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Questions & Answers about Baš mi je žao.
What does Baš mi je žao actually mean in everyday Croatian?
It is a very common way to say I’m really sorry.
Depending on the situation, it can express:
- sympathy: someone tells you bad news, and you respond with Baš mi je žao.
- regret: you feel bad about something
- sometimes a mild apology, though not always as direct as Sorry
So the exact English translation changes a little by context:
- I’m really sorry.
- I’m so sorry.
- I’m really sorry to hear that.
- I feel really bad about that.
What does baš mean here?
In this sentence, baš is an intensifier. It adds emphasis.
So:
- Žao mi je. = I’m sorry.
- Baš mi je žao. = I’m really / truly / very sorry.
In other contexts, baš can mean things like exactly, just, or really, but here its job is simply to strengthen the feeling.
Why is mi in the sentence?