Do you always say «Sorry» when you make a mistake? While «sorry» is correct, native speakers use different expressions depending on the situation. If you want to sound more natural and fluent, try these alternatives!

1. Casual Ways to Say «Sorry»

For small mistakes in daily conversations, use these:

✅ «Oops! My bad!» (¡Ups! ¡Fue mi culpa!)
✅ «Sorry about that!» (¡Perdón por eso!)
✅ «My mistake!» (¡Fue mi error!)
✅ «I didn’t mean to!» (¡No fue mi intención!)

Example:
❌ «Sorry for stepping on your foot.»
✅ «Oops! My bad!»

2. Formal & Professional Ways to Apologise

If you’re at work or in a formal situation, use these:

✅ «I sincerely apologise.» (Pido disculpas sinceramente.)
✅ «I’m terribly sorry.» (Lo siento muchísimo.)
✅ «I take full responsibility.» (Asumo toda la responsabilidad.)
✅ «I regret any inconvenience.» (Lamento cualquier inconvenient.)

Example:
❌ «Sorry for the mistake in the report.»
✅ «I sincerely apologise for the mistake in the report.»

3. Apologising for Being Late

If you’re late for a meeting, use these:

✅ «Sorry for being late!» (¡Perdón por llegar tarde!)
✅ «I got held up.» (Me retrasé.)
✅ «I apologise for the delay.» (Pido disculpas por el retraso.)
✅ «Thanks for waiting for me!» (¡Gracias por esperarme!)

Example:
❌ «Sorry, I’m late.»
✅ «I got held up! Thanks for waiting for me.»

4. If You Need Someone to Repeat Something

Instead of just «Sorry?» try these:

✅ «Could you say that again?» (¿Podrías repetirlo?)
✅ «I didn’t catch that.» (No lo entendí bien.)
✅ «Sorry, I missed that.» (Perdón, no lo escuché bien.)

Example:
❌ «Sorry?»
✅ «I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?»

5. Funny & Playful Ways to Apologise

If you want to have fun with your apology, try these:

✅ «Oops! My bad!» (¡Ups! ¡Fue mi culpa!)
✅ «I owe you one!» (¡Te debo una!)
✅ «Don’t hate me!» (¡No me odies!)
✅ «I messed up!» (¡La he liado!)

Example:
«I forgot your birthday!»
❌ «Sorry!»
✅ «Oops, I messed up! I owe you one!»

Challenge: Try a New Phrase!

Next time you need to apologise, don’t just say «Sorry»—use one of these better expressions instead!

Written by Aimee Wilkinson, Principal at The Harrogate International Academy