Apologising and expressing sympathy in English

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Apologising phrases

There are various ways to express regret or tell someone that you are sorry for having done something that hurt them. Below are some common expressions used by native English speakers when apologising.

1. I’m sorry.
2. I apologise for my mistake.
3. Please forgive me for what I did.
4. I’m really sorry about that.
5. My apologies for the inconvenience.
6. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, I’m sorry.
7. I regret my actions, and I apologise.
8. I’m sorry, it was thoughtless of me.
9. Please accept my sincere apologies.
10. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise the impact of my actions.
11. I made a mistake, and I’m sorry.
12. I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused.
13. I owe you an apology for what happened.
14. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.
15. It was never my intention to hurt you, I apologise.

How to accept an apology?

You can use the phrases below to show understanding and forgiveness when someone offers you an apology.

1. It’s okay, don’t worry about it.
2. I appreciate your apology, thank you.
3. No harm done, let’s move on.
4. Thanks for saying that, I accept your apology.
5. It’s all right, we all make mistakes.
6. I understand, let’s put it behind us.
7. I forgive you, let’s move forward.
8. It’s fine, I know you didn’t mean it.
9. Thank you for apologising, I appreciate it.
10. Don’t worry, I know it wasn’t intentional.
11. Apology accepted, let’s focus on the future.
12. I’m glad you brought it up, let’s move past it together.
13. It’s not a big deal, thank you for acknowledging it.
14. I appreciate your sincerity, let’s learn from this.
15. No problem, we can work through it.

How to express sympathy?

Loss and hardship are inevitable parts of life. The expressions below can be used to show your compassion and support when someone is going through a challenging situation or has experienced a loss.

1. I’m so sorry for your loss.
2. My heart goes out to you during this difficult time.
3. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here for you.
4. You have my deepest condolences.
5. I’m here to listen if you need someone to talk to.
6. I’m so sorry to hear that, please know I’m here to support you.
7. That must be really hard, I’m here if you need me.
8. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.
9. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.
10. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
11. It’s never easy to face such challenges, but I’m here for you.
12. I’m truly sorry you have to deal with this.
13. It’s difficult to know what to say, but I want you to know I care.
14. I can’t imagine how tough this must be for you, but I’m here to help in any way I can.
15. Please accept my heartfelt sympathies during this difficult time.

How to responds to condolences or sympathy?

You can use the expressions below to acknowledge and show gratitude for the sympathy and support offered by others when you’re going through a difficult time.

1. Thank you for your kind words.
2. I appreciate your support during this difficult time.
3. Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to me.
4. Thank you for being here for me.
5. Your understanding and compassion are truly comforting.
6. It’s comforting to know I have friends like you.
7. Your empathy and care have helped me through this tough time.
8. I’m grateful for your friendship and support.
9. Your message brings me solace in this difficult period.
10. I’m touched by your thoughtfulness and concern.
11. Your encouragement means a great deal to me.
12. It’s heartwarming to know I have your support.
13. Your kindness has been a great source of strength.
14. I deeply appreciate your comforting words and gestures.