Sorry is a conventional expression of apology or regret, used to acknowledge a mistake, inconvenience, or social slight. In everyday speech it can function as a polite ritual, often softened by intonation, and may convey sympathy or remorse. As a noun in some contexts (e.g., “my sincere sorry”), it can denote an expression of apology or a thing one feels sorry about.
"I’m sorry I’m late to the meeting."
"Sorry, could you repeat that last part?"
"The team is sorry for the delay in delivering the project."
"Sorry if I sounded harsh—let me explain my point more clearly."
Sorry derives from Old English sār (sore) meaning 'painful, painful in body or mind' and the suffix -ī or -ig, evolving into sārlice meaning ‘pained, sorrowful’. The modern form sorry appears around Middle English as a loan of the French sarre (from Latin dolor, meaning pain) through the influence of the phrase I am sore, I am pained. Over time, the sense narrowed from physical pain to emotional regret and apology. By Early Modern English, sorry became a polite interjection used to express sympathy, regret, or apology in social interaction. The word’s usage expanded to include “I’m sorry” as a conventional social ritual to acknowledge an offense or mistake, and it now features as a staple conversational politeness marker across many English-speaking regions. First citations appear in 14th–15th century texts, with gradual standardization in dictionaries by the 17th and 18th centuries, solidifying its core meaning as an apology cue in modern usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sorry" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sorry" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Sorry"
-ory sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈsɒr.i/ in British and American IPA, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first vowel is the short ‘a’ as in cat (/ɒ/ in UK, /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ in US depending on dialect), followed by a light 'ee' ending. The mouth opens for the first vowel and loosens for the second. For most speakers, the second syllable is unstressed and abbreviated. An audio reference can help you hear the short first vowel and clipped second syllable.
Two frequent errors: (1) Over-stressing the second syllable, making it sound like ‘sor-REE’. (2) Using a long, tense vowel in the first syllable instead of the relaxed /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. To correct: keep the first syllable short and open, practice with a quick, light /ɒ/ (UK) or /ɑː/ (US) followed by a soft /ri/ or /riː/, then neutralize the final vowel. Gentle practice with minimal pairs helps drill the rhythm.
US typically rhymes with /ˈsɔːri/ or /ˈsɒri/ depending on regional vowel shifts; final /ri/ is unstressed and fast. UK uses /ˈsɒri/ with a short /ɒ/ vowel; AU tends toward /ˈsɒri/ with a flatter, more clipped final /ri/; rhoticity is typically weaker in UK/AU, so the /r/ is less pronounced in non-rhotic accents. All share two syllables but vowel length and rhoticity influence the exact quality; listening to native speakers is key to mastering these subtleties.
The challenge lies in the short, lax first vowel and the quick, unstressed second syllable. The /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ requires precise tongue position: low-mid back; the /r/ in non-rhotic accents blends with the following vowel, creating a subtle linking effect. Even slight mis-timing of the vowel duration or the final schwa-like quality can alter naturalness. Cultivating a relaxed jaw and light lip rounding helps; training with minimal pairs and shadowing improves accuracy.
Sorry has no silent letters, but its two-syllable rhythm is essential: the primary stress sits on the first syllable SOR-ry. The subtle reduction of the second vowel to a schwa-like sound is common: /ˈsɒri/ or /ˈsɔːri/. The difficulty lies in achieving a balanced, quick first syllable with a light second. Focus on maintaining a crisp start and a relaxed end with a natural, brief /i/ sound.
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