Short answer: "sorry" in German is Entschuldigung, or Es tut mir leid depending on the situation.
Entschuldigung, the core translation
The default way to say "sorry" in German is Entschuldigung. Pronounced roughly ent-SHOOL-dee-goong.
When German speakers actually use it
"Entschuldigung" for excuse-me situations; "Es tut mir leid" for real regret.
Alternative: Es tut mir leid
Es tut mir leid is the other option German speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.
Practice this in a real German conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Entschuldigung" into a real German exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
Start learning German today
Skala is free on iOS and Android. One 3-minute German lesson gets you your first 0.1%. Show up daily and the % climbs. That's the whole method.
FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "sorry" in German?
Both Entschuldigung and Es tut mir leid are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.
How do I pronounce Entschuldigung?
Roughly ent-SHOOL-dee-goong. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.