120+ Other Ways to Say Sorry to Someone

We all mess up sometimes, and saying “I’m sorry” can feel awkward or insufficient. But there’s strength in choosing the right words.

In this post, you’ll discover other ways to say sorry—from casual and heartfelt expressions to formal and multilingual options. Whether you want to apologize after a small mistake or repair deeper hurt, you’ll find phrases that suit your tone and relationship.

What Is the Meaning of Sorry?

“Sorry” is an expression of regret, apology, or remorse. When you say sorry, you admit that something was wrong or hurtful, and you want to make amends or show understanding. In some cultures, “sorry” also softens requests or shows empathy (“I’m sorry you’re having a hard time”). The meaning can shift depending on tone, context, and sincerity.

52 Unique Ways to Say Sorry

Here are 52 distinct alternatives to “sorry,” usable in different situations:

1. I apologize
2. My apologies
3. I regret that
4. I take full responsibility
5. Please forgive me
6. I didn’t mean to hurt you
7. Pardon me
8. I was wrong
9. I messed up
10. I was out of line
11. I’m ashamed
12. Excuse me
13. I feel bad about that
14. It won’t happen again
15. I hope you’ll forgive me
16. I’m truly sorry
17. I’m so sorry
18. Accept my sincere apology
19. I ask your forgiveness
20. I owe you an apology
21. I was insensitive
22. That was thoughtless of me
23. I see my mistake now
24. I’m embarrassed by my actions
25. I regret my behavior
26. I apologize from the heart
27. I feel remorse
28. Please accept my apology
29. I shouldn’t have done that
30. I realize I was wrong
31. I’m sorry for my part in this
32. That was inappropriate
33. I hope we can move past this
34. I hope to make this right
35. I was mistaken
36. I understand I hurt you
37. I never intended to
38. I feel ashamed
39. I ask for your pardon
40. I see how much I caused pain
41. I deplore my actions
42. I’m regretful
43. I hope you can forgive me
44. I was foolish
45. I didn’t think before I acted
46. I hope I can set this right
47. I’m sorry for letting you down
48. I apologize deeply
49. I apologize unreservedly
50. I know I hurt you
51. I feel terrible
52. I hope my apology matters

Useful Ways to Say “I Am Sorry” in English

Sometimes “sorry” needs to be clearer, warmer, or stronger. Here are practical variations:

• I’m so sorry for what happened
• I truly regret it
• I didn’t mean to upset you
• Please forgive my mistake
• I realize it hurt you
• I hope you can give me another chance
• I never intended to hurt you
• I feel awful about this
• I was careless, and I’m sorry
• I’ll do better next time

10 Phrases That We Use Instead of Sorry

1. Pardon me
2. Excuse me
3. My fault
4. I regret that
5. Forgive me
6. I didn’t mean that
7. That was wrong of me
8. I shouldn’t have done that
9. Please don’t be upset
10. I hope you’ll understand

Professional Ways to Say Sorry in English

In the workplace, apologies should sound polite, respectful, and solution-focused:

1. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience
2. I sincerely regret the error
3. I apologize for the oversight
4. I take full responsibility for the delay
5. I regret any confusion caused
6. Thank you for your patience, and I apologize
7. Please allow me to make this right
8. I assure you this won’t happen again
9. I value our relationship and regret the mistake
10. I appreciate your understanding and apologize again

How to Say Sorry to Someone You Hurt

When emotions are involved, sincerity matters most:

1. I’m deeply sorry for hurting you
2. I realize how much pain I caused
3. Please know it wasn’t my intention
4. I was wrong, and I admit it
5. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me
6. I’ll work to rebuild your trust
7. I regret every word/action that hurt you
8. I’m sorry for letting you down
9. I take responsibility for what I did
10. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right
11. I feel terrible for my behavior
12. You mean so much to me, and I hate that I hurt you
13. I see how much I hurt you, and I regret it
14. I hope time helps heal what I’ve done
15. I want to learn from this mistake

Best Way to Say Sorry in a Text

Sometimes apologies happen over text. Here are short, clear ones:

1. I’m really sorry, I was wrong
2. Please forgive me, I messed up
3. I hate that I hurt you
4. I take full blame, I’m sorry
5. I regret what I said
6. I didn’t mean to upset you
7. Please don’t stay mad at me
8. I’ll make it right, I promise
9. I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart
10. You deserve better, and I’ll do better

How to Say Sorry in Different Languages

1. French: Je suis désolé(e)
2. Spanish: Lo siento
3. Italian: Mi dispiace
4. German: Es tut mir leid
5. Portuguese: Desculpa
6. Russian: Извини (Izvini)
7. Chinese (Mandarin): 对不起 (Duìbuqǐ)
8. Japanese: ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai)
9. Korean: 미안합니다 (Mianhamnida)
10. Hindi: माफ़ करना (Maaf karna)
11. Bengali: দুঃখিত (Dukhito)
12. Arabic: آسف (Asif)
13. Turkish: Özür dilerim
14. Greek: Συγγνώμη (Signómi)
15. Swahili: Samahani
16. Thai: ขอโทษ (Kho thot)
17. Dutch: Sorry
18. Polish: Przepraszam
19. Hebrew: סליחה (Slicha)
20. Vietnamese: Xin lỗi

FAQs About Other Ways to Say Sorry

Q1: What can we say instead of “sorry”?

You can say my apologies, pardon me, I regret that, forgive me, or excuse me depending on the situation.

Q2: What are 10 ways to say sorry?

Examples include: I apologize, please forgive me, pardon me, excuse me, my fault, I regret that, I was wrong, forgive me, I owe you an apology, I didn’t mean to.

Q3: How do you say “sorry” in a humble way?

Use phrases like I deeply regret my actions, I take full responsibility, or please forgive me, I’ll do better.

Q4: What is a word for deeply sorry?

Words like remorseful, regretful, apologetic, or contrite express deeper sorrow.

Q5: How to say sorry without saying sorry?

Use alternatives like I take responsibility, I was wrong, please forgive my mistake, or I owe you an apology.

Q6: What are the 5 A’s of an apology?

Acknowledgment, Acceptance, Accountability, Action, and Assurance — these steps make an apology sincere.

Conclusion

Apologies are more than just words — they’re about restoring trust, showing empathy, and taking responsibility. As you’ve seen, there are many other ways to say sorry, whether it’s to a friend, in a professional setting, over text, or even in another language. The key is sincerity.

Next time you need to apologize, pick the phrase that matches the situation and make sure your tone shows that you truly mean it.