I was out of line yesterday, and you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. Coffee's on me, whenever you're ready.
Sorry
Sorry messages that actually sound sorry.
"Sorry, sorry, so sorry" is three words and no apology. Here's what to send instead: for a friend, your parents, a partner or a colleague, and what to say back when someone apologises to you.
92messages
1collection
9Hinglish & Hindi in the best-of
Right now
Three that own it
One for a friend, one for a partner, one for work. Change the details to what actually happened.
I was out of line yesterday, and you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. Coffee's on me, whenever you're ready.
Friends
I'm sorry. Not for the argument, but for how I spoke to you in it. You deserve better than that from me.
Partner
I apologise for the delay on this. It's my responsibility, and you'll have it by end of day tomorrow.
Work
The best of them
50 apologies worth sending
For friends, family, a partner and work, for forgiving someone, and picks from the girlfriend page.
I'm sorry I made that joke in front of everyone. It wasn't funny, and it wasn't fair to you.
You were there for me and I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry. I'd like to do better, starting now.
I've been a terrible friend lately, and you've been too nice to say it. So I'll say it: I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'll buy the samosas, I'll admit I was wrong, and I'll even let you say "told you so". Once.
Sorry for being a pain this week. In my defence, I'm like this every week. Still sorry.
Maa, I'm sorry for how I spoke to you. You didn't deserve that, and I knew it as soon as I'd said it.
Papa, I'm sorry. You were right, and I was too stubborn to say so at the time.
I'm sorry I snapped at you. You're my sister and my favourite person to fight with, but this one was my fault.
Bhai, sorry about yesterday. I was angry about something else and took it out on you.
I'm sorry I haven't called in so long. There's no good excuse. Can I call you on Sunday?
I'm sorry. Not for the argument, but for how I spoke to you in it. You deserve better than that from me.
I was wrong, and I'm sorry. I'd rather be with you than be right.
I'm sorry I made you feel like you came second. You don't, and I'll show you that, not just say it.
I'm sorry I went quiet instead of talking to you. Can we try again tonight?
I've made dinner, I've washed up, and I'm still sorry. Talk later?
I apologise for the delay on this. It's my responsibility, and you'll have it by end of day tomorrow.
I'm sorry for how I came across in the meeting. I was frustrated with the situation, not with you.
I made a mistake on the report, and I'm sorry for the extra work it caused. Here's what I've done to fix it.
Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. We've fixed the issue and put checks in place so it won't happen again.
Sorry for the late reply. Your message deserved a quicker answer than it got.
I completely forgot, and I'm so sorry. No excuse. Let me make it up to you this weekend.
Sorry I'm late. I'd blame the traffic, but it was mostly me.
I'm sorry I missed your big day. I should have been there, and I'm going to hear every detail over dinner, my treat.
I'm sorry I cancelled again. I know it's the third time, and I know it matters. Pick a day and I'll be there.
I know it's been months. I'm sorry I let it go this long. I've missed you. Can we talk?
I've started this message ten times. The short version: I'm sorry, and I miss our friendship.
I was wrong back then, and I've known it for a long time. I'm sorry it took me this long to say it.
Thank you for saying sorry. I know that wasn't easy. We're okay.
I accept your apology. I need a little time, but I'm glad you said it.
Already forgiven. Now come over, the chai's getting cold.
I'm not angry any more. I was hurt, and I'm glad you understood that. Let's move on.
I'm sorry. I was wrong.
That was unfair of me. Sorry.
My fault, completely. I'm sorry.
Yaar, sorry. Galti meri thi, aur mujhe pata hai. Chai pe milte hain?
Maa, maaf kar dijiye. Gusse mein bahut kuch bol diya jo nahi bolna chahiye tha.
Dosti mein dooriyan to aati rehti hain, phir bhi dosti dilon ko mila deti hai. Woh dost hi kya jo naraz na ho, par sachchi dosti doston ko mana leti hai.
Naraz mat ho yaar. Itni si baat pe dosti thodi na todenge?
मुझसे ग़लती हो गई। माफ़ कर दो, आगे से ऐसा नहीं होगा।
मैंने जो कहा, वह ग़लत था। मुझे माफ़ कर दीजिए।
नाराज़गी छोड़ दो, दोस्ती इससे कहीं बड़ी है।
I was wrong, and I knew it while I was saying it. I'm sorry. Can I call you tonight?
I'm sorry I brushed off what you told me. It mattered to you, so it should have mattered to me.
I forgot our anniversary, and there's no excuse good enough. I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you properly this weekend.
I got jealous over nothing, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry. That's my insecurity, not your fault.
I'm sorry. I've also bought your favourite chocolate, which I think is a legally binding apology.
I'm sorry. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere.
Maine gusse mein jo bola, woh sach nahi tha. Maaf kar do, please.
माफ़ कर दो। तुम्हारे बिना सब अधूरा लगता है।
By collection
Who do you owe an apology?
Saying sorry to your girlfriend and to your boss are different jobs.
By tone
How should it sound?
Sincere for anything that hurt, short when it's small, funny only once the air has cleared.
What makes a sorry message work?
Three things: it names what you did, it takes responsibility without an excuse, and it offers something small to put it right. "I was out of line yesterday, and you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. Coffee's on me" does all three in two sentences. The essay on this site, The lost art of the apology text, goes through the method in detail, with a short, medium and long example. This page is the messages, sorted by who you're apologising to.
What makes an apology fail is almost always one of four phrases: "I'm sorry if you were upset" (it's about their reaction, not your action), "I'm sorry, but…" (the argument again), "I said sorry, what more do you want?" (it's a demand) and "sorry, sorry, so sorry" (volume instead of meaning). Avoid those and most apologies land.
How do you say sorry to a friend?
Directly, and without making a big production of it. Friends usually know when you've been unfair; what they want is to hear that you know it too. A line that names the thing and a plan to see them ("coffee's on me") is enough for most fallings-out. If you've drifted apart and the apology is for months of silence, say that honestly: "I've started this message ten times. The short version: I'm sorry, and I miss our friendship."
The old SMS verse on this page, "Woh dost hi kya jo naraz na ho, par sachchi dosti doston ko mana leti hai", says it well: every friend gets upset sometimes, and a real friendship is the one that talks them round. It's a nice thing to send after the apology, not instead of it.
How do you apologise to your parents?
Simply, and in the language you actually speak at home. Many people find it hard to say sorry to their parents, because families tend to move on without talking about it. That's exactly why a short, direct message means so much: "Maa, I'm sorry for how I spoke to you. You didn't deserve that." In Hindi or Hinglish, use आप and "maaf kar dijiye". If what you need to apologise for is not calling enough, say so, and name a day you'll call. Then call.
How do you apologise to a partner?
Apologise for how you behaved, even if you still disagree about the issue. "I'm sorry. Not for the argument, but for how I spoke to you in it" is honest and it's often what the other person needs to hear. Then give them space to reply in their own time. For a girlfriend specifically, there's a page of 50 sorted by what happened: after a fight, when you forgot, got jealous or were on your phone all evening.
How do you apologise at work?
Briefly, factually and with the fix. A work apology isn't the place for feelings; it's the place for responsibility. "I made a mistake on the report, and I'm sorry for the extra work it caused. Here's what I've done to fix it" is the model. To a customer, apologise for the inconvenience, say what's been fixed and, if it's true, what will stop it happening again. Don't over-apologise for small things like a late reply. One "sorry for the delay" is plenty.
What do you say when someone apologises to you?
Thank them, and be honest about where you are. "Thank you for saying sorry. I know that wasn't easy. We're okay" is generous if you mean it. If you're not there yet, it's fine to say so kindly: "I accept your apology. I need a little time, but I'm glad you said it." Accepting an apology doesn't mean pretending nothing happened, and you don't owe anyone instant forgiveness. You do owe them an answer, even a short one.
Sorry, maaf karna or kshama?
"Sorry" is completely normal in Hinglish and most everyday Hindi. "Maaf karna" (to a friend) or "maaf kijiye" (to an elder) is warmer and a little more serious. "मुझे माफ़ कर दीजिए" is how you'd apologise to a parent in writing. "क्षमा" (kshama) is formal and literary, used in announcements and on religious occasions more than in a text. Watch the verb: "maafi chahta hoon" is a man speaking, "maafi chahti hoon" a woman. Most lines here use "mujhse galti ho gayi" or "maine…", which suit anyone.
How to
An apology in three moves
Name it, own it, offer one small repair. Nothing else is needed.
1
Name the thing
Not "everything" or "the other day". "I was short with you after the meeting" tells them you know what you did.
2
Own it, without a but
"I'm sorry, but…" is the argument again. Say sorry for what you did, not for how they felt about it.
3
Offer one small repair
A call on Sunday, coffee tomorrow, being on time next week. Small enough that you'll actually do it.
Questions
Apology questions
What is a good sorry message?
One that names what you did, owns it and offers a small repair: "I was out of line yesterday, and you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. Coffee's on me, whenever you're ready."
How do you write a sincere apology?
Say what you did, apologise for it without a "but", and offer one concrete thing to put it right. Leave out excuses and don't ask for forgiveness on a deadline.
Is it okay to say sorry over text?
For most things, yes, and a text gives the other person time to read it without reacting. For something serious, follow it up in person or on a call.
What should you not say in an apology?
"I'm sorry if you were upset", "I'm sorry, but…" and "I said sorry, what more do you want?" Each one turns the apology back toward you.
How do you reply when someone says sorry?
Thank them and be honest: "Thank you for saying sorry. We're okay." If you need time: "I accept your apology. I need a little time, but I'm glad you said it."
How do you say sorry in Hindi?
"मुझसे ग़लती हो गई, माफ़ कर दो।" To an elder: "मुझे माफ़ कर दीजिए।" In Hinglish: "Sorry yaar, galti meri thi."
How do you apologise to a friend you haven't spoken to in months?
Be honest about the silence and ask to talk: "I know it's been months. I'm sorry I let it go this long. I've missed you. Can we talk?"