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

Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 video

Invia un messaggio Prenota Sessione 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.

Lezioni correlate

L'etichetta Sociale
L'etichetta Sociale

Video correlati

What is the Hebrew word for "they" if it is referring to a mixed gender group?
Jonathan Benchlouch
How do you order red wine in Italian?
Silvia
How do you apply the masculine and feminine? Is it by speaker (ie. a man speaking uses the masculine regardless of who he is talking to), or it is who is being spoken to (ie. a man talking to a woman will use the feminine)?
Jonathan Benchlouch
Introducción: Jonathan Benchlouch
Jonathan Benchlouch
What's the difference between אַהְלָן (alan), הַי (hai) and שָׁלוֹם (shalom)? Don't all three mean "hello"?
Jonathan Benchlouch
Introduction: Jonathan Benchlouch
Jonathan Benchlouch
When do you use "mi dispiace" and "mi scusi"? What's the difference?
Silvia
What are the different ways of saying “welcome” in Italian?
Silvia
Cambiare lingua:
עִברִית