Meaning
A strong expression of apology or regret.
Cultural Background
Germans value punctuality highly. If you are even 5 minutes late, 'Es tut mir sehr leid' is expected. Simply saying 'Sorry' might feel too casual for a business meeting. In Vienna, you might hear 'Das tut mir leid' followed by a slightly more melodic intonation. The use of 'Verzeihung' is also quite common in formal Viennese circles. Swiss German speakers often use 'Es tuet mir leid' (dialect). In formal Swiss High German, the usage is identical to Germany, but often delivered with Swiss-specific politeness markers. In a professional context, if a mistake is made, it is better to say 'Es tut mir leid' and immediately offer a solution. Over-apologizing without a fix is seen as weak.
Shorten it!
In casual conversation, you can drop the 'Es' and just say 'Tut mir leid'.
Dative Case
Always use 'mir', never 'mich'. This is the most common error for beginners.
Meaning
A strong expression of apology or regret.
Shorten it!
In casual conversation, you can drop the 'Es' and just say 'Tut mir leid'.
Dative Case
Always use 'mir', never 'mich'. This is the most common error for beginners.
Add 'wirklich'
If you really mean it, say 'Es tut mir wirklich sehr leid'. It adds a layer of sincerity.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct dative pronoun for 'I'.
Es tut ___ sehr leid.
The phrase 'Es tut mir leid' always requires the dative case for the person who is sorry.
Which phrase is best for hearing that a friend is sick?
Mein {der|m} Freund ist krank.
'Es tut mir leid' is used to express sympathy for someone else's misfortune.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of 'tun'.
A: Warum hast du nicht angerufen? B: Es ___ mir leid, mein {das|n} Handy war leer.
The verb in this expression is always 'tun'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You stepped on someone's foot in the {die|f} U-Bahn.
Stepping on someone's foot requires a personal apology.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEs tut ___ sehr leid.
The phrase 'Es tut mir leid' always requires the dative case for the person who is sorry.
Mein {der|m} Freund ist krank.
'Es tut mir leid' is used to express sympathy for someone else's misfortune.
A: Warum hast du nicht angerufen? B: Es ___ mir leid, mein {das|n} Handy war leer.
The verb in this expression is always 'tun'.
You stepped on someone's foot in the {die|f} U-Bahn.
Stepping on someone's foot requires a personal apology.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes! You can use it to show sympathy, like when someone tells you they are sick or had a bad day.
'Entschuldigung' is like 'Excuse me' or a light apology. 'Es tut mir leid' is deeper and expresses more regret.
No, it's just informal. Use it with friends, but use the full 'Es tut mir leid' with your boss or strangers.
You can say 'Es tut mir so leid' or 'Es tut mir sehr leid'.
Absolutely. It is very common in both formal and informal emails.
Related Phrases
Entschuldigung
similarExcuse me / Apology
Verzeihung
synonymForgiveness / Pardon
Mein Beileid
specialized formMy condolences
Leider
builds onUnfortunately
