Qual è la differenza nel significato di queste parole per "sorry" in italiano?

Question

• Spiacente
• Dispiace
• Scusi

What are the precise contexts of the word usage of the aforementioned words for sorry?

Grazie

Answer 1

I look at http://www.wordreference.com/enit/sorry to clarify the different usage of the italian words you mention:

• "Spiacente" and "Mi dispiace" are pretty equivalent, and are used with "regretful" or "sympathetic" meaning.

Examples:

"I am sorry that you were sick" = "Mi dispiace che tu fossi malato".

"Sorry, but we sold out the tickets" = "Mi dispiace, i biglietti sono finiti". Please note that this example is more formal and you can as well use "Spiacente" ("Spiacente, i biglietti sono finiti")

• "Scusi" or "Mi scusi" when are used at the beginning of the phrase like an introduction, have the meaning of "Excuse me" or "please repeat"

Examples:

"Excuse me, sir; may I ask you something?" = "Mi scusi, posso farle una domanda?".

"Sorry? I have not understood" = "Scusi? Non ho capito".

When used alone, "Scusi" has the same meaning of "My apologies", and can be replaced with "Mi dispiace" (but "Scusi" is more polite).