German for Beginners: Responding to Entschuldigung and Sorry Gracefully
Learn to accept apologies in German with phrases like 'Kein Problem' and 'Macht nichts'. This lesson teaches natural responses to 'Entschuldigung' and 'Sorry', with pronunciation and dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When someone says 'Entschuldigung' or 'Sorry' to you in German, how do you respond? This lesson focuses on accepting an apology gracefully. You will learn common phrases like 'Kein Problem' (No problem) and 'Macht nichts' (It's okay), and understand when to use each. We will also clarify the difference between responding to an apology and making one. By the end, you will be able to react appropriately in everyday situations, from bumping into someone to arriving late.
By the end, you can…
- respond to 'Entschuldigung' and 'Sorry' with appropriate phrases.
- distinguish between formal and informal apology responses.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Kein Problem.
No problem.
kine pro-BLEM
Very common and neutral. Use in both formal and informal situations.
Macht nichts.
It's okay. / It doesn't matter.
makht nikhs
Casual and friendly. Literally 'does nothing'. Use with friends or in relaxed settings.
Schon gut.
It's fine. / Never mind.
shohn goot
Can sound slightly dismissive if said abruptly, but is generally fine. Use to reassure someone.
Keine Ursache.
No need to apologize. / You're welcome.
KYE-nuh OOR-zah-khuh
More formal. Often used in response to 'Entschuldigung' in professional contexts.
Alles gut.
All good.
AH-les goot
Informal and friendly. Common among younger speakers.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most straightforward way to accept an apology is to say 'Kein Problem.' This works in almost any situation, whether someone bumps into you or is late. For example: 'Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät.' – 'Kein Problem.' Another common pattern is 'Macht nichts.' which is slightly more casual. You can also use 'Schon gut.' to mean 'It's fine.' Note that 'Keine Ursache' is more formal and often translates as 'You're welcome' but can also respond to an apology. Avoid using 'Bitte' alone as a response to an apology; it can sound odd. Instead, use one of the phrases above.
When to use it
Use 'Kein Problem' in most situations, formal or informal. If you are in a business meeting and someone says 'Entschuldigung', 'Kein Problem' is perfectly acceptable. 'Macht nichts' is better with friends or family. 'Schon gut' can be used when you want to downplay the apology, but be careful with your tone; it can sound like you are annoyed if said sharply. 'Keine Ursache' is polite and slightly formal, suitable for strangers or in customer service. 'Alles gut' is very casual and common among young people. For example, if a friend says 'Sorry, ich habe dein Buch vergessen.' you can reply 'Alles gut, kein Stress.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus hatte Verspätung.
Sorry, I'm late. The bus was delayed.ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, ikh bin tsoo shpayt. dair boos HAT-tuh fair-SHPATE-oongKein Problem. Setz dich, wir haben gerade erst angefangen.
No problem. Sit down, we just started.kine pro-BLEM. zets dikh, veer HAH-ben gah-RAH-duh airst AN-guh-FAN-genDanke. Und sorry, ich habe vergessen, die Unterlagen mitzubringen.
Thanks. And sorry, I forgot to bring the documents.DAN-kuh. oont SOR-ree, ikh HAH-buh fair-GES-sen, dee OON-ter-lah-gen MIT-tsoo-brin-genMacht nichts. Du kannst sie mir später schicken.
It's okay. You can send them to me later.makht nikhs. doo KANST zee meer SHPATE-ter SHIK-kenA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, responding to an apology is often brief and matter-of-fact. Overly effusive responses like 'Oh, it's totally fine, don't worry at all!' might sound insincere. A simple 'Kein Problem' or 'Macht nichts' is usually sufficient. In formal contexts, such as with a boss or a stranger, 'Keine Ursache' is safe. Among friends, 'Alles gut' is common. Note that 'Sorry' is widely used in German, especially among younger people, and is considered informal. Responding to 'Sorry' with 'Kein Problem' is perfectly natural.
One thing to watch for
Responding to 'Entschuldigung' with 'Bitte' (thinking it means 'You're welcome').
Try this instead: 'Bitte' alone is not used to accept an apology. It is used for 'please' or 'you're welcome' after 'Danke'. Instead, say 'Kein Problem' or 'Macht nichts'. For example: 'Entschuldigung!' – 'Kein Problem.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you respond informally to a friend who says 'Sorry, ich bin spät'?
Show a sample answer
Alles gut.
'Alles gut' is a casual and friendly response. 'Kein Problem' or 'Macht nichts' would also work, but 'Alles gut' is particularly common among friends.
2What is a polite, slightly formal way to accept an apology from a stranger?
Show a sample answer
Keine Ursache.
'Keine Ursache' is polite and works well with strangers or in formal situations. 'Kein Problem' is also acceptable but slightly less formal.
3Translate into German: 'No problem, it's fine.'
Show a sample answer
Kein Problem, schon gut.
This combines two common responses. 'Schon gut' can also stand alone. Other combinations like 'Kein Problem, alles gut' are also valid.
To accept an apology in German, use 'Kein Problem' as your default. For informal situations, 'Macht nichts' or 'Alles gut' work well. In formal contexts, 'Keine Ursache' is a safe choice. Avoid using 'Bitte' as a response to an apology.
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