60+ ways to say sorry in English to someone, sincerely with grace

Oops, I ate the last cookie. I’m sorry that I forgot your birthday. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. We all say sorry for one reason or another.

Sometimes, it’s because we’ve unintentionally bumped into someone on the street, and other times, it’s because we came late to a business meeting.

Apologies are an important part of being a functional, polite member of society. In some situations, saying sorry is necessary and even inevitable! Unfortunately, even though most of us know what to say in our native language when we need to apologize, that might not be the case if you’re still learning English.

Learning how to properly apologize in every situation will help you strengthen your relationships with other people despite your mistakes and become a better communicator overall. And depending on the circumstances, there are different ways to say sorry in English. In this guide, we’ll explore useful expressions to apologize in English.

How to say sorry in English

Although most people think that I’m sorry and excuse me are the only ways to apologize in English, there are actually several different ways to say sorry depending on the situation.

For example, if you did something wrong, you’d use “I’m sorry,” but if you want to get past someone blocking the way on the street, saying “excuse me” is a better choice. It’s important to distinguish between these two expressions because using the wrong one could make you sound rude in certain situations. A good rule of thumb is that “sorry” is used to ask for forgiveness (for example, if you did something wrong), and “excuse me” is used to ask for permission.

Here are a few more expressions to apologize that you may have already heard. We’ll cover those in detail in the tables below, but you need to know the difference between them from the start.

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.

Tips for saying sorry with sincerity in English

Apologizing is hard enough without worrying about how you’re going to do it. Sometimes, the way we say things can be as important as what we say - especially when you’re trying to apologize or ask someone for forgiveness.

So, here are some tips to help you show the other person that you’re genuinely sorry.

1. Make eye contact.

If someone is upset with you, look them in the eye when you’re apologizing. It shows that you’re being sincere, and it generates trust. It also shows that you’re not afraid to take responsibility for your actions, and you’re mature enough to genuinely apologize.

2. Avoid excuses.

Don’t try to justify what you did or say that it wasn’t really your fault (unless it’s true). It’ll just make the other person angrier! It’s better to acknowledge what you did wrong and accept the blame.

3. Don’t be defensive.

When someone is upset with you, they may attack or criticize you. If this happens, try not to rise to the occasion by being defensive. It’ll just make things worse! Instead, remain calm and try to read between the lines.

What are they furious about? Once you figure it out, you’ll be able to better understand how they’re feeling. As a result, your apology will become more accurate.

This is the end. Sorry!

Well, there you have it. With these 60+ ways to say sorry in English, you’ll be able to find the right words to apologize in any situation. And the next time you need to apologize to someone, remember that we all make mistakes! What’s important is that you try to be a thoughtful, kind-hearted person every day.

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