A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Im sorry" in Italian
The standard Italian way to say 'I'm sorry' for apologies, regrets, or sympathy.
Mi dispiace
mee dees-PYAH-chehneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you've made a mistake, like bumping into someone or being late. It's also perfect for expressing sympathy when someone shares bad news.
Alternatives
- ScusaBetter for very minor oopsies or when using the informal 'tu' form.
- ScusiUse this when addressing someone formally with 'Lei'.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't say 'Sono dispiaciuto'
While grammatically correct, 'Mi dispiace' is the much more common and natural phrasing for everyday apologies.
Pronounce the 'sc'
The 'sc' in 'dispiace' sounds like 'sh' in 'shoe', not like 'sk'.
A small cultural note
Italians tend to apologize readily for minor inconveniences, so don't be shy about using 'Mi dispiace' even for small things.
When you'd actually say this
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Spilling coffee on someone's paperwork
You're at a crowded bar in Bologna, balancing a cappuccino while reaching for a sugar packet, and you knock the cup onto the papers of the man sitting next to you. You make eye contact immediately and say 'Mi dispiace' before grabbing napkins. The sincerity in your voice matters more than the speed of the cleanup.
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Arriving late to a dinner invitation
Your host has been holding the pasta for twenty minutes and you can smell the ragù from the doorway when she opens the door. You say 'Mi dispiace tanto' before you even step inside, and she waves it off with a 'non ti preoccupare' — but saying it first sets the right tone for the whole evening.
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Friend tells you her mother died
You're sitting with your Italian colleague in the office kitchen and she tells you quietly that her mother passed away over the weekend. 'Mi dispiace' here is not an apology but an expression of genuine sorrow — you hold the pause after saying it rather than rushing to fill the silence with more words.
Related ways to say it in Italian
- Mi dispiace tanto — I'm so sorry / I'm really sorry
- Use when the situation warrants more weight — a significant loss or a serious inconvenience you caused; 'tanto' amplifies sincerity without sounding theatrical.
- Mi dispiace moltissimo — I'm terribly sorry
- Stronger still than 'tanto'; appropriate in formal or professional contexts where you need to convey genuine remorse, such as a business error affecting a client.
- Sono desolato / Sono desolata — I'm devastated / I'm deeply sorry
- Reserved for serious situations like a bereavement or a significant professional failure; adjust the ending to match your gender, and note this registers as more formal than 'Mi dispiace'.
- Peccato — What a shame / That's too bad
- Not an apology at all, but Italians use it where English speakers might reflexively say 'I'm sorry' — for minor disappointments like a cancelled plan; using 'Mi dispiace' in these moments also works but 'Peccato' sounds more natural.
Notes for English speakers
- 'Mi dispiace' literally means 'it displeases me' — the verb 'dispiacere' works like 'piacere', so the subject is the thing causing sorrow, not you; this is why you never change the ending to agree with yourself the way you might expect in other Italian constructions.
- English speakers often reach for 'Mi dispiace' when they want to say 'I'm sorry, could you repeat that?' — but in that situation Italians say 'Scusi?' or 'Come?' rather than 'Mi dispiace', which would sound oddly heavy for a simple request to repeat something.
- In southern Italy, particularly in Naples and Sicily, you may hear 'Mi dispiace' delivered with a hand placed briefly on the chest — this physical gesture is part of the expression's weight and is not considered overly dramatic; omitting it in those regions can make a sincere apology feel slightly flat.
Frequently asked
When do I use mi dispiace vs scusa?
'Mi dispiace' is more general for apologies and sympathy. 'Scusa' is for minor personal mistakes or when you're already using the informal 'tu'.
How to say I'm sorry for bad news?
You can say 'Mi dispiace' to express sympathy, for example, 'Mi dispiace sentire questo' (I'm sorry to hear that).
Is mi dispiace formal or informal?
'Mi dispiace' is considered neutral and works in most situations, whether you're talking to friends or strangers.
How do you apologize in Italian?
The most common way to apologize in Italian is with "mi dispiace." For a more formal apology, you can use "mi scusi."
Do Italians say "mi dispiace"?
Yes, "mi dispiace" is the standard and most frequent way to say "I'm sorry" in Italian.
How do you say in Italian "I'm so sorry"?
To express being very sorry, you can say "mi dispiace molto" or "mi dispiace tantissimo."
How to say "sorry" in Italian formal?
In formal situations, use "mi scusi" to say "excuse me" or "I'm sorry."
How to say "sorry" in Italian informal?
Informally, you can use "mi dispiace" or the even more casual "scusa."
