German for Accepting Formal Apologies: Saying 'I Appreciate Your Apology' and More
Learn intermediate German phrases to accept formal apologies politely, with pronunciation, dialogue, and cultural tips.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Accepting an apology in German requires more than just saying 'kein Problem.' In formal or professional settings, you need phrases that acknowledge the apology while maintaining respect and sometimes setting boundaries. This lesson teaches you how to respond to apologies like 'Es tut mir leid' or 'Ich entschuldige mich' with expressions such as 'Ich weiß Ihre Entschuldigung zu schätzen' (I appreciate your apology) and 'Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung' (Thank you for your apology). You'll learn the difference between casual and formal acceptance, and how to sound sincere without being overly emotional. By the end, you'll be able to handle apologies gracefully in business, customer service, or official contexts.
By the end, you can…
- accept a formal apology in German using appropriate phrases.
- distinguish between casual and formal apology acceptance.
- respond to an apology while maintaining a polite tone in professional settings.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich weiß Ihre Entschuldigung zu schätzen.
I appreciate your apology.
ikh vyse EE-ruh ent-SHOOL-dee-goong tsoo SHET-sen
Formal, used with 'Sie'. Suitable for business or official contexts. 'Weiß' is the 1st person singular of 'wissen' in this fixed expression.
Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung.
Thank you for your apology.
DAHN-kuh fewr EE-ruh ent-SHOOL-dee-goong
Neutral-formal. Works in most situations where you want to acknowledge the apology politely.
Ich nehme Ihre Entschuldigung an.
I accept your apology.
ikh NAY-muh EE-ruh ent-SHOOL-dee-goong ahn
Formal and explicit. Use when you want to clearly state that the apology is accepted. 'Annehmen' is a separable verb.
Schon gut, das kann passieren.
It's fine, that can happen.
shohn goot, dahs kahn pah-SEE-ren
Informal to neutral. Use with friends, family, or colleagues you are familiar with. Shows understanding.
Kein Problem, wirklich nicht.
No problem, really not.
kine pro-BLAYM, VEER-khlish nikht
Informal. Common among friends. Avoid in very formal contexts as it may sound too casual.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To accept an apology formally in German, you can use the pattern 'Ich weiß [possessive] Entschuldigung zu schätzen' or 'Ich nehme [possessive] Entschuldigung an.' The possessive changes based on the person: 'Ihre' for formal you, 'deine' for informal you, 'seine' for his, 'ihre' for her. For example: 'Ich weiß deine Entschuldigung zu schätzen' (I appreciate your apology, informal). Another pattern is 'Danke für [possessive] Entschuldigung' – 'Danke für deine Entschuldigung.' These patterns allow you to acknowledge the apology without necessarily forgiving immediately, which can be useful in professional settings.
When to use it
Use formal acceptance phrases like 'Ich weiß Ihre Entschuldigung zu schätzen' when speaking to a superior, a client, or someone you don't know well. For example, if a colleague misses a deadline and apologizes, you might say: 'Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung. Ich verstehe, dass es Schwierigkeiten gab.' (Thank you for your apology. I understand there were difficulties.) In informal situations, such as with friends, 'Schon gut' or 'Kein Problem' is more natural. However, if the apology is for something serious, even friends might use 'Ich nehme deine Entschuldigung an' to show they take it seriously. Always match the register to the relationship and severity of the situation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Es tut mir leid, dass ich den Termin verpasst habe. Ich entschuldige mich aufrichtig.
I'm sorry that I missed the appointment. I sincerely apologize.es toot meer lite, dahs ikh dane ter-MEEN fer-PAST HAH-buh. ikh ent-SHOOL-dee-guh mikh OWF-rikh-tikhDanke für Ihre Entschuldigung. Ich weiß das zu schätzen.
Thank you for your apology. I appreciate that.DAHN-kuh fewr EE-ruh ent-SHOOL-dee-goong. ikh vyse dahs tsoo SHET-senKönnen wir einen neuen Termin vereinbaren?
Can we arrange a new appointment?KUH-nen veer EYE-nen NOY-en ter-MEEN fer-EYE-nah-renJa, gerne. Ich nehme Ihre Entschuldigung an. Lassen Sie uns einen neuen Termin finden.
Yes, gladly. I accept your apology. Let's find a new appointment.yah, GEHR-nuh. ikh NAY-muh EE-ruh ent-SHOOL-dee-goong ahn. LAH-sen zee oons EYE-nen NOY-en ter-MEEN FIN-denA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, formal apologies and their acceptance are often more direct and less effusive than in some other cultures. A simple 'Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung' is sufficient and appropriate. Overly emotional responses might be seen as insincere. In business contexts, it's common to accept an apology while still addressing the issue at hand, as shown in the dialogue. Regional differences are minor; however, in Austria and Switzerland, 'Entschuldigung' is used similarly, though 'Verzeihung' is slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Kein Problem' in a formal business apology, e.g., 'Kein Problem, Herr Müller.'
Try this instead: In formal contexts, 'Kein Problem' can sound too casual and may imply that the issue was trivial. Instead, use 'Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung' or 'Ich weiß Ihre Entschuldigung zu schätzen.' For example: 'Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung, Herr Müller. Ich verstehe, dass es ein Versehen war.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you formally accept an apology from your boss using 'I appreciate your apology'?
Show a sample answer
Ich weiß Ihre Entschuldigung zu schätzen.
This phrase uses the formal 'Ihre' and the expression 'zu schätzen wissen' to convey appreciation politely. 'Ich schätze Ihre Entschuldigung' is also possible but less idiomatic in this fixed phrase.
2What is a casual way to accept an apology from a friend?
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Schon gut, das kann passieren.
This is informal and reassuring. 'Kein Problem' is also correct, but 'Schon gut' is slightly more empathetic. Both are acceptable among friends.
3Translate: 'I accept your apology' formally.
Show a sample answer
Ich nehme Ihre Entschuldigung an.
This uses the formal 'Ihre' and the separable verb 'annehmen'. 'Ich akzeptiere Ihre Entschuldigung' is also correct but less common in everyday German.
In German, accepting a formal apology often involves thanking the person or expressing appreciation, rather than simply saying 'it's okay.' Use 'Danke für Ihre Entschuldigung' or 'Ich weiß Ihre Entschuldigung zu schätzen' in professional settings, and save 'Kein Problem' for informal situations.
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