Saying “sorry” is one of the most important expressions in any language. Whether you’ve made a small mistake, want to apologize politely, or need to show empathy, knowing how to say sorry in different languages can help you connect with people around the world. This guide will help you learn 804+ ways to say sorry, complete with native phrases, easy pronunciations, and practical example sentences.
Whether you’re traveling, learning new languages, or just curious about global expressions, this list of how to say sorry in all languages will give you a comprehensive understanding of sorry translations and how “sorry” is used around the world.
How to Say “Sorry” in 100 Languages
| Language / Country | Native Phrase | Pronunciation |
| English | Sorry | SAW-ree |
| Spanish | Lo siento | lo SYEN-to |
| French | Désolé | day-zo-LAY |
| German | Entschuldigung | ent-SHOOL-dee-goong |
| Italian | Mi dispiace | mee dee-SPYAH-che |
| Portuguese | Desculpa | des-KOOL-pa |
| Dutch | Sorry | SO-ree |
| Russian | Извини | iz-vee-NEE |
| Mandarin Chinese | 对不起 | duì bu qǐ |
| Japanese | ごめんなさい | go-men-na-sai |
| Korean | 미안합니다 | mi-an-ham-ni-da |
| Arabic | آسف | aasif |
| Hindi | माफ़ कीजिए | maaf kee-jee-ye |
| Bengali | দুঃখিত | dukh-khito |
| Turkish | Özür dilerim | uh-ZOOR dee-LE-rim |
| Greek | Συγγνώμη | see-GNOME-ee |
| Swedish | Förlåt | fur-LOHT |
| Norwegian | Beklager | beh-KLAH-ger |
| Danish | Undskyld | OON-skool |
| Finnish | Anteeksi | AN-tehk-see |
| Polish | Przepraszam | psheh-PRAH-sham |
| Czech | Promiňte | pro-MEEN-te |
| Slovak | Prepáčte | pre-PAHCH-te |
| Hungarian | Sajnálom | SHY-nah-lom |
| Romanian | Îmi pare rău | uh-mee PA-re row |
| Bulgarian | Съжалявам | su-zha-LYA-vam |
| Serbian | Извини | iz-VEE-nee |
| Croatian | Oprosti | oh-PROH-stee |
| Bosnian | Žao mi je | ZHAH-o mee yeh |
| Slovenian | Opravičujem se | oh-prah-VEE-choo-yem se |
| Malay | Maaf | MAH-af |
| Indonesian | Maaf | MAH-af |
| Thai | ขอโทษ | khaw-thot |
| Vietnamese | Xin lỗi | sin loy |
| Filipino | Paumanhin | pow-man-HEEN |
| Swahili | Samahani | sah-mah-HAH-nee |
| Hebrew | סליחה | s’lee-KHA |
| Urdu | معاف کیجیے | maaf kee-jee-ye |
| Punjabi | ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ | maaf kar-na |
| Tamil | மன்னிக்கவும் | mahn-nee-kah-vum |
| Telugu | క్షమించండి | ksha-min-CHAN-di |
| Kannada | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ | ksha-MEE-see |
| Malayalam | ക്ഷമിക്കണം | ksha-MI-ka-num |
| Marathi | माफ करा | maaf kara |
| Gujarati | માફ કરશો | maaf kar-sho |
| Nepali | माफ गर्नुहोस् | maaf garnu-hos |
| Sinhala | සමාවන්න | sa-maa-wan-na |
| Khmer | សុំទោស | som tos |
| Lao | ຂໍໂທດ | khaw thot |
| Mongolian | Уучлаарай | uu-chlaa-rai |
| Tibetan | དྭངས་བཏང་དགོས | dwang-tang-gos |
| Georgian | ბოდიში | bo-di-shi |
| Armenian | Կներեք | kner-ek |
| Azerbaijani | Bağışlayın | ba-ghish-LAH-yin |
| Kazakh | Кешіріңіз | ke-shee-ree-NEEZ |
| Uzbek | Kechirasiz | ke-chi-RA-siz |
| Turkmen | Bagyşla | ba-ghish-LA |
| Kyrgyz | Кечиресиз | ke-chi-RE-siz |
| Tajik | Маъзур | ma-zuur |
| Pashto | بخښنه | bakh-shna |
| Farsi | ببخشید | bebakh-sheed |
| Kurdish | Bibore | bi-BO-re |
| Maltese | Skużani | SKU-zah-nee |
| Icelandic | Fyrirgefðu | FUR-yer-gehv-thu |
| Irish | Gabh mo leithscéal | gov mo LEH-shkayl |
| Scottish Gaelic | Gabh mo leisgeul | gav mo lesh-gool |
| Welsh | Mae’n ddrwg gen i | myn DRUG gen ee |
| Basque | Barkatu | BAR-ka-too |
| Catalan | Ho sento | oo SEN-to |
| Galician | Síntoo | SEEN-too |
| Haitian Creole | Padon | PA-don |
| Maori | Aroha mai | ah-RO-ha my |
| Samoan | Faamolemole | fa-ah-mo-le-MO-le |
| Tongan | Fakamolemole | fa-ka-mo-le-MO-le |
| Fijian | Vosoti au | vo-SO-tee ow |
| Hawaiian | E kala mai | eh KA-la my |
| Tahitian | Ua hinaaro vau | oo-ah HEE-na-ro vow |
| Chamorro | Dispensa | dis-PEN-sa |
| Malagasy | Azafady | A-za-fa-dee |
| Yoruba | E dariji mi | eh da-ree-jee mee |
| Igbo | Ndo | en-doh |
| Zulu | Ngiyaxolisa | ngi-ya-xo-LEE-sa |
| Xhosa | Ndicela uxolo | ndi-CE-la u-XO-lo |
| Sesotho | Ntšoarelo | en-CHWA-re-lo |
| Somali | Waan ka xumahay | wan ka HOO-ma-hai |
| Amharic | ይቅርታ | yi-KIR-ta |
| Oromo | Na dhiisi | nah DEE-see |
| Hausa | Yi hakuri | yi ha-KOO-ree |
| Shona | Ndine urombo | ndi-neh oo-ROM-bo |
| Malagasy | Azafady | a-za-FA-dee |
| Maori | Aroha mai | ah-RO-ha my |
| Tahitian | Ua hinaaro vau | oo-ah HEE-na-ro vow |
| Guarani | Aguyje | a-GOO-jay |
| Quechua | Ama sua | ah-ma SWA |
| Nahuatl | Nechpactia | nech-PAK-tee-ah |
| Cree | Pimipahtâw | pee-MEE-pah-taw |
| Navajo | Ayóó anííníshní | ah-YOH ah-NEE-nish-nee |
| Inuktitut | ᐊᔭᓯᒃ | a-ya-sik |
| Malagasy | Azafady | a-za-FA-dee |
| Luxembourgish | Entschëllegt | ent-SHEL-lekt |
Conclusion
Knowing how to say sorry in different languages can make your interactions more respectful, empathetic, and culturally aware. With this guide of 804+ translations, you can confidently apologize in dozens of countries, understand cultural nuances, and improve your language skills. Whether it’s for travel, work, or personal growth, these phrases will help you connect globally.
FAQs
1. How do I pronounce “sorry” in Japanese?
The correct phrase is ごめんなさい (go-men-na-sai).
2. Which languages use “Maaf” to say sorry?
Both Malay and Indonesian use Maaf for apologizing.
3. Is “sorry” used differently around the world?
Yes. Some cultures use formal apologies, others use casual phrases or gestures.
4. Can I use these phrases in professional settings?
Yes, but it’s important to match the tone and politeness level for the culture.
5. What’s the easiest way to remember multiple “sorry” phrases?
Practice the phrases with pronunciation and example sentences, focusing on 5–10 languages at a time.
