French Phrase
Désolé de te déranger.
Meaning
Literally “Sorry for bothering you,” this phrase is a polite way to apologize when you think you are interrupting or causing inconvenience to someone you know well.
When to use
Use it in informal or semi‑formal situations with friends, classmates, or colleagues when you need to ask a question, request help, or simply interrupt a conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Désolédetedéranger.
Désolé (adjective)
Used as an apology; it agrees in gender and number with the speaker (masc. singular here).
de + infinitive
The preposition de introduces an infinitive verb to express the cause of the apology.
te (object pronoun)
Second‑person singular informal direct object pronoun placed before the infinitive.
déranger (infinitive)
Means “to disturb, to bother”. In this construction it follows de and the object pronoun.
🗨In Conversation
Désolé de te déranger, mais tu as vu mon portable ?
Sorry to bother you, but have you seen my phone?
Non, désolé, je ne l’ai pas vu.
No, sorry, I haven’t seen it.
✕Common Mistakes
Désolé pour te déranger.
The correct preposition after désolé is de, not pour.
Désolé de vous déranger.
Use "vous" only in formal contexts; with friends you should say "te".
Désolé de déranger.
The object pronoun is required; you need to specify who you are bothering.
↔Alternatives
Pardon de te déranger.
Sorry to bother you.
Excuse‑moi de te déranger.
Excuse me for bothering you.
Je suis désolé de te déranger.
I’m sorry for bothering you.
Cultural Tip
In French, "désolé" is more personal and often used when you feel responsible for the inconvenience. "Pardon" can be a bit more formal or used for brief interruptions. Remember to match the level of formality with the pronoun: use "te" for friends and "vous" for strangers or superiors.