When do you use "mi dispiace" and "mi scusi"? What's the difference?

Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 video


We use "mi dispiace" when we want to express sadness and/or empathy towards something that happened, but this something didn't depend on us, it's not our fault. So, let's imagine this situation: you meet a friend at the supermarket, you ask her how she is and she tells you that she's sad because her boyfriend had an accident. To express sadness here you're gonna say "mi dispiace" (I'm sorry) because the accident was not your fault. We use "mi scusi" (formal) or "scusa" (informal) when we want to say that we are sorry about something that depended on us, that we have done, it's our fault. For example: if you quarrelled with a friend and it's your fault and you ask for forgiveness you're gonna tell her "scusa" (informal), whereas if you step on someone's foot in the subway you're gonna use "mi scusi" (formal), because it's someone you don't know.

関連レッスン

Thematisch ähnliche Unterrichtseinheiten

Themenbezogene Videos

When do you use "mi dispiace" and "mi scusi"? What's the difference?
Silvia
Why is German called "Deutsch" in German, while Dutch is called "Niederländer"? Why do some Romance languages seem to use a different root word, like "Alemán" in Spanish and "Allemand" in French?
Nayane Bremm
Introduction: Tim Berendse
Tim Berendse
What is the difference between the nominative personal pronoun and the personal pronoun? When do we use the personal pronoun?
Nayane Bremm
How do I know when to use Akkusativ and when to use Dativ? Is there a rule?
Nayane Bremm
How do you order red wine in Italian?
Silvia
How do I use the present continuous in German? For example, phrases like "I am studying German now" or "They are talking to me"
Nayane Bremm
Como se diferencia "sie" y "Sie" en la pronunciación?
Nayane Bremm
Französisch Spanisch Englisch Italienisch Deutsch Portugiesisch Japanisch