Cool MateI apologise vs Regret
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I apologise
Top 2,000 (common)
Regret
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Regret
| I apologise | Regret | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ əˈpɒlədʒaɪz//🇺🇸 //aɪ əˈpɑləˌdʒaɪz// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | I am sorry for what I did. | To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do. |
| Example | I apologise for my mistake in the report. | I regret not studying harder for my exams. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | sincerely apologise, formally apologise, immediately apologise | 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 'apologize' instead of 'apologise' in British English., Saying 'I apologize for' instead of the correct 'I apologise'., Confusing 'apologise' with 'apology' (apologise is the verb; apology is the noun). | '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 'I apologise' in formal contexts or when expressing sincere regret. In informal situations, you might simply say 'sorry'. | 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 apologise vs Regret
What's the difference between I apologise and Regret?
I apologise: I am sorry for what I did. Regret: To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do.
Which is more common: I apologise and Regret?
Regret is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I apologise: I apologise for my mistake in the report. Regret: I regret not studying harder for my exams.
Can I use I apologise and Regret interchangeably?
Not always. I apologise 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.