désolé (adj. m. sing.) / désolée (adj. f. sing.)

Brian E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

désolé (adj. m. sing.) / désolée (adj. f. sing.)

We have “Non, désolée, je ne peux pas…”. 

Do we get the female version because the speaker is female and it’s really an abbr. of “Je suis désolée”? If the speaker was a man would we get “Non, désolé, je ne peux pas…”?

Asked 2 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Brian, you're right about both. Yes, désolé(e) means 'je suis désolé(e), and this is agreement with the gender of (the implicit) subject - known by the context.

désolé (adj. m. sing.) / désolée (adj. f. sing.)

We have “Non, désolée, je ne peux pas…”. 

Do we get the female version because the speaker is female and it’s really an abbr. of “Je suis désolée”? If the speaker was a man would we get “Non, désolé, je ne peux pas…”?

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