माफी मांगना

You use this phrase like a standard verb. If you are a man, you say Main maafi mangta hoon. If you are a woman, you say Main maafi mangti hoon. It changes based on who is speaking. To make it past tense, you would say Maine maafi mangi. It is very flexible. You can add it to the end of almost any explanation for a mistake. It sounds much more sincere than just saying the English word "Sorry."

Use it whenever you have made a mistake. Did you forget a friend's birthday? Use it. Were you ten minutes late for a chai date? Use it. It works perfectly in a restaurant if you need to change an order. It is also great for professional settings. If you miss a deadline, maafi mangna shows you take responsibility. It is the "Swiss Army Knife" of Hindi social graces.

Don't use this for tiny, physical accidents in a crowd. If you bump into someone on a busy street, a quick "Sorry" or maaf kijiye is better. Maafi mangna feels a bit too heavy for that. Also, don't use it if you aren't actually sorry. Indians value emotional sincerity. If you say it with a smirk, it won't work! Lastly, for very grave situations like a death, this isn't the right phrase. In those cases, you use words for sympathy, not apology.

India is a high-context culture where relationships are everything. Asking for maafi isn't just about the error. It is about acknowledging the other person's feelings. The word maafi actually has Persian roots. This gives it a slightly poetic and soulful feel compared to the more rigid Sanskrit alternatives. In modern cities, people use "Sorry" constantly. However, using maafi mangna shows a deeper level of respect for Indian culture.

You will often hear maaf karna, which means "to forgive." If you want to be very formal, you might use maafi chaahna (to desire forgiveness). In Bollywood movies, you'll hear the dramatic mujhe maaf kar do. For a very quick version, people just say maafi. Each variation has its own little flavor, but maafi mangna is the most reliable one for you to learn first.