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désoler

to be sorry, to distress

verb day-zoh-LAY Common

Usage Note

Désoler is almost always used reflexively or in the past-participle form désolé, which functions as the standard apology 'sorry.' Je suis désolé(e) is a genuine, moderately formal apology — stronger than pardon but less formal than je vous présente mes excuses. The verb itself literally means to desolate or deeply upset someone.

Examples

"Je suis vraiment désolé pour hier."

Natural Translation

I am really sorry about yesterday.

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