SORRY: A simple word that is hard to say

It’s not easy to say sorry. Especially when you don’t think you are at fault. And after a while it gets boring to keep repeating ’I am sorry. ’ Let’s learn some new expressions.

Expressions for apologising:

I’m (so / very / terribly /really) sorry.

I really am sorry.

I really am most terribly sorry.

Ever so sorry.

How stupid / careless / thoughtless of me.

Pardon (me).

That’s my fault.

Sorry. It was all my fault.

Please excuse my ( ignorance / carelessness / forgetfulness etc.).

Please don’t be mad at me.

Please don’t kill me.

Please accept my (sincerest) apologies. (very formal)

I apologize.

I’d like to apologize.

I really must apologize.

I do apologize.

Please accept my apologies.

Please accept my sincere/sincerest apologies.

I apologize wholeheartedly / unreservedly.

Please forgive me.

You must forgive me.

I hope you can forgive me (one day).

I know it was very rude/ inconsiderate of me.

I know my actions hurt you.

Looking back, I (now) realise that…

Please don’t be angry.

I accept (full) responsibility for…..

I take full responsibility for…

I am/feel (so) ashamed because…

I can understand how you feel (about…) and….

I don’t know what to say…

I regret…

I would like to express my regret about ….

I take (all) the blame.

Pardon me!

Please excuse my behaviou r/ thoughtlessness …

I now realise that/I know I shouldn’t have done that.

(I’m sure) you must be (very) disappointed in me.

I accept that I am to blame / that it’s my fault.

I’m happy to take (my share of) the blame.

I am (such) an idiot.

I am sorry to have disappointed you.

I cannot say/express how sorry I am.

I have reflected on my actions and…

I know it was wrong (of me) (to…)

If I could turn back the clock,…

It was (a bit) insensitive of me (to…)

There is (really/absolutely) no excuse for my actions/behaviour/laziness.

You are right to blame me.

I know I have let you down by…

I know it was thoughtless of me to….

I can see how you might be annoyed (by…)

I can’t believe I…

I don’t know what came over me.

I don’t know what got into me.

I just want the ground to swallow me up.

I think I went a bit too far.

I am/was in the wrong.

I messed up.

If I could take it all back, I would.

It was inexcusable.

It’s unforgivable, I know.

Please don’t hold a grudge.

Don’t hold this against me.

Silly me!

What a shame that…

I am unhappy about the pain/inconvenience you’ve been caused.

And what can we say if we want to react to apologies?

It’s OK.

It doesn’t matter.

Don’t mention it.

Never mind.

No harm done.

No need to….

We have translated some of the apologies into Hungarian. Can you find the English equivalent above?

1. Jogosan hibáztatsz engem.

2. Tudom, hogy cserben hagytalak.

3. Nem tudom, mi ütött belém.

4. Szeretném, hogy elnyeljen a föld. / Szeretnék elsüllyedni.

5. Szerintem kissé túl messzire mentem el./ Szerintem kicsit elvetettem a sulykot.

6. Ha tudnám, visszacsinálnám a dolgot.

7. Remélem, egyszer majd megbocsátasz nekem.

8. Ha visszafordíthatnám az időt….

Key: 

1. You’re right to blame me.

2. I know I’ve let you down.

3. I don’t know what came over me. / I don’t know what got into me.

4. I just want the ground to swallow me up.

5. I think I went a bit too far.

6. If I could take it all back, I would.

7. I hope you can forgive me one day.

8. If I could turn back the clock….

And in the end we’ve collected some quotes just for fun:

’I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you.’ (Robin Williams)

’Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.’  (Erich Segal)

’If you’re willing to tell somebody that you love them, are you also willing to say you’re sorry? You need to, even when you think you’re in the right.’ (Kevin Costner)

’My wife heard me say I love you a thousand times, but she never once heard me say sorry.’ (Bruce Willis)