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This question also has an answer here (in German):
Erwiderung auf eine Entschuldigung?

To make it more clear: I am not asking how I should apologize, but how to respond to an apology.

I have heard something similar to the following whenever I had to tell "Sorry":

  1. Kein Problem.
  2. Macht es. (Not sure if they really meant that)

Are there anything more that I could tell in response to an apology?

And really Macht es means you can do it?

Community
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Vini
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    Macht nichts, not macht es. – chirlu Oct 09 '15 at 10:15
  • what does that mean? you don't have to be sorry? or you shouldn't do that? – Vini Oct 09 '15 at 10:18
  • You mean the German translation of You are welcome ? – Wolf Oct 09 '15 at 10:29
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    but nobody tells you are welcome for sorry.. its for thank you. – Vini Oct 09 '15 at 10:32
  • But i would like to know that as well. Other than Bitte schön what else can I tel? – Vini Oct 09 '15 at 10:33
  • @ViniVasundharan Thanks for the clarification :-) Keine Ursache is a often used phrase for replying to thank you. – Wolf Oct 09 '15 at 11:00
  • For sorry and Thank you the same word (keine Ursache) for responding? This language is full of oddity. :) – Vini Oct 09 '15 at 11:05
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    Every language is full of oddity! :-D But in US English, we might also easily respond to "Excuse me" or "Thank you" in the exact same way: "No problem", trying to convey that there is nothing that needed to be excused, or it was such a small effort involved that thanking isn't even necessary. (Although neither of these situations might literally be true. Someone could go to a great effort or you might have committed a grave offense, and the response still could be something along the lines of "it was nothing, forget about it".) – NadjaCS Oct 09 '15 at 23:18

3 Answers3

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There is no canonic answer to Entschuldigung or tut mir leid rather unlike the canonic answer to danke (which is bitte). Rather, there is a multitude of expressions one can and will use none being inherently preferred.

  • Kein Problem.
  • Keine Ursache.
  • Passt schon.
  • Nichts passiert.
  • Alles in Ordnung/OK.
  • Mach dir nichts draus.
  • Macht nichts.
  • and many more.

However, if the Entschuldigung is of the more formal type, i.e. you’re trying to clear up an argument you had with someone, it is also common to answer along the lines of apology accepted, e.g.

Entschuldigung angenommen.

Note that it would sound weird if someone ran into you on a bus and you answered that to their sorry, so save that one for the real apologies.

Jan
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  • Is there any particular situation where i should be using these? or could it be used in any situation when I am hearing a sorry .(Except Entschuldigung angenommen) – Vini Oct 09 '15 at 12:00
  • Kein Problem kind of assumes a problem (but not really). Other than that you could use practically every one in practically every situation. – Jan Oct 09 '15 at 12:04
  • Thanks for your explanation. Would you mind listing the words that could be used as response to thanks as well? So that i dont have to post another question. if there is nothing other than bitte, you don't have to edit your answer. – Vini Oct 09 '15 at 12:06
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    Passt schon is more for the Bavarian speech: Passtscho. Besides that, Halb so wild could get on the list. – Holger Oct 09 '15 at 13:16
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In addition to Jan's answer, you can say "Schon OK". It has a very subtle annoyed sub-tone and you might follow it up with some kind of request for them to refrain from doing so in the future.

Example: In the office, someone used your personal mug. That person realizes it and apologizes to you. You could answer: "Schon ok, but in the future, please don't use someone's personal mug".

"Passt schon" is similar in usage.

Daniel Hilgarth
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  • Kein Problem.
  • Macht nichts.
  • Keine Ursache.
  • Alles OK.
  • Nichts passiert.
  • Alles in Ordnung.
  • etc. pp.

Was halt geeignet ist, um auszudrücken, dass es nicht weiter schlimm ist. Es gibt keine "Standardantwort".

Translation: Or anything else that can be used to express that it is no problem. There is no "standard reply".

heinrich5991
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Veredomon
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