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Back to Speak English With Vanessa

Social & Small Talk

How to Respond to Sorry: Back to English Basics Series

Choose natural responses to everyday apologies—from “It’s okay” and “No problem” to “No prob” and “It’s all good”—while matching the phrase to the situation.

Read the full lesson summary

Vanessa teaches several ways to respond when someone apologizes, moving from more neutral replies to casual expressions. Her central reminder is to match the phrase to the situation and how you actually feel. “It’s okay” is a common response to a small mistake, such as someone arriving a few minutes late or accidentally bumping into you. However, she explicitly notes that if it is not okay, you should respond another way rather than saying something untrue.

“No problem” and “No worries” are slightly more casual and can reassure someone that a minor issue is not a big deal. Vanessa models “No problem” in a business meeting example where a person is five minutes late. She says it can also be used in professional situations, and suggests adding a few words when that feels appropriate. The shortened form “No prob” is more casual and suits small everyday mishaps, such as accidentally bumping someone in a shop.

The most casual expression in the lesson is “It’s all good.” Vanessa uses a coffee-spill scenario: someone bumps into her and spills part of her drink. If she decides the accident is minor, she could say “It’s all good,” “Don’t worry,” or “No worries.” The examples are friendly, but the speaker does not have to minimize a problem that genuinely matters to them.

Vanessa also shows that reassuring expressions can be combined for emphasis, as in “It’s all good. Don’t worry. No worries. No problem.” In natural conversation, one short reply is often enough; stacking several phrases can make reassurance stronger or more emphatic. The phrase “I’m sorry for your English” in her hotel example is an awkward learner apology. Her broader point is that learners should not apologize simply for speaking imperfectly; they can ask whether they explained something correctly.

For practice, choose a response for a minor bump, a brief delay, and a mistake that caused real trouble. Use “No prob” only with an appropriately casual relationship, and choose a more direct response if a situation is not actually okay.

S2.1
Speak English With VanessaAmerican English05:22

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Transcript

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00

Setting up responses when someone apologizes

Hi, I'm Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa.com. It's okay. Let's talk about it. Welcome to the sixth lesson in the Back to Basics series. Let's learn some fundamentals for English conversation. Today we'll talk about what to say if someone apologizes to you. Let's imagine you go to New York City on vacation and walk into a hotel. You're trying to talk with the hotel clerk about your room and arrangements, but you feel you didn't explain something accurately. You might worry that your English wasn't exactly what you needed. First, I recommend not saying, ‘I'm sorry for your English,’ but a lot of people do this. If you say, ‘I'm sorry, I don't know if I explained it correctly,’ the hotel clerk would probably say, ‘It's okay.’

Try it: Choose a reply for three cases: a minor bump, someone arriving five minutes late, and a mistake that genuinely caused a problem. Pick a phrase that matches how you actually feel.

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Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.

12 phrases

Showing 12 of 12 phrases

I’m sorry, I don’t know if I explained it correctly

Setting up responses when someone apologizes · expression

A way to acknowledge uncertainty about how clearly you communicated.

Tone and use: Polite and self-conscious. Use it when you want to check whether your explanation was understandable.

May not fit: You do not need to apologize just for having a learner accent.

Example“I’m sorry, I don’t know if I explained it correctly—could I try again?”

It’s okay

Replying with it’s okay to a small mistake · expression

A response that can reassure someone that a small problem is acceptable.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Use it when you genuinely feel the issue is okay or minor.

May not fit: Do not say it if the situation is not okay for you.

Example““Sorry I’m five minutes late.” “It’s okay.””

it’s not a big deal

Replying with it’s okay to a small mistake · expression

It is not very serious or troublesome.

Tone and use: Casual and reassuring. Use it to describe or minimize a minor inconvenience.

May not fit: It can dismiss someone’s concern if the issue matters to them.

Example“It’s not a big deal; we can reschedule.”

a little more casual

Using no problem or no worries in a polite casual way · expression

Somewhat more relaxed or informal.

Tone and use: Comparative tone description. Use it to compare the formality of expressions such as “No problem.”

May not fit: Casualness depends on relationship and setting.

Example““No worries” is a little more casual than “That is quite all right.””

No worries

Using no problem or no worries in a polite casual way · expression

A relaxed reply meaning the other person need not worry about a minor issue.

Tone and use: Friendly and casual. Use it to reassure someone after a small mistake or apology.

May not fit: It may sound too casual when the problem is serious.

Example““Sorry I forgot the umbrella.” “No worries.””

Don’t worry about it

Using no problem or no worries in a polite casual way · expression

A reassurance that the other person should not be concerned about a small mistake.

Tone and use: Friendly and conversational. Use it after a minor inconvenience when you are comfortable moving on.

May not fit: Avoid it if you need to address the problem seriously.

Example““Sorry I’m a few minutes late.” “Don’t worry about it.””

No prob

Shortening no problem to no prob for very small mishaps · expression

A shortened, very casual form of “No problem.”

Tone and use: Informal and familiar. Use it for small mishaps with people and in settings where casual speech fits.

May not fit: Avoid it in formal writing or when the mistake caused a serious problem.

Example““I bumped your bag.” “No prob.””

get stressed about it

Shortening no problem to no prob for very small mishaps · expression

Become worried or tense because of a situation.

Tone and use: Common conversational phrase. Use it when advising someone not to worry about a small issue.

May not fit: It can sound dismissive if the issue is genuinely stressful.

Example“There’s no need to get stressed about a tiny delay.”

It’s all good

Responding to a coffee spill with it’s all good · expression

A casual reassurance that things are okay after a small problem.

Tone and use: Very informal and friendly. Use it when you truly feel a minor accident is acceptable.

May not fit: It may minimize a problem that is not actually okay.

Example““Sorry I spilled a little water.” “It’s all good.””

It’s not the end of the world

Responding to a coffee spill with it’s all good · expression

It is a problem, but not a disaster or something impossible to recover from.

Tone and use: Informal reassurance. Use it to put a manageable setback in perspective.

May not fit: Do not use it to dismiss a serious loss or someone else’s feelings.

Example“We missed the first bus, but it’s not the end of the world.”

add them together

Combining reassuring phrases for emphasis · expression

Combine two or more phrases in sequence.

Tone and use: Neutral instructional phrase. Use it when showing how expressions can be combined for emphasis.

May not fit: One concise phrase is often more natural than several repeated replies.

Example“You can add “No problem” and “Don’t worry” together.”

one of these polite expressions

Combining reassuring phrases for emphasis · expression

One phrase from the set of courteous responses being taught.

Tone and use: Neutral instructional wording. Use it when choosing a socially appropriate reply.

May not fit: Politeness does not require pretending that you are okay.

Example“Choose one of these polite expressions for a small accident.”

Knowledge check

Practice the phrases you heard

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Use it in a sentence · “It’s okay”

When should you say “It’s okay” in Vanessa’s lesson?