Apologies vs Excuse vs Regret vs Sorry

Cuándo usar cada una en inglés, con significado, registro y ejemplos.

Apologies

Top 2000 (común)

Excuse

Top 1000 (muy común)B2noun

Regret

Top 1000 (muy común)B2verb

Sorry

Top 1000 (muy común)A1adjective
 ApologiesExcuseRegretSorry
Pronunciación🇬🇧 //əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //əˈpɑːlədʒiz//🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/
SignificadoDecir que lo sientes por algo que hiciste mal.Saying you're sorry for something you did wrong.Una razón que das para explicar un mal comportamiento o para evitar hacer algo.A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something.Sentirse triste o apenado por algo que hiciste o no hiciste.To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do.Una palabra que usas para expresar arrepentimiento o para pedir disculpas.A word used to express regret or apology.
EjemploHe made his apologies to the crowd for being late.She made an excuse for being late to the meeting.I regret not studying harder for my exams.I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.
RegistroNeutralNeutralNeutralNeutral
Qué tan comúnTop 2000 (común)Top 1000 (muy común)Top 1000 (muy común)Top 1000 (muy común)
Nivel CEFR-B2B2A1
Categoría gramaticalnounverbadjective
Colocacionesextend apologies, offer apologies, accept apologies, make an apology, issue apologiesperfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, lousy, miserable, pathetic, excuse forbitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to, bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow tobe, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/​that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/​something), be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/​that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/​something), be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/​that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/​something)
Antónimosrefusal, insult, offenseblame, accusationsatisfaction, contentment, pridehappy, unapologetic
Errores comunesUsing 'apologies' without specifying what for., Confusing 'apologies' with 'apologize' as a verb., Overusing 'apologies' in casual contexts.Using 'excuse' instead of 'excuse me' for polite interruptions., Confusing 'excuse' with 'apology', thinking they mean the same., Using 'excuse' without an object; it typically is followed by what you are excusing.'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.Using 'sorry' when it's not needed, making it seem insincere., Confusing 'sorry' with 'I'm sorry' — they can be used interchangeably, but 'I'm sorry' can sound more formal., Not using 'sorry' in situations where an apology is expected.
Notas de usoUsa 'disculpas' tanto en contextos formales como informales. En contextos formales, usa frases completas como 'Ofrezco mis sinceras disculpas'. Evita usarlo en conversaciones casuales donde un simple 'lo siento' puede ser suficiente.Use 'apologies' in both formal and informal settings. In formal contexts, use complete phrases like 'I offer my sincere apologies'. Avoid using it in casual conversations where just 'sorry' may suffice.Usa 'excusa' cuando necesites explicar por qué hiciste algo mal o cuando quieras permiso para no hacer algo. Es neutral, pero puede sonar insincera en algunos contextos.Use 'excuse' when you need to explain why you did something wrong or when you want permission to not do something. It's neutral but can sound insincere in some contexts.Usa 'arrepentimiento' para expresar sentimientos sobre acciones pasadas. Es apropiado en contextos neutros a formales, pero menos en conversaciones informales donde frases más simples pueden encajar mejor.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.Usa 'lo siento' para disculparte en situaciones casuales y formales. Es educado en conversaciones si cometiste un error. Intenta no usarlo demasiado en ambientes profesionales donde necesitas ser más específico sobre el problema.Use 'sorry' to apologize in casual and formal situations. It’s polite in conversations if you've made a mistake. Avoid overusing it in professional settings where you need to be more specific about the issue.

Míralo en clips reales

Apologies
Excuse
Regret
Sorry

Preguntas frecuentes: Apologies vs Excuse vs Regret vs Sorry

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre Apologies, Excuse, Regret y Sorry?

Apologies: Saying you're sorry for something you did wrong. Excuse: A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something. Regret: To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do. Sorry: A word used to express regret or apology.

¿Puedes mostrar un ejemplo de cada una?

Apologies: He made his apologies to the crowd for being late. Excuse: She made an excuse for being late to the meeting. Regret: I regret not studying harder for my exams. Sorry: I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.

¿Puedo usar Apologies, Excuse, Regret y Sorry indistintamente?

No siempre. Apologies, Excuse, Regret y Sorry están relacionadas y a veces se solapan, pero difieren en registro, frecuencia y uso, así que cambiar una por otra puede alterar el significado o el tono. Revisa las diferencias de arriba antes de sustituir.