- Used to express apology, regret, sympathy, or to politely decline something or ask someone to repeat themselves.
Explanation
Origin
- Derived from Old English sārig, meaning distressed, pained, or sorrowful.
- Evolved into a common social lubricant for acknowledging minor errors, expressing condolences, or navigating polite interactions.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (Apology):
- My bad. (Taking responsibility for a minor mistake)
- Whoops. / Oops. (Acknowledging a small error, less of an apology)
- Sry. (Texting/online abbreviation)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Usually for bigger mistakes, sincere or sarcastic):
- Fuck, I'm so sorry. (Sincere)
- Well, shit, sorry about that. (Casual but sincere for significant error)
Milder/Standard:
- Excuse me.
- Pardon me.
- I apologize.
Formal:
- My sincerest apologies.
- Please accept my apologies.
- I deeply regret...
Situational Appropriateness
- Extremely versatile.
- Apology/Regret/Declining: Appropriate in almost all contexts, formal and informal. The standard term.
- Asking to repeat: Common in informal/semi-formal contexts. In very formal settings, Pardon? or Could you repeat that, please? might be preferred.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might overuse sorry, especially if their native language uses apology words more broadly.
- Understanding the difference between Sorry (apology/sympathy) and Sorry? (please repeat) depends on intonation.
- Using Sorry might sometimes sound weak if a stronger apology (I apologize) or taking responsibility is needed.
Examples
- Apology: I bumped into you, sorry. / Sorry I'm late.
- Regret: I'm sorry to hear about your cat. (Expressing sympathy)
- Declining: Would you like more cake? Sorry, I'm full.
- Asking to repeat: Sorry? I didn't catch that. (Often with rising intonation)
- Getting attention/passing (alternative to 'Excuse me'): Sorry, can I get past?
Dialogue
Scenario 1 (Apology):
Person A: Oops, sorry, didn't see you there.
Person B: No problem.
Scenario 2 (Sympathy):
Person A: My dog passed away last night.
Person B: Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. That's awful.
Person A: Thanks. It's been tough.
Scenario 3 (Repeat):
Person A: The meeting is at flibbertigibbet.
Person B: Sorry? Where is it?
Person A: Room 3B.
Social Media Examples
- Apology: Traffic was insane, sorry for missing the start of the stream! #Late
- Sympathy: Just read the news about the floods. So sorry for everyone affected.
- Asking to repeat (in chat): Sorry, what did you mean by that last comment?
Response Patterns
To an apology:
- That's okay. / It's alright.
- No problem. / No worries.
- Don't worry about it.
- Apology accepted. (More formal)
To sympathy (Sorry to hear that):
- Thank you. / Thanks.
- I appreciate that.
To Sorry? (asking to repeat):
- Repeating the information clearly.
To declining Sorry:
- Okay, no problem.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After apologizing (Sorry I'm late):
- Might offer a brief reason (Traffic was terrible).
- The other person responds with acceptance (No worries).
After expressing sympathy (Sorry for your loss):
- The speaker might offer further support (Let me know if you need anything).
- The receiver responds with thanks.
After asking Sorry? (to repeat):
- The listener repeats themselves. The asker might then say Thanks or Got it.
Conversation Starter
- No. Primarily a response or used mid-conversation for politeness/correction/sympathy. Can be used to initiate politely when interrupting or needing to pass (Sorry, excuse me...).
Intonation
- Apology/Regret: Sincere, often lower pitch, falling intonation. SORRY.
- Asking to repeat: Rising intonation, like a question. SORRY?
- Declining/Minor interruption: Quick, polite, often falling intonation. Sorry.
Generation Differences
- Universal across all generations. Some stereotypes suggest certain nationalities (e.g., Canadians, British) use sorry more frequently for minor things.
Regional Variations
- Standard in all English-speaking regions.
- Frequency of use for very minor things might vary culturally (e.g., the stereotype of Canadians saying sorry often).
- In the UK, Sorry? is very common for asking someone to repeat themselves.