How to say "I'm sorry" in Levantine Arabic
أَنَا آسِف
ana aasef
- Without tashkeel
- انا اسف
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ana asef
- Literally
- I sorry
When to use it
This is the standard, everyday way to apologize for a mistake or express regret. The word is an active participle, so it must match the gender of the speaker (aasef for a man, aasefeh for a woman). For a deeper or more formal apology, Levantine speakers frequently use 'b3etezer' (I apologize).
Other ways to say it
female speaker
أَنَا آسْفَة
ana aasefeh
I'm sorry
Used when the person apologizing is a woman.
more formal
بِعْتِذِر
b3etezer
I apologize
Used for a more sincere apology or in slightly more formal situations.
asking forgiveness (to a man)
سَامِحْنِي
same7ni
Forgive me
Used to directly ask a male listener to forgive you.
asking forgiveness (to a woman)
سَامْحِينِي
same7ini
Forgive me
Used to directly ask a female listener to forgive you.
plural speaker
نِحْنَا آسْفِين
ne7na aasefeen
We are sorry
Used when apologizing on behalf of a group or as a couple.
How people reply
بَسِيطَة
baseeta
It's okay / No big deal
وَلَا يْهِمَّك
wala yehemmak
Don't worry about it (to a man)
مَا صَار شِي
ma sar shi
Nothing happened / It's fine
In a sentence
أَنَا آسِف، مَا كَان قَصْدِي.
ana aasef, ma kan asdi.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean it.
آسْفَة إِنِّي تَأَخَّرْت عَلِيك.
aasefeh inni t'akhkhart 3aleik.
I'm sorry I'm late (female speaker to a man).
بِعْتِذِر عَن الإِزْعَاج.
b3etezer 3an el iz3aaj.
I apologize for the bother/interruption.