KalamHow to Say Sorry in Arabic
The basic way to say sorry in Arabic is آسف (āsif) if you're a man and آسفة (āsfa) if you're a woman. It works in every dialect. For a deeper apology say سامحني (sāmiḥni), "forgive me." In Morocco people say سمح لي (smeḥ li), and Egyptians often soften small mishaps with معلش (maʿlesh).
Literally: “sorry, regretful”
Sorry across the Arab world
Arabic changes from country to country. Here's what you'll actually hear.
Formal and written. أعتذر (aʿtadhir), "I apologize," is even more formal.
Also متأسف (mit'assif). معلش (maʿlesh) softens small things: "sorry, my bad."
Levantineآسف / آسفةāsif / āsfeMany Lebanese simply say the English "sorry." سامحني (sāmiḥni) for something serious.
Gulfآسف / آسفةāsif / āsfaAlso السموحة (as-smūḥa), "pardon me," a very Gulf way to excuse yourself.
Darijaسمح ليsmeḥ liMoroccan Darija for both "sorry" and "excuse me." Addressing a woman you can also say smḥi li.
Other ways to say sorry
How to respond
Don't worry about it (to a man; to a woman: wala yhimmik)
It's fine, no big deal
No problem (Egyptian / Levantine)
You're forgiven (said by a man / by a woman)
How to say it right
The sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to get them right.
Practise with feedbackāsif starts with a long "aa," like the a in "father": AA-sif. Don't rush it into "asif."
The feminine āsfa drops the middle vowel in most dialects: AAS-fa, not aa-SI-fa.
The ḥ in sāmiḥni is a breathy h pushed from the throat, like fogging up a mirror. It's different from the plain English h.
maʿlesh has a ع in the middle: maʿ-LESH. Tighten your throat briefly after "ma."
Example sentences
Sorry, I didn't mean it.
EgyptianForgive me, I kept you waiting.
LevantineI apologize for the late reply.
Standard (MSA)Pardon me, I didn't notice.
GulfExcuse me, where's the bus?
DarijaUsing it like a local
The word changes with the speaker, not the listener: a man says آسف (āsif) and a woman says آسفة (āsfa). Forgive-me phrases work the other way and change for the person you're addressing: سامحني to a man, سامحيني to a woman.
Arabs often apologize through actions and blessings rather than repeated words. A sincere سامحني, a kiss on the forehead of an elder, or a visit with sweets can say more than a long apology. With friends, a little humor or a shared meal often closes the matter.
Don't use آسف for condolences. When someone loses a loved one, say البقاء لله (al-baqā' lillāh) in Egypt or the Levant, or عظم الله أجركم (ʿaẓẓam allāh ajrakum), common in the Gulf and in formal settings. Both are said to the family, not just to one person.
What is the difference between asif and asfa?
Both mean "sorry." آسف (āsif) is said by a man and آسفة (āsfa) by a woman. The ending matches the gender of the person apologizing, not the person you're talking to.
What does maalesh mean?
معلش (maʿlesh) means "never mind," "it's okay" or "sorry, my bad," depending on tone. Egyptians and Levantines use it constantly, both to apologize for small things and to comfort someone.
How do you say sorry for your loss in Arabic?
Say البقاء لله (al-baqā' lillāh), "only God is eternal," common in Egypt and the Levant, or عظم الله أجركم (ʿaẓẓam allāh ajrakum), "may God magnify your reward," common in the Gulf and formal settings.
How do you reply when someone says sorry in Arabic?
Say ولا يهمك (wala yhimmak), "don't worry about it," or عادي (ʿādi), "it's fine." For a bigger apology you can say مسامح (msāmiḥ) if you're a man or مسامحة (msāmḥa) if you're a woman: "you're forgiven."
Related words & phrases
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