Cool MateI am sorry vs Regret
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I am sorry
Top 1,000 (very common)
Regret
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
| I am sorry | Regret | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ æm ˈsɒri//🇺🇸 //aɪ æm ˈsɔri// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | I feel bad about what I did. | To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do. |
| Example | I'm sorry for being late to the meeting. | I regret not studying harder for my exams. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | say I'm sorry, feel sorry, sorry for | bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to, bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to |
| Antonyms | - | satisfaction, contentment, pride |
| Common mistakes | Using 'I'm sorry' in overly casual settings when 'my bad' might be better., Confusing 'I'm sorry' with 'excuse me' in interruption contexts., Not pairing it with an explanation or solution in formal situations. | 'Regret' is often confused with 'remorse'. Remorse includes a stronger sense of guilt., Learners might say 'I regret to do...' instead of 'I regret doing...'., Confusion between 'regret' and 'regrettable' which is an adjective. |
| Usage notes | Use when you want to express regret. It's suitable in most situations but may be too formal for very casual contexts. | Use 'regret' to express feelings about past actions. It's appropriate in neutral to formal contexts, but less so in casual conversations where simpler phrases might fit better. |
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Frequently asked questions: I am sorry vs Regret
What's the difference between I am sorry and Regret?
I am sorry: I feel bad about what I did. Regret: To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do.
Can you show an example of each?
I am sorry: I'm sorry for being late to the meeting. Regret: I regret not studying harder for my exams.
Can I use I am sorry and Regret interchangeably?
Not always. I am sorry and Regret are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.