How to say "I'm sorry" in Modern Standard Arabic
أَنَا آسِفٌ
ana asifun
- Without tashkeel
- أنا آسف
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ana asef
- Literally
- I sorry
When to use it
The standard apology in Modern Standard Arabic. The adjective agrees with the speaker, not the listener, so a woman says asifatun. It covers everything from being late to a real mistake; for a formal or written apology, a3tadhiru is the better choice.
Other ways to say it
said by a woman
أَنَا آسِفَةٌ
ana asifatun
I'm sorry
The form a woman uses about herself.
stronger
آسِفٌ جِدّاً
asifun jiddan
very sorry
Use when the mistake actually cost the other person something.
formal
أَعْتَذِرُ
a3tadhiru
I apologise
Use in writing, at work, or in an official apology.
asking forgiveness, to a man
سَامِحْنِي
sami7ni
forgive me
Use with someone close when you have hurt them.
How people reply
لَا بَأْسَ
la ba'sa
It's fine.
لَا عَلَيْكَ
la 3alayka
Don't worry about it.
لَا مُشْكِلَةَ
la mushkilata
No problem.
In a sentence
أَنَا آسِفٌ عَلَى التَّأْخِيرِ.
ana asifun 3ala at-ta'khiri.
I'm sorry for the delay.
أَنَا آسِفَةٌ، لَمْ أَقْصِدْ ذَلِكَ.
ana asifatun, lam aqsid dhalika.
I'm sorry, I did not mean that.
أَنَا آسِفٌ، لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ الْحُضُورَ غَداً.
ana asifun, la astati3u al-7udura ghadan.
I'm sorry, I cannot come tomorrow.