German Phrase
Es tut mir sehr leid.
Meaning
A sincere apology meaning 'I am very sorry.' The addition of 'sehr' intensifies the regret, making it stronger than the plain 'Es tut mir leid.'
When to use
Use this phrase in formal or semi‑formal situations when you want to express deep remorse – for example, after a mistake at work, when you’ve missed an appointment, or in written apologies.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estutmirsehrleid
Es (dummy subject)
In impersonal constructions German uses the neuter pronoun 'es' as a placeholder subject.
tut (verb tun)
The verb 'tun' is used idiomatically in 'es tut mir leid' to mean 'to cause (someone) sorrow'.
mir (dative pronoun)
The person who feels the regret is expressed in the dative case.
sehr (adverb)
Adds intensity, translating to 'very' or 'greatly'.
leid (noun)
A noun meaning 'sorrow' that forms a fixed expression with 'es tut mir'.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, ich habe den Termin verpasst.
Sorry, I missed the appointment.
Es tut mir sehr leid.
I am very sorry.
✕Common Mistakes
Es tut sehr mir leid.
Adverb 'sehr' must modify 'leid', not the dative pronoun.
Ich bin sehr leid.
The verb 'sein' is not used in this expression; use 'tut' with the fixed phrase.
Mir tut es leid.
Word order is fixed: 'Es tut mir leid', not 'Mir tut es leid'.
↔Alternatives
Es tut mir leid.
I’m sorry.
Entschuldigung.
Excuse me / Sorry.
Ich bitte um Entschuldigung.
I ask for forgiveness.
Ich bedaure das sehr.
I regret that very much.
Cultural Tip
In German culture a direct apology is appreciated; 'Es tut mir leid' is the standard way to show remorse. In more casual settings people often say 'Sorry' (borrowed from English), but in professional or written contexts stick to the German phrase. Remember that the dative pronoun 'mir' is mandatory – omitting it sounds ungrammatical.