As most of us learn when we are still young children, one of the most important things to know in life is when to say you’re sorry. Of course, this is just as true in Israel as anywhere else, so knowing how to say I’m sorry in Hebrew is something you want to be sure of. That said, it is crucial to understand that attitudes toward asking for and granting forgiveness are quite different in Israeli culture from those associated with Western and particularly American cultures.
Indeed, if one had to characterize the concept of apology and forgiveness in Israel, it would be fair to say that Israelis apologize less frequently and less effusively than other cultures. In other words, Israelis probably won’t say sorry if they accidentally brush up against a stranger in an elevator or for other such minor situations. And if they do, it will likely be short and sweet, and not repeated. However, when we do say we’re sorry, we most likely mean it, considering that we had to first swallow our pride in order to clear our throat to get the apology out!
This is worth keeping in mind so as not to apologize excessively (by Israeli standards, at least), and also so as to avoid taking offense if an Israeli fails to apologize over some minor or even medium offense, or apologies in what seems to be a perfunctory way. Remember that Israelis are fairly direct in general, eschewing many table manners and pleasantries that may be considered requisite in other cultures. The flipside is that we also tend to be more transparent in our interactions, so usually what you see is, in fact, what you get.
It is worth noting that the concepts of apology and forgiveness are taken very seriously in religious Jewish culture, which may have something to do with Israelis’ view that effusive apologies over small matters are over the top and even unnecessary. Interestingly, it is customary to ask forgiveness of loved ones prior to Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, for any transgressions we may have committed against them during the outgoing year – up to three times if those we transgressed refuse to forgive us on the first two attempts!
In any case, daily life is highly likely to land us in a situation where some sort of apology may be in order. Particularly as you navigate a foreign language and culture, it is common to make mistakes in your language usage or to commit a social faux pas. In such cases, a polite and concise apology is likely to be appreciated, even if not necessarily expected. The key is to learn which form of apology to use when, and that is just what the lesson aims to cover!
So let’s jump right in and take a look at how to say sorry in Hebrew in a variety of situations, from expressing contrition or regret to offering condolences, and much more.
Table of Contents
- The Most Important Words for Apologizing
- Taking the Blame
- Apologies for Formal and Professional Situations
- Expressing Condolences
- Other Related Words and Expressions
- Responding to an Apology
- Let HebrewPod101 Keep You on the Right Side of Wrong
1. The Most Important Words for Apologizing
Let’s start off by looking at the most important words for apologizing or saying you’re sorry. Just as the English word sorry can be used in a variety of different contexts, whether we are asking for forgiveness for a grave wrong we’ve done or merely apologizing over some minor accident, the Hebrew word סליחה (selikhah) is a versatile word appropriate for almost all situations involving apology. Therefore, if you’re ever unsure how to say you’re sorry, consider this word your veritable Get Out of Jail Free Card. Below are some examples of how it may be used in context.
1. סליחה
Selikhah
“Sorry”
- סליחה שאני מגיע באיחור. היו פקקים.
S’likhah she-ani magi’a be-ikhur. Hayu p’kakim.
“Sorry I got here late. There was traffic.”
- סליחה שצעקתי.
S’likhah she-tza’akti.
“Sorry for yelling.”
- אתה הבא בתור? סליחה. לא שמתי לב.
Atah ha-ba ba-tor? S’likhah. Lo samti lev.
“You’re next in line? Sorry. I didn’t realize.”
While סליחה (selikhah) is the nominative (noun) form of the root ס”ל”ח, there is also the verb לסלוח (lislo’akh) from the same root, which means “to forgive.” When used in the imperative, it is another way to either apologize or excuse yourself, much like the English word pardon. Here are some examples.
2. סלח/י לי
S’lakh / Silkhi li
“Pardon me”
- סלח לי, אבל אתה חוסם לי את היציאה.
S’lakh li, aval atah khosem li et ha-yetzi’ah.
“Pardon me, but you’re blocking my way out.”
- סלחי לי, אבל אסור לעשן כאן.
Silkhi li, aval asur le’ashen kan.
“Pardon me, but it’s forbidden to smoke here.”
There is also a reflexive verb for saying you’re sorry, להצטער (lehitzta’eir), which actually means “to be sorry.” You can use this specifically to say you’re sorry or to express regret, remorse, sorrow, and similar emotions. Below are a few examples.
3. אני מצטער/ת
Ani mitzta’er / mitzta’eret
“Sorry / I’m sorry”
- אני מצטער על כך שלא שאלתי אותך קודם.
Ani mitzta’er ‘al kakh she-lo sha’alti otakh kodem.
“Sorry for not asking you first.”
- אני מצטערת לשמוע שאתה עוזב אותנו.
Ani mitzta’eret lishmo’a she-atah ‘ozev otanu.
“I’m sorry to hear that you’re leaving us.”
2. Taking the Blame
Apart from generally saying you’re sorry, there will be times you want to specifically take the blame for something you have done wrong. As mentioned previously, there may well be some pride swallowing involved in doing so, but even so, sometimes taking the blame is the best way to convey your contrition over the wrong you have committed. Here are some of the most common ways to accept blame in Hebrew, along with examples of how to use them in context.
4. טעות שלי
Ta’ut sheli
“My mistake”
- טעות שלי. חשבתי שאתה מישהו אחר.
Ta’ut sheli. Khashavti she-atah mishehu akher.
“My mistake. I thought you were someone else.”
5. הכל באשמתי
Ha-kol be-ashmati
“It’s all my fault”
- בבקשה, סלח לי. זה הכל באשמתי.
Bevakashah, s’lakh li. Zeh hakol be-ashmati.
“Please, forgive me. It’s all my fault.”
6. זה עליי
Zeh ‘alai
“It’s on me”
- – איך הצלחת הזאת נשברה?
– Eikh ha-kos ha-zot nishberah?
– “How did this plate break?”
– זה עליי. סליחה.
Zeh ‘alai. S’likhah.
“It’s on me. Sorry.”
7. זה בגללי
Zeh biglali
“It’s because of me”
- אני מצטערת על כל מה שעברת. זה בגללי.
Ani mitzta’eret ‘al kol mah she-’avarta. Zeh biglali.
“I’m sorry for everything you’ve gone through. It’s because of me.”
3. Apologies for Formal and Professional Situations
Apologies may obviously be appropriate in any number of situations. These include situations where formality is called for, particularly in a business or professional setting or when dealing with officials such as police or government clerks. Although Israeli is notoriously informal as a society, it’s a good idea to have some formal apologies up your sleeve. You never know when they might get you out of a jam! Here are three common ways to apologize in a more formal manner.
8. אני מבקש/ת סליחה
Ani mevakesh / mevakeshet s’likhah
“I am asking for forgiveness”
- אני מבקש סליחה. אני מבטיח שזה לא יקרה שוב.
Ani mevakesh s’likhah. Ani mavti’akh she-zeh lo yikreh shuv.
“I am asking for forgiveness. I promise it won’t happen again.”
9. אני מתנצל/ת בכנות
Ani mitnatzel / mitnatzelet be-kenut
“I sincerely apologize”
- אני מתנצל בכנות. הכל היתה בעצם אי הבנה גדולה.
Ani mitnatzel be-kenut. Ha-kol haytah be-’etzem eiy havanah g’dolah.
“I sincerely apologize. It was all just a big misunderstanding.”
10. סליחה על …
S’likhah ‘al …
“My apologies for …”
- סליחה על האיחור. הלכתי לאיבוד בדרך.
S’likhah ‘al ha-ikhur. Halakhti le-ibud ba-derekh.
“My apologies for the delay. I got lost on the way.”
4. Expressing Condolences
While it may not be exactly the same as asking for forgiveness, offering condolences often takes the form of expressing our regret over someone’s loss or misfortune. In Hebrew, there are quite a number of ways to do this. As it is very much customary to offer condolences in Israel when someone has suffered a misfortune, try to memorize at least one or two of these expressions. Note that some of them reflect traditional religious Jewish beliefs, particularly the final phrase.
11. הצטערתי לשמוע על …
Hitzta’arti lishmo’a ‘al …
“I’m sorry to hear about”
- הצטערתי לשמוע על סבא שלך.
Hitzta’arti lishmo’a ‘al saba shelakh.
“I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather.”
12. צר לי ש…
Tzar li she…
“I’m sorry that …”
- צר לי שאיבדת מישהו כל כך יקר.
Tzar li she-ibadet mishehu kol kakh yakar.
“I’m sorry that you’ve lost someone so dear.”
13. שלא תדע/י עוד צער.
She-lo teda’ / ted’ii ‘od tza’ar.
“May you know no more sorrow.”
14. אני משתתף / משתתפת בצערך.
Ani mishtatef / mishtatefet be-tza’arekha / be-tza’arekh.
“I take part in your sorrow.”
15.תנחומיי.
Tankhumai.
“My condolences.”
16. ברוך דיין האמת.
Barukh dayan ha-emet.
“Blessed is the true judge.”
5. Other Related Words and Expressions
As a bonus, here are some additional words and expressions you’re likely to find useful in the context of apologies in Hebrew. If the first one strikes you as oddly familiar, that’s because it’s simply the same English word sorry you know so well with an Israeli pronunciation. The other three are used to express anguish, and, respectively, to evade responsibility partially and entirely. Just be careful with how you actually use these!
17. סורי
Sori
“Sorry”
18. אוי ואבוי.
Oy va-avoy.
“Woe is me.”
19. לא התכוונתי.
Lo hitkavanti.
“It wasn’t on purpose. / I didn’t mean to.”
20. אתה התחלת / את התחלת.
Atah hitkhalta / At hitkhalt.
“You started.”
6. Responding to an Apology
Finally, let’s have a look at how to respond when someone else apologizes. We’ve attempted to curate a broad array of possibilities, ranging from sincere forgiveness to brushing the whole thing off. So be sure to employ this language accordingly vis-à-vis your intentions! Also, as in the last section, keep your eye out for the expression that is poached from English!
21. הכל בסדר.
Ha-kol be-seder.
“Everything is fine.”
22. אל תדאג/י.
Al tid’ag / tid’agi.
“Don’t worry.”
23. לא קרה כלום.
Lo karah klum.
“No worries.” (Literally: “Nothing has happened.”)
24. זה לא עניין גדול.
Zeh lo ‘inyan gadol.
“It’s no big thing.”
25. זה לא כזה ביג דיל.
Zeh lo kazeh big dil.
“It’s no big deal.”
26. סלחתי.
Salakhti.
“I’ve forgiven (you).”
27. שכח מזה.
Shkakh mi-zeh
“Forget about it.”
28. חפיף
Khafif
“A mere nothing”
29. שזה לא יקרה שוב.
She-zeh lo yikreh shuv.
“Don’t let it happen again.”
30. הפנקס פתוח והיד רושמת.
Ha-pinkas patu’akh ve-ha-yad roshemet.
“The notebook is open and the hand is writing.”
(*This last one is used to say you’re keeping an eye on someone, particularly after they have already raised some concerns over their actions or behaviors.)
7. Let HebrewPod101 Keep You on the Right Side of Wrong
We hope you have found this lesson useful and interesting. Although none of us likes to be wrong, much less admit it, it’s much better to respond to such situations with poise, taking responsibility for whatever we have done wrong. Obviously, in order to do so, it’s crucial to be armed with the right word or phrase for the occasion and the particular wrong it entails.
The same, in fact, can be said for just about any situation. Apart from fostering a solid understanding of grammar and pronunciation, it’s important to take the time to study the right vocabulary for different situations and contexts. You can use HebrewPod101’s thematically oriented lessons, as well as our many vocabulary lists, to ensure you’re prepared for whatever situations you expect to find yourself in.
And just in case we missed anything you’d like to know about apologies in Hebrew, first of all, we’re sorry. And second of all, please let us know! Our team of native speaking teachers would be happy to help you with your question or doubt, so get in touch today. Until next time, shalom!
