Apologizing can be hard, and sometimes, it's better to lighten things up with a little humor. While it's not always appropriate, knowing how to say "I'm sorry" in a funny way can help you steer the conversation in a happier direction and make the person smile again. We have some really funny apology examples and lots of tips for when and how to inject a little humor into your "I'm sorry."
When to Say 'I'm Sorry' With Humor
There's a risk to using humor in an apology: It can seem like you're not taking the situation seriously or empathizing with the person you hurt. This can make your apology feel insincere, so it's important to consider a few things before you use a funny apology.
- You should only try a funny way to say "I'm sorry" when you have a relationship that already includes a lot of humor.
- Limit funny apologies to trivial mess-ups and not big things like cheating, seriously damaging something, or really hurting someone.
- Consider only saying "I'm sorry" in a funny way if you're one-on-one with the other person since having a group could change the dynamics.
In general, if you're not sure your funny apology will be well-received, stick to a serious one instead. You can always follow up with your humorous version after things are smoothed over.
How to Say 'I'm Sorry' in a Gentle But Funny Way
The key elements of an apology are taking responsibility for what you did to hurt the other person, expressing regret, and telling them how you're going to fix things. You can make this funny in a few ways.
Related: How to Apologize When You Mess Up (Because We All Do)
Use Self-Deprecating Humor in Your Apology
A little bit of self-deprecating humor can fit really well in an apology. After all, you've done something you're apologizing for, so a little comment making fun of yourself fits. Let these examples inspire you.
- I'm really sorry I spilled wine on your carpet. I think this might be why people look so nervous every time I pour something. Let me clean it up.
- I honestly did not mean to say that, and I'm so sorry for how it sounded. Please think of me as a human typo. I really didn't mean anything by it, and I'm going to try to do a better job of proofreading my thoughts before I speak.
- I feel really bad for how I reacted the other day. Not to brag, but I feel like I'm really perfecting the art of overreacting to totally normal situations. Seriously, though, I am sorry, and I'm going to try to do better.
- I really should have asked before borrowing your shirt. I'm sorry. I thought I'd left the inconsiderate roommate behavior in my youth, but it turns out I was just practicing for being a doofus later in life. I promise I'll ask next time.
- I am so sorry I forgot our coffee date. I think this is another one of those things I should post on social media so other people can feel way more organized and capable. Really, though, I feel super bad, and I'll make sure I do a better job of putting things on my calendar.
Exaggerate Your Wish to Fix Things (but Be Real, Too)
Part of an apology is showing the other person how you will change things in the future. This can be a repair or reparation, but it can also be just stating what you'll do differently next time. Either way, exaggerating this part of the apology a little bit can be funny.
- I'm so sorry I forgot your birthday. It's really important to me to celebrate with you, and I feel bad about it. I was thinking about tattooing the date on my forehead for next year, but then I realized it would just be backward when I looked in the mirror. Instead, I set a reminder in my phone. Please let me take you out this weekend for a belated celebration.
- I know I've totally dropped off the radar lately since I started dating Taylor. I'm so sorry about that. My friends are really important to me. I was going to suggest we spend the next month together lounging on the beach, but since that would mean both of us losing our jobs, I was thinking we could do a girls' weekend. Is there a time that works for you?
- I just realized I was supposed to call when I got home last night so you wouldn't worry. I'm really sorry I forgot. I could call tonight in the middle of the night to make up for it, but I'm pretty sure you'd just hate that more. Next time, I'll just put a note in my phone to remember to call, okay?
- I totally didn't mean to interrupt you just now. I really care about what you have to say. I could give you a voucher to interrupt me a bunch of times, but I think that would just be a gift to myself because I'm more interested in hearing you talk anyway. How about instead, I just try to pay more attention and use a little impulse control?
The part where you don't want to try to be funny in your apology is where you acknowledge what you did wrong or how it made the other person feel. It's really important to seem sincere in that part, and any humor will read as a lack of empathy.
Keep Your Apology Real, Even if It's Funny
Knowing how to apologize in a funny way can give you a valuable tool to diffuse some of the tension and return your relationship to a more light-hearted state. It's important to keep your humor gentle and about yourself or your plans to make things right rather than about the other person or what you did to hurt them. Watch their response carefully so you can make sure they understand that the apology is real, even if it's also funny.
