In this speaking workshop, you will practice apologizing in German for small everyday mistakes. You will use informal phrases like «Entschuldigung!» and formal phrases like «Entschuldigen Sie bitte.» You will also learn to respond when someone apologizes to you, using «Kein Problem.» or «Macht nichts.» The workshop has three tasks: a guided exchange, a reply comprehension choice, and a recall task where you play both roles. Each task includes an answer or self-check so you can confirm your progress. You can do this alone with audio or with a partner.
Informal and formal apologies
German has different ways to apologize depending on who you are talking to. «Entschuldigung!» means 'Sorry!' or 'Excuse me!' and is informal. Use it when you bump into someone, need to get past, or interrupt briefly. It works with strangers too, but it is not as formal as «Entschuldigen Sie bitte.» That phrase means 'Excuse me, please.' or 'I'm sorry.' and is formal. Use it with strangers, older people, officials, or in a shop or office. The verb form Sie marks polite distance. Another useful phrase is «Tut mir leid.» which means 'I'm sorry.' It is a warm, sincere apology for a small mistake, such as being late or forgetting something. It is neutral in register and very common. When you arrive late, you can say «Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät.» which means 'Sorry, I'm late.' You can add a short reason if you want, for example «Der Bus kam nicht.» meaning 'The bus didn't come.'
Responding to an apology
When someone apologizes to you, you can respond in a friendly way. Two common responses are «Kein Problem.» and «Macht nichts.» «Kein Problem.» means 'No problem.' and «Macht nichts.» means 'It's nothing.' or 'No worries.' Both are neutral and can be used in many situations. In the recorded dialogue, person A says «Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.» meaning 'Sorry, I'm late. The bus didn't come.' Person B replies «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» meaning 'No problem. Sit down.' In another scene, person A says «Entschuldigen Sie bitte, ich habe Sie nicht gesehen.» meaning 'Excuse me, please, I didn't see you.' Person B replies «Macht nichts.» meaning 'It's nothing.' Notice that «Setz dich» is informal and means 'Sit down.' It fits the informal situation. For formal situations, you would use a different form, but here we focus on these recorded lines.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Entschuldigung!
Sorry! / Excuse me!
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong
Entschuldigen Sie bitte.
Excuse me, please. / I'm sorry.
ent-SHOOL-dee-gun zee BIT-tuh
Tut mir leid.
I'm sorry.
toot meer lite
Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät.
Sorry, I'm late.
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, ikh bin tsoo zate
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Entschuldigung, 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.Entschuldigen Sie bitte, ich habe Sie nicht gesehen.
Excuse me, please, I didn't see you.Macht nichts.
It's nothing. / No worries.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided apology exchange
You are at a language class. You arrive late. Your teacher is friendly and uses informal German with you. You need to apologize and give a short reason. Then your teacher responds.
Your task: Say your apology and reason in German. Use the recorded line «Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.» Then respond as the teacher with «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» Repeat the exchange, swapping roles if you have a partner.
Choose the right reply
You hear someone apologize to you. You need to choose a suitable reply from the recorded options. The situation is informal: a friend bumps into you and says «Entschuldigung!»
Your task: Listen to or read the apology «Entschuldigung!» Then choose the best reply from these two recorded options: «Kein Problem.» or «Macht nichts.» Say your chosen reply aloud. Then do the same for a formal situation: a stranger says «Entschuldigen Sie bitte, ich habe Sie nicht gesehen.» Choose between «Kein Problem.» and «Macht nichts.»
Recall both roles
You will now recall the two recorded dialogues from memory. First, play both roles in the late-to-class scene. Then play both roles in the bumping-into-a-stranger scene. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: For the late scene, say person A's line «Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät. Der Bus kam nicht.» Then say person B's line «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» For the stranger scene, say person A's line «Entschuldigen Sie bitte, ich habe Sie nicht gesehen.» Then say person B's line «Macht nichts.» Repeat until you can say all four lines without looking.
Common questions
When should I use «Entschuldigung!» and when «Entschuldigen Sie bitte.»?
Use «Entschuldigung!» for informal situations, like bumping into a friend or interrupting briefly. Use «Entschuldigen Sie bitte.» for formal situations, like talking to a stranger, an older person, or someone in a shop or office. The Sie form shows polite distance.
What can I say when someone apologizes to me in German?
You can say «Kein Problem.» meaning 'No problem.' or «Macht nichts.» meaning 'It's nothing.' or 'No worries.' Both are neutral and polite. In the recorded dialogue, person B uses «Kein Problem. Setz dich.» after a late arrival, and «Macht nichts.» after a bump.
Sources and further reading
- german: apologizing simple mistakesChecked September 2026
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