid, können Sie diese letzten Fragen wiederholen“
“I’m sorry, can you repete that last question.”

“Es tut mir leid, Kellnerin. Können wir bitte unseren Scheck haben?”
“I’m sorry, waitress. Can we please have our check?”

“Es tut mir leid, ich bin auf deinen Zeh getreten.”
“Im sorry, I stepped on your toe.”