When someone says sorry in French, a short reply often works best. In this workshop you will practice four common phrases for accepting an apology and reassuring the other person, plus one short variant from the dialogue. You will hear how these phrases sound in a short conversation, then practice choosing the right reply and saying it yourself. The focus is on small, everyday apologies, such as being a little late or having a small problem. You do not need long sentences. A calm, friendly tone matters more than perfect grammar. Work through the sections, then try the three exercises. Each exercise includes an answer or self-check so you can see how you did.
Four short phrases for accepting an apology
Start with four useful replies. The first is «Ce n'est pas grave.», which means "It's not serious" or "It's okay." It is a common, everyday way to accept a small apology. The second is «Pas de problème.», which means "No problem." It is neutral and works in many everyday situations. The third is «Ne t'inquiète pas.», which means "Don't worry." Use this one with someone you address as tu, such as a friend, a family member, or a colleague you know well. The fourth is «Ne vous inquiétez pas.», which also means "Don't worry," but it is the vous form. Use it with strangers, older people, or in a more formal situation. In the dialogue below you will also hear «Pas de souci.», which means "No worries." It is a common variant of «Pas de problème.» Notice that all of these are short. You can say one alone, or you can combine two for a warmer reply.
Hear the phrases in a short dialogue
Now listen to how these phrases work in a conversation. The dialogue lines are recorded and playable. One person arrives and says «Désolé, je suis en retard.», which means "Sorry, I'm late." The other person answers with «Ce n'est pas grave, ne t'inquiète pas.», which means "It's okay, don't worry." This reply combines two ideas: first the apology is accepted, then the person is reassured. The first speaker then says «Merci. J'ai eu un problème de métro.», which means "Thank you. I had a problem with the metro." This explains the reason for being late. The second speaker answers with «Pas de souci. On y va ?», which means "No worries. Shall we go?" This accepts the explanation and moves the conversation forward. In this scene, the first speaker is the person who apologizes, and the second speaker is the person who accepts the apology.
Choosing tu or vous, and moving on
Two of the phrases in this lesson depend on who you are speaking to. «Ne t'inquiète pas.» uses tu, so it fits a friend, a family member, or someone you know well. «Ne vous inquiétez pas.» uses vous, so it fits a stranger, an older person, or a more formal situation. The other phrases, «Ce n'est pas grave.», «Pas de problème.», and «Pas de souci.», do not show tu or vous, so they are useful when you are not sure. After you accept an apology, you can also move the conversation forward. In the dialogue, «Pas de souci. On y va ?» does this by accepting the explanation and suggesting that the two people go. You can use a short phrase to accept the apology, then add a simple next step. Keep your tone calm and friendly. A short reply with a warm tone often sounds more natural than a long sentence.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Ce n'est pas grave.
It's not serious / It's okay.
suh neh pah grahv
Pas de problème.
No problem.
pah duh proh-blehm
Ne t'inquiète pas.
Don't worry.
nuh tan-kyet pah
Ne vous inquiétez pas.
Don't worry.
nuh voo zan-kyet-ay pah
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Désolé, je suis en retard.
Sorry, I'm late.Ce n'est pas grave, ne t'inquiète pas.
It's okay, don't worry.Merci. J'ai eu un problème de métro.
Thank you. I had a problem with the metro.Pas de souci. On y va ?
No worries. Shall we go?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: accept the apology
Imagine a friend arrives a little late and says «Désolé, je suis en retard.». You want to accept the apology and reassure your friend. Your friend uses tu with you, so you can use a tu form in your reply.
Your task: Say your reply out loud. Use one phrase from the lesson to accept the apology, and if you want, add a second short phrase to reassure your friend. Then listen to «Ce n'est pas grave, ne t'inquiète pas.» and compare your reply with it.
Reply comprehension: choose the best phrase
Read each situation and choose the best reply from the lesson. The phrases are «Ce n'est pas grave.», «Pas de problème.», «Ne t'inquiète pas.», and «Ne vous inquiétez pas.». Think about who is speaking and whether the situation is formal or informal.
Your task: Situation one: a close friend says sorry for a small mistake. Situation two: an older stranger says sorry in a formal setting. Situation three: a colleague you know well says sorry for a small problem. Choose one phrase for each situation and say it out loud.
Recall and role switch: who says what?
In the dialogue, one person apologizes and the other accepts the apology. The first speaker says «Désolé, je suis en retard.» and later «Merci. J'ai eu un problème de métro.». The second speaker says «Ce n'est pas grave, ne t'inquiète pas.» and later «Pas de souci. On y va ?». Think about which role each line belongs to.
Your task: Say the dialogue out loud, playing both roles. First, play the person who apologizes: say «Désolé, je suis en retard.» and «Merci. J'ai eu un problème de métro.». Then play the person who accepts the apology: say «Ce n'est pas grave, ne t'inquiète pas.» and «Pas de souci. On y va ?». After that, switch roles and say the whole dialogue again.
Common questions
Do I need to use a long sentence to accept an apology in French?
No. Short phrases like «Ce n'est pas grave.» and «Pas de problème.» are common and natural. You can also combine two short phrases, as in «Ce n'est pas grave, ne t'inquiète pas.», which accepts the apology and reassures the person at the same time. A calm, friendly tone is more important than a long sentence.
How do I choose between a tu form and a vous form?
Use a tu form such as «Ne t'inquiète pas.» with a friend, a family member, or someone you know well. Use a vous form such as «Ne vous inquiétez pas.» with a stranger, an older person, or in a more formal situation. If you are not sure, a neutral phrase such as «Ce n'est pas grave.» or «Pas de problème.» is a safe choice.
Sources and further reading
- french: accept apologyChecked September 2026
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