"I'm sorry" in five languages

Gary Chapman, author of the book *The 5 Love Languages*, has written a book on how to say and hear "I'm sorry": *I'm Sorry in 5 Languages*.

The book and the theory aren't nearly as well-known as the one about the love languages, but that doesn't make it any less relevant.

Like in *The 5 Love Languages*, this theory also posits that we hear and express things differently. This time, it’s about the way we say “I’m sorry.”

People apologize in different ways, and an apology isn't always heard or understood because it's expressed in a way that the listener isn't used to.

You can apply this theory in two very important ways: You can understand when someone else apologizes to you—even if they do so in a way that differs from how you would apologize—AND you can listen to how someone else apologizes and understand their apology, so that you can use that exact language yourself if you need to apologize to them. 

It’s often the little things that matter to us. In this case, it’s a small thing that can have a very significant and decisive impact 

According to Chapman, there are the following five ways

Say you're sorry for what you've done

"I'm sorry" or "I regret behaving that way."

Take responsibility for your actions

"I wronged you" or "I was wrong."

Be open to ways you can make amends

"How can I make it up to you?"

Promise to do better

"I'll do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Ask for forgiveness

"Can you forgive me?"

So how do you hear and say "I'm sorry"? How do the people you love hear and say "I'm sorry"?