How to Say Sorry in French
Learn how to say sorry in French. 'Désolé' (day-zoh-LAY) is the main word, with 'Pardon' for quick apologies. Pronunciation, gender agreement, and how to apologize.
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Quick answer
To say sorry in French, say 'Désolé' (day-zoh-LAY) if you're male or 'Désolée' (same sound) if you're female. For a quick 'sorry / excuse me,' say 'Pardon' (par-DOHN). For a sincere apology, use 'Je suis désolé(e)' (zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY).
Désolé
/day-zoh-LAY/ — French
How to Say Sorry in French
Apologizing in French depends on the situation: a small bump on the metro calls for a different word than a heartfelt apology. The two cornerstones are Désolé (regret) and Pardon (quick excuse-me) — plus a gender rule that catches many learners.
The Main Word: Désolé
Désolé — pronounced day-zoh-LAY
It means “sorry” and expresses genuine regret. A man writes désolé; a woman writes désolée (the pronunciation is the same). For a complete apology, say Je suis désolé(e) (“I am sorry”).
Copy the Phrase
The French word for sorry is Désolé (day-zoh-LAY).
Pronunciation Notes
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dé | day | Clear ‘ay’ sound |
| so | zoh | Single ‘s’ between vowels sounds like ‘z’ |
| lé | LAY | Stress on the final syllable |
The silent extra -e in the feminine désolée never changes the sound. The accent (é) signals a crisp “ay,” not “uh.”
All the Ways to Say Sorry in French
| French | Pronunciation | Meaning / Use |
|---|---|---|
| Désolé(e) | day-zoh-LAY | ”Sorry” — genuine regret |
| Je suis désolé(e) | zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY | ”I am sorry” (full apology) |
| Pardon | par-DOHN | ”Sorry / excuse me” (quick) |
| Excusez-moi | ek-skew-zay-MWAH | ”Excuse me” (formal/plural) |
| Excuse-moi | ek-skewz-MWAH | ”Excuse me” (informal) |
| Je m’excuse | zhuh mek-SKEWZ | ”I apologize” (casual) |
| Veuillez m’excuser | vuh-yay mek-skew-ZAY | ”Please accept my apologies” (very formal) |
Désolé vs. Pardon vs. Excusez-moi
These three cover different needs:
- Désolé(e) — expresses regret: “I’m sorry” for a mistake, an inconvenience, or bad news (Désolé pour le retard — sorry for the delay).
- Pardon — a quick, light “sorry / excuse me” when you bump someone, squeeze past, or didn’t hear (“Pardon?”).
- Excusez-moi — the polite “excuse me” to get attention or pass through, formal version with vous; Excuse-moi is the informal tu form.
Gender Agreement: Désolé vs. Désolée
Because désolé is an adjective, it agrees with the speaker:
- A man: désolé
- A woman: désolée (extra e)
- Plural masculine/mixed: désolés
- Plural feminine: désolées
All four sound exactly the same — the difference is purely written.
Cultural Notes
To deepen an apology, stack an intensifier: Je suis vraiment désolé(e) (“really sorry”), tellement désolé(e) (“so sorry”), or profondément désolé(e) (“deeply sorry”). For formal or written apologies — emails, professional settings — Veuillez m’excuser or Je vous présente mes excuses sound polished and sincere. And remember that Pardon? with rising intonation simply means “Sorry, what?” when you didn’t catch something — a handy everyday phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say sorry in French?
The main word is 'Désolé' (day-zoh-LAY), meaning 'sorry.' Women write it 'Désolée' (same pronunciation). For a brief 'sorry' or 'excuse me' when bumping into someone, say 'Pardon' (par-DOHN). A full apology is 'Je suis désolé(e).'
How do you pronounce Désolé?
'Désolé' is pronounced day-zoh-LAY. 'Dé' = day, 'so' = zoh (the 's' between vowels sounds like 'z'), and 'lé' = LAY with the stress at the end. The extra 'e' in the feminine 'désolée' doesn't change the sound.
Does Désolé change for men and women?
In spelling, yes: a man writes 'désolé,' a woman writes 'désolée' with an extra 'e' (and 'désolés / désolées' in the plural). The pronunciation is identical — day-zoh-LAY — so the difference only matters in writing.
What is the difference between Désolé and Pardon?
'Désolé' expresses regret — 'I'm sorry' for a mistake or bad news. 'Pardon' is a quick 'excuse me / sorry' for minor things like bumping someone or to get attention. 'Excusez-moi' is the polite, formal 'excuse me.'
How do you say I'm so sorry in French?
For emphasis: 'Je suis vraiment désolé(e)' (I'm really sorry), 'Je suis tellement désolé(e)' (I'm so sorry), 'Je suis profondément désolé(e)' (I'm deeply sorry) or, more formally, 'Veuillez m'excuser' (please excuse me / accept my apologies).