How to Say Sorry in Italian: Ways to Apologize With Scusa, Mi Dispiace & More
Last updated: February 25, 2026
What if you bumped into someone on the street in Rome, or maybe you need to apologize for being late to dinner with your Italian host family? Whatever the situation, knowing how to say sorry in Italian is pretty essential for anyone learning the language or traveling through Italy. The good news? Italian has several ways to apologize depending on who you're talking to and how serious the situation is. Let's break down all the different phrases you'll need, from casual apologies to more formal expressions.
The basic ways to say sorry in Italian: Scusa and others
The most common way to say sorry in Italian is "scusa" for informal situations. You'd use this with friends, family, or people your age. It's the go-to apology when you accidentally step on someone's foot or need to get someone's attention.
When you need to be more formal, you switch to "scusi." This is what you'd say to strangers, older people, or anyone you'd address with "Lei" (the formal "you" in Italian). The difference is just that final vowel, but it matters a lot in Italian culture.
Here's the thing about these two phrases: they work both as "sorry" and "excuse me." So if you need to squeeze past someone on a crowded bus, "scusa" or "scusi" does the job. If you accidentally interrupt someone, same phrases. Pretty versatile.
Another phrase you'll hear constantly is "mi dispiace." This one translates more directly to "I'm sorry" and carries a bit more weight. You'd use it when you're genuinely apologetic about something, like being late or making a mistake that inconvenienced someone. It works in both formal and informal contexts, which makes it super useful.
Formal apologies in Italian
When you really need to apologize formally, "chiedo scusa" is your phrase. It literally means "I ask for forgiveness" and shows that you're taking the apology seriously. You might use this in professional settings or when you've made a significant mistake.
In business contexts or formal writing, you might see "porgo le mie scuse," which translates to "I offer my apologies." This is pretty formal and you won't use it in everyday conversation, but it's good to recognize if you're reading Italian emails or official correspondence.
The phrase "mi perdoni" (formal) or "perdonami" (informal) means "forgive me" and these are stronger apologies. When you use these, you're acknowledging that you did something wrong and you're asking for forgiveness. The formal version uses the Lei form, while the informal version is for people you're close with.
Different levels of apology in the language
The phrase "sono spiacente" is another way to express regret or sorrow. It's similar to mi dispiace but slightly more formal. You might use this when expressing sympathy or apologizing for something serious.
When you want to say "I'm really sorry" to emphasize your apology, you can say "mi dispiace molto" or "mi dispiace davvero." The words "molto" (very much) and "davvero" (really) add weight to your apology.
Sometimes you need to excuse yourself from a situation, and "mi scuso" works for this. It's reflexive and means "I excuse myself." You might use this when leaving a meeting early or declining an invitation.
Context matters when you apologize
Italian culture puts a lot of emphasis on using the right level of formality. If you're unsure whether to use scusa or scusi, go with scusi. It's better to be overly polite than too casual with someone you don't know well.
- When you're running late, "mi dispiace per il ritardo" (I'm sorry for the delay) is the standard phrase. Italians are generally understanding about time, but it's still polite to acknowledge when you've kept someone waiting.
- If you made a mistake at work or in a formal setting, you might say "chiedo scusa per l'errore" (I apologize for the mistake). This shows you're taking responsibility without making excuses.
- For situations where you need to interrupt someone or get their attention, both scusa and scusi work perfectly. You'll hear this constantly in Italian shops, restaurants, and on public transportation. Just a quick "scusi" before asking a question is standard politeness.
- If you bump into someone physically, a quick "scusa" or "scusi" is all you need. Italians are pretty forgiving about accidental contact in crowded spaces, but acknowledging it is polite.
- When you didn't hear what someone said and need them to repeat it, "scusa, come?" or "scusi, prego?" works. The word "prego" here means "please repeat" in this context.
- If you're apologizing for your Italian language skills, you might say "scusa il mio italiano" (Sorry for my Italian). Most Italians appreciate the effort you're making to speak their language, though, so don't worry too much about this.
How Italians respond to apologies
When someone apologizes to you in Italian, the most common response is "non c'è problema" (No problem) or "non ti preoccupare" (Don't worry about it). The informal version uses "ti" while the formal version would be "non si preoccupi."
Another common response is "figurati" (informal) or "si figuri" (formal), which basically means "don't mention it" or "think nothing of it." This is probably the most Italian way to brush off a minor apology.
You might also hear "va bene" (It's okay) or simply "okay" since Italians have adopted plenty of English words into everyday speech.
How to say "he is sorry" and other third-person apologies
If you need to say someone else is sorry, you'd use "lui è dispiaciuto" (He is sorry) or "lei è dispiaciuta" (She is sorry). The past participle changes based on gender, which is typical for Italian.
More commonly, you might say "si dispiace" (He/She is sorry) using the reflexive form. Or you could say "chiede scusa" (He/She apologizes) if you're explaining that someone is apologizing.
When translating "sorry" into Italian (like searching "sorry in italiano traduzione"), you'll find multiple options because, as we've covered, Italian has different phrases for different contexts and formality levels. There's no single perfect translation.
Tips to learn Italian common ways to say sorry
When you learn Italian, apologies are some of the first practical phrases you'll need. They're part of basic politeness and you'll use them constantly in real conversations.
- Practice using these in context rather than just memorizing translations. Think about situations where you'd apologize in English and figure out which Italian phrase fits best. That contextual learning sticks way better than just drilling vocabulary lists.
- If you're using Duolingo or other apps to learn Italian, you'll probably encounter scusa and mi dispiace early in your lessons. These apps usually teach the informal versions first since they're more common in everyday speech.
- When you're traveling in Italy, you'll hear these phrases constantly. Listen to how Italians use them in different situations and you'll quickly develop a feel for which phrase fits where.
Anyway, if you're serious about learning Italian beyond just tourist phrases, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words and save phrases while watching Italian shows or reading articles. You can build your own collection of apologies and responses as you encounter them in real context. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.
Why apologies matter in Italian culture
Italians generally appreciate politeness and good manners. Using the right apology phrase shows cultural awareness and respect. Even if your grammar isn't perfect, making the effort to apologize appropriately goes a long way. You'll use these dozens of times a day when traveling, so they become second nature pretty quickly. They are often used in media content as well, making it all the easier to learn these terms.
If you consume media in Italian, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
A thoughtful apology can make a big difference.