Knowing how to apologize is important, especially when living in a foreign location where you don’t speak the language. Mistakes happen, and while correcting them might not always be possible, you must at least be polite enough to apologize, which is why we’ll learn how to apologize in Telugu here.
Most Telugu people won’t mind minor mishaps, especially when they see you’re new to something or someplace, but apart from being polite, knowing how to apologize will help them help you if needed. With this in mind, let’s get started.
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How To Apologize In Telugu
Nowadays, a simple apology will suffice in most cases. Everyone knows what sorry means, and we even say “sorry” in English. Most of us Telugu speakers don’t really use Telugu apologies unless it’s a big mistake, and then we look for strong words to show we are really sorry.
So, no matter if you made a small or big mistake, let’s see all the ways you can get out of trouble.
Casual Apologies In Telugu
Here’s how to apologize in Telugu in informal situations, such as with friends or family.
Sorry – Saari (సారీ)
This is the Telugu adaptation of “Sorry.” It’s commonly used in casual conversations. Straight forward and easy.
- Example: Sorry, I was late – Saari, Alasyam Ayindi (సారీ, ఆలస్యం అయింది)
Forgive Me – Kshaminchandi (క్షమించండి):
This means “forgive me” in a casual tone. You can use this to show that you can apologize in Telugu and that you respect the person enough to apologize in their language. It’s also a much better alternative to use if you’re speaking with elders.
- Example: Forgive me, I am late – Nannu kshaminchu, nenu aalasyaṅga vaccānu. (నన్ను క్షమించు, నేను ఆలస్యంగా వచ్చాను)
Formal Apologies
In formal or professional settings, your tone and words should be more respectful, in accordance with the work culture of Telugu people. Just adding the suffix andi at the end of all your apologies will make them formal and professional. Here are some examples:
Please Forgive Me – Dayachesi Kshaminchandi (దయచేసి క్షమించండి)
A polite and respectful way to say, “Please forgive me.”
- Example: Please forgive me for the mistake – Jarigina Thappuku Dayachesi Kshaminchandi (జరిగిన తప్పుకు దయచేసి క్షమించండి).
Excuse Me – Manninchandi (మన్నించండి)
Another respectful way to ask for forgiveness that’s often used when addressing elders or someone in authority.
- Example: Pardon me if a mistake has been made – Tappu jarigi Unte Manninchandi (తప్పు జరిగి ఉంటే మన్నించండి)
Apologies For Specific Contexts
When you’re apologizing, you may need to add some context. Sometimes, just simply saying sorry doesn’t cut it.
For example, if you’ve stepped on someone’s toe, which would be better, just “sorry” or “sorry for stepping on your toe, I wasn’t looking down”? In the same way, you should learn how to apologize in Telugu in certain situations. Let’s see how to do it.
When It’s Unintentional
If you’ve accidentally done something bad, you can apologize this way:
- Sorry, it happened by mistake – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, Anukokunda Jarigindi (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, అనుకోకుండా జరిగింది)
I’ve put all three variations of “sorry” in the translation because you can use any of them depending on the situation (formal or informal).
When You Didn’t Happen To See
If you weren’t actually looking and happened to make a mistake, you can try this apology:
- Sorry, I didn’t see – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, Chusukoled (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, చూసుకోలేదు)
When You Forgot Something
If you forgot to do/bring something, you can use this phrase to apologize:
- Sorry, I forgot it – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, Marchipoyani (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, మర్చిపోయాను)
When You’re Late
If you’re late to some event and everyone is waiting for you already, you can apologize this way.
- Sorry, I am late due to ____ – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, _____ Valla Late Ayind (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, ____ వల్ల లేట్ అయింది)
You can insert traffic jams, work, or anything else that’s the cause of your delay.
When You’ve Made A Mistake
If you’ve made an unintentional mistake, you can apologize with this:
- Sorry, I’ve made a mistake – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, Tappu Jarigindi (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, తప్పు జరిగింది)
When You Hurt Someone
Let’s say you’ve hurt someone, physically or emotionally; you can apologize this way:
- Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, Mimmalni Hurt Cheylani Kadu (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, మిమ్మల్ని హర్ట్ చేయాలని కాదు)
When You Interrupt
Let’s say you’ve interrupted something or someone while they’re talking, you could say this:
- Sorry for interrupting/disturbing – Madhyalo Vacchinanduku/Disturb Chesinanduku, Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi (మధ్యలో వచ్చినందుకు/డిస్టర్బ్ చేసినందుకు, సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి)
When You Need To Excuse Yourself
Now, if you want to be excused from some meeting and you wonder how to get out, use this:
- Sorry, I’ll have to excuse myself for a bit – Sorry/Kshaminchandi/Manninchandi, Nenu Kasepu Pakkaki Vellali (సారి/క్షమించండి/మన్నించండి, నేను కాసేపు పక్కకు వెళ్ళాలి)
The literal translation of this Telugu phrase is “Sorry, I’ll have to go aside for a bit” because we don’t have a word for an excuse in Telugu.
So there you have it. You now know several ways to apologize to someone, depending on the situation. You can use any of these depending on the context and formality of the situation.
How Do You Say “Sorry” In Telugu?
The simplest way to say “sorry” in Telugu is by using Saari (సారీ) in casual settings or Kshaminchandi (క్షమించండి”) in formal contexts. Depending on the situation, you can add some context to your apology to make it more meaningful.
Vocabulary: Common Apology Phrases In Telugu
Here’s a table to help you memorize some phrases you can use when apologizing in Telugu. And remember that the Ling app can help you if you want to learn more Telugu!
| English | Telugu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry | సారీ | Saari |
| Forgive me | క్షమించు | Kshaminchu |
| Please forgive me (formal) | క్షమించండి | Kshaminchandi |
| Pardon me | మన్నించండి | Manninchandi |
| I didn’t mean to do that | నేను అలాంటి ఉద్దేశంతో చేయలేదు | Nenu Alanti Uddeshamtho Cheyaledu |
| Apologies for the inconvenience | అసౌకర్యానికి క్షమించండి | Asoukaryaniki Kshaminchandi |
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Apologizing In Telugu
1. Do Telugu People Say “Sorry” Or “Kshaminchandi”?
Most Telugu people simply say “sorry” nowadays, especially in urban areas, in casual conversations. However, if you go to rural areas, you might hear the words Kshaminchandi or Manninchandi a bit more frequently.
2. How Do You Apologize Formally In Telugu?
For formal situations, use respectful terms like Kshaminchandi (క్షమించండి) or Manninchandi (మన్నించండి) to apologize in Telugu. You can then add some context to your apology to show sincerity. Some people might perceive a one-word apology as offensive, but it depends on how serious the situation is.
3. Are There Any Body Gestures That I Need To Know While Apologizing?
Yes. Depending on the severity, you can join your hands like in Namaste when you apologize. These small details can make an apology more respectable. So, incorporate it when you think it’s needed.
Wrapping Up
So, now you know how to apologize in Telugu. As long as your apology is genuine and has no malicious intent, a simple apology is enough, much like anywhere else. And again, like anywhere else, if someone does take offense, apologizing to them while being respectful goes a long way towards making things right.
As a recap, we’ve learned that there are formal and informal apologies in Telugu, such as “Sorry” – Saari (సారీ) and “Please Forgive Me” – Dayachesi Kshaminchandi (దయచేసి క్షమించండి). We also saw various ways to apologize depending on the situation, with relevant vocabulary that’ll help you memorize the terms easily.
So, I hope this blog helped you learn how to apologize in Telugu. If it did, share it with those who might need it! And let us know in the comments how you’d apologize in your language. If you want to keep exploring this language, check out Ling Telugu blog.
