انا اسف.

A good approximation is ana aasef.

• أنا = ana
• آسف = aasef

More naturally in Levantine, آسف often sounds like AA-sef, with a long aa at the beginning.

The fully spelled form is usually أنا آسف.

Because Arabic usually does not use a present-tense verb to be in simple sentences like this.

So:

• أنا = I
• آسف = sorry

Literally, it is closer to I sorry, but in natural English we say I am sorry.

No. آسف is not a verb here; it is an adjective meaning sorry or regretful.

So أنا آسف is an adjective sentence:

• أنا = the subject
• آسف = the description

This is a very common Arabic pattern.

You can often say just آسف by itself.

In everyday Levantine, آسف alone is very common if the subject is already obvious from the situation.

• أنا آسف = I’m sorry
• آسف = also sorry, but shorter and more natural in many conversations

Using أنا can add a little emphasis or clarity.

This is very common in casual Arabic writing.

The more careful spelling is:

• أنا instead of انا
• آسف instead of اسف

In texting and informal writing, many people leave out the hamza-related spelling details. So انا اسف is common online, even though أنا آسف is the fuller spelling.

Yes. The adjective agrees with the speaker’s gender.

• A male speaker says: أنا آسف
• A female speaker says: أنا آسفة

In casual writing, you may also see:

• انا اسف
• انا اسفة

In Levantine pronunciation, آسفة is often something like aasefe or aasefeh.

No. In أنا آسف, the word آسف agrees with the speaker, not the listener.

So if you are male, you say أنا آسف whether you are speaking to:

• a man
• a woman
• one person
• a group

If you are female, you say أنا آسفة in all those cases.

It works in Levantine and is completely understandable. It is neutral and common enough.

That said, in very everyday Levantine, people also use other expressions depending on the situation, such as:

• آسف / آسفة = sorry
• معلش = sorry / never mind / it’s okay, depending on context
• سامحني / سامحيني = forgive me

So أنا آسف is fine, but it is not the only way to apologize.

It works well for a straightforward apology, but English sorry covers several situations, and Arabic may use different expressions depending on context.

For example:

• If you made a mistake: أنا آسف
• If you want to say excuse me: often something else is more natural
• If you want to comfort someone after bad news: آسف can work, but other responses may also be used

So أنا آسف is correct, but learners should know that sorry does not always map to just one Arabic phrase.

A very natural Levantine way is to add كتير:

• أنا كتير آسف = I’m very sorry
• آسف كتير = Very sorry

A more formal option is:

• أنا آسف جدًا = I’m very sorry

In Levantine conversation, كتير is usually the more natural everyday choice.

This is the normal order.

• أنا آسف = the usual way
• آسف alone = also very common

Something like آسف أنا is not the normal neutral order. It would sound marked or unusually emphatic.

So for a learner, the safest choices are:

• أنا آسف
• آسف