All Articles & Guides / Grief / Ways to Respond When Someone Says 'Sorry for Your Loss'
Ways to Respond When Someone Says 'Sorry for Your Loss'
When you lose a loved one, solace can come from surprisingly simple things, including the kind words of people who come together to support you during your loss. If you’re having a funeral, memorial service, or another gathering to celebrate the life of a lost loved one, you’ll hear many expressions of condolences. It may feel strange or repetitive to reply with “Thank you” each time, so here are a few phrases you can use to respond to phrases of sympathy and well wishes.
- I appreciate that.
- [Name of Deceased] thought highly of you.
- Thank you, it’s been a tough time.
- Thank you for your support.
- I’m glad you reached out.
- It would have meant a lot to [deceased] that you came.
- We appreciate your friendship.
- I know this is difficult for you too.
- It’s comforting to have people around me.
- It’s comforting to know [the deceased] is reunited with [previous deceased].
- They’re singing with the angels today.
- I appreciate the well wishes/support/prayers/kind words.
What to Say Instead of “Sorry for your loss”
- My thoughts are with you.
- Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
- Thinking of you.
- My heart goes out to you.
- I am sending you comfort and strength.
- My most heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.
- I’m here if you need to talk.
- I have great memories of [the deceased].
- I’m sure this is a challenging time, what can I take care of for you?
- I want to help, what task can I do to ease some stress.
- I feel honored to have known [the deceased].
- I’m deeply saddened by the loss of [the deceased].
- [The deceased] was one of my best friends and I’m here for you.
- I was so saddened to hear of [the deceased] passing.
Depending on how close you are to the bereaved, the best condolence message is one that is heartfelt and empathetic. Whether someone has lost a family member, friend, or pet, you can express your condolences with a short sentence or put together a longer statement.
For many people, pets are considered family too. You can express sympathy for the loss of a pet with these sayings:
- You gave them a wonderful life.
- [Pet name] made everyone so happy with her joyful spirit.
- We’ll all miss [pet name]’s playfulness.
- [Pet name] might have had a rough start to life, but you gave him the best home.
- I know [pet name] was part of your family and I’m sending you all my love.
What is the best condolence message?
Although it’s polite to say, “sorry for your loss”, it can lose its meaningfulness after the bereaved hear it several times. The best condolence message usually includes a personal reference, if you were close to the deceased, and a simple statement of your support. Whether you’re offering help, or just sharing that you’re thinking of them, make sure to express your sympathy.
We hope the above foundational phrases for what to say when someone says, “I’m sorry for your loss” and ways to respond help make a sad and stressful time a little easier.
Related Content
