Imagine this. You’re walking in Delhi, sipping a cutting chai, when you accidentally step on someone’s foot. You freeze. They glare at you. And you wonder “How to say sorry in Hindi?”
Good news: saying sorry in Hindi is easier than you think. But here’s the twist — just like with Hello, Indians don’t always use the “formal” Hindi word. Sometimes they mix English, often times they’ll just say Sorry, and sometimes, they won’t even apologize.
Through this post, you’ll learn the intricacies of how to say sorry and when not to as well.
The Direct Translation: Maaf kijiye
This is the official “sorry” in Hindi. It’s polite, respectful, and safe to use in formal situations.
Pronunciation –
Example: You bump into someone on the metro. You say:
“Maaf kijiye.”
It’s the equivalent of “excuse me” or “pardon me.”
But just like dhanyavaad, you won’t hear this much among friends. It feels a little too stiff.
How to say sorry in Hindi in everyday life: Sorry
Most Indians just use the English word “sorry” And then add a filler word like yaar (friend) or bhai (brother).
Example: You’re late to meet your buddy. You text:
“Sorry, traffic was insane.”
It’s casual, friendly, and totally normal. If you’ve read the other conversational posts, you know that this is normal.
The Formal-but-Natural Version: Kshama kijiye
This is a “proper” way of apologizing. Think of it as maaf kijiye’s cousin. “Maaf” originates from Urdu, while “Kshama” originates from Sanskrit.
“Kshama” is less common in daily speech but you might see it in formal settings such as newspapers, signs, or announcements.
Example: On the metro, if an announcement system glitches, it might say:
“Asuvidha ke liye kshama kijiye.”
(Translation: We apologize for the inconvenience.)
When Indians Don’t Say Sorry At All
Here’s the cultural curveball: sometimes, Indians skip the word “sorry” completely. Instead, they show it through tone or gestures.
Example: You spill chai on your friend’s shirt. Instead of saying sorry, you might:
- Offer to pay for dry cleaning.
- Just say: “Galti ho gayi” (Oops, I made a mistake.)
In fact, among close friends, over-apologizing is considered unnecessary.
Quick Reference: 10 Ways to Say Sorry in Hindi
- Maaf kijiye – Excuse me / sorry (formal).
- Shama kijiye – Formal apology.
- Sorry, yaar – Casual, everyday.
- Sorry, bhai – Sorry, brother (informal).
- Bahut sorry – I’m very sorry.
- Mujhe maaf kar do – Please forgive me.
- Main aap se maafi maangta hoon – I apologize to you (formal).
- Arre, galti ho gayi – Oops, my mistake (casual).
- Haath jodkar maafi maangta hoon – Super dramatic, filmi style.
- Dosti mein sorry kaisa – Friends don’t say sorry (joking phrase).
In conclusion –
Next time you need to apologize in Hindi:
- Use Maaf kijiye if you’re being formal.
- Use Sorry, yaar with friends.
Let’s keep this simple.
👉 That’s it! Sorry (but not sorry) for making this post long. Please subscribe to get the first 3 chapters of Hindi Hacking and more conversational tips.
Next, check out How to say Bye in Hindi.