In this workshop you will practice apologizing in German for being late and for small mistakes, and you will also practice accepting an apology. You will hear short recorded lines and use them in guided speaking tasks. The focus is on casual, everyday German. You will speak both roles: the person who apologizes and the person who replies. By the end, you should be able to say a simple apology and respond to one without needing to invent new phrases.
Apologies for Being Late
Two recorded lines are useful when you arrive late. «Sorry, ich bin zu spät.» means 'Sorry I'm late.' The word 'Sorry' is common in informal German. «Entschuldigung, ich bin spät dran.» means 'Sorry, I'm running late.' Here 'spät dran' is an informal way to say you are running late. Both lines are short and easy to say. When you practice, say them slowly first, then at a natural speed. Pay attention to the vowel in 'spät' and the rhythm of 'zu spät'. You can use these lines when you meet a friend or a colleague in a casual situation. In the recorded dialogue, speaker A says «Sorry, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.» This means 'Sorry I'm late. The bus didn't come.' The second sentence gives a simple reason. You can use the first sentence alone if you do not want to give a reason.
Small Mistakes and Sincere Apologies
For small mistakes, two recorded lines are helpful. «Mein Fehler.» means 'My bad.' or 'My mistake.' It is direct and informal, used for small things like forgetting something or making a small error. «Tut mir leid.» means 'I'm sorry.' It is a standard apology and can sound a bit more sincere than 'Sorry'. In the recorded dialogue, speaker A says «Danke. Und sorry, ich habe deine Nachricht nicht gesehen.» This means 'Thanks. And sorry, I didn't see your message.' Here 'sorry' is used for a small mistake. You can use «Mein Fehler.» or «Tut mir leid.» in similar small situations. Practice saying each line with a calm, friendly tone. The meaning is in the words, but your tone helps it sound natural.
Accepting an Apology
When someone apologizes, you can accept it with short, friendly lines. In the recorded dialogue, speaker B says «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» This means 'No problem. Sit down.' The first part accepts the apology; the second part invites the person to sit. Later speaker B says «Macht nichts. Alles gut.» This means 'No harm done. It's all good.' Both replies are casual and reassuring. You can use «Kein Problem.» or «Macht nichts.» to accept an apology. «Alles gut.» adds a friendly close. Practice saying these lines with a relaxed tone. When you speak both roles, imagine you are the person who arrives late and then the person who replies. This helps you feel the rhythm of a short, natural exchange.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Sorry, ich bin zu spät.
Sorry I'm late.
SOR-ee, ikh bin tsoo shpayt
Entschuldigung, ich bin spät dran.
Sorry, I'm running late.
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, ikh bin shpayt dran
Mein Fehler.
My bad. / My mistake.
mine FAY-ler
Tut mir leid.
I'm sorry.
toot meer lite
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Sorry, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.
Sorry I'm late. The bus didn't come.Kein Problem. Setz dich.
No problem. Sit down.Danke. Und sorry, ich habe deine Nachricht nicht gesehen.
Thanks. And sorry, I didn't see your message.Macht nichts. Alles gut.
No harm done. It's all good.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Late Arrival Exchange
You will play both roles in a short exchange. First, you are the person who arrives late. Then you are the friend who replies. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: Say the following lines out loud in order. First as speaker A: «Sorry, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.» Then as speaker B: «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» Then as speaker A: «Danke. Und sorry, ich habe deine Nachricht nicht gesehen.» Then as speaker B: «Macht nichts. Alles gut.» Pause briefly between each line. Repeat the whole exchange two times.
Choose the Right Reply
You will hear or read an apology and choose a suitable reply from the recorded lines. This task checks if you understand the meaning of each line.
Your task: Read each apology below. Then say the best reply from the recorded lines out loud. 1) «Sorry, ich bin zu spät.» 2) «Mein Fehler.» 3) «Tut mir leid.» For each, choose one reply: «Kein Problem.», «Macht nichts.», or «Alles gut.» You may use each reply more than once. Say your chosen reply out loud.
Recall and Role Swap
You will recall the recorded lines from memory and say them in the correct roles. This task helps you remember the phrases without reading.
Your task: First, say speaker A's first line from memory: «Sorry, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.» Then say speaker B's first reply: «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» Next, say speaker A's second line: «Danke. Und sorry, ich habe deine Nachricht nicht gesehen.» Then say speaker B's second reply: «Macht nichts. Alles gut.» After that, swap roles: say speaker B's lines first, then speaker A's lines. Do this once without looking at the lines.
Common questions
Can I use «Sorry, ich bin zu spät.» with my boss?
The recorded line «Sorry, ich bin zu spät.» is casual and common among friends or colleagues. With a boss, you might prefer «Entschuldigung, ich bin spät dran.» which is slightly more neutral. Both are informal, but 'Entschuldigung' can sound a bit more polite in a work setting. Practice both and choose based on your relationship.
What is the difference between «Mein Fehler.» and «Tut mir leid.»?
«Mein Fehler.» means 'My bad.' or 'My mistake.' It is direct and used for small mistakes. «Tut mir leid.» means 'I'm sorry.' It is a standard apology and can sound more sincere. For a small mistake like forgetting a message, both can work. For a more serious mistake, «Tut mir leid.» is usually better. The recordings show both in casual situations.
Sources and further reading
- german: apologize to friendsChecked September 2026
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