The phrase “excuse me” is one of the most useful expressions in daily conversation. People use it to politely get someone’s attention, apologize for a small interruption, or pass through a crowd.
Because politeness is important in every culture, every language has its own way to say this phrase.
Learning excuse me in different languages can help travelers, language learners, and professionals communicate politely in different countries.
Knowing how to say excuse me in different languages makes conversations smoother and shows respect for local cultures.
Below is a helpful table showing excuse me translations around the world, including pronunciation and simple example sentences.
Excuse Me in Different Languages (70 Languages)
| Language | Translation & Pronunciation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| English | Excuse me (ik-SKYOOZ mee) | Excuse me, can I pass? – Meaning: Please allow me to go through. |
| Spanish | Perdón (per-DON) | Perdón, ¿puedo pasar? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| French | Excusez-moi (ex-kyoo-zay MWA) | Excusez-moi, je passe. – Meaning: Excuse me, I am passing. |
| German | Entschuldigung (ent-SHOOL-dee-goong) | Entschuldigung, darf ich vorbei? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Italian | Scusi (SKOO-zee) | Scusi, posso passare? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Portuguese | Com licença (kom lee-SEN-sa) | Com licença, posso passar? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Dutch | Pardon (PAR-don) | Pardon, mag ik langs? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Russian | Izvinite (iz-vee-NEE-tye) | Извините, можно пройти? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Ukrainian | Vybachte (vih-BACH-te) | Вибачте, можна пройти? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Polish | Przepraszam (psheh-PRA-sham) | Przepraszam, mogę przejść? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Czech | Promiňte (PRO-miyn-teh) | Promiňte, mohu projít? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Slovak | Prepáčte (pre-PAACH-te) | Prepáčte, môžem prejsť? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Hungarian | Elnézést (EL-neh-zesht) | Elnézést, átmehetek? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Romanian | Scuzați-mă (skOO-zahts meh) | Scuzați-mă, pot trece? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Greek | Signomi (see-GNO-mee) | Συγγνώμη, μπορώ να περάσω; – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Turkish | Affedersiniz (af-fe-der-see-niz) | Affedersiniz, geçebilir miyim? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Arabic | Afwan (AF-wan) | عفواً، هل أستطيع المرور؟ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Hebrew | Slicha (slee-KHA) | סליחה, אפשר לעבור? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Persian | Bebakhshid (be-bakh-SHEED) | ببخشید، میتوانم رد شوم؟ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Hindi | Maaf kijiye (MAAF kee-jee-ye) | माफ कीजिए, क्या मैं जा सकता हूँ? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go through? |
| Urdu | Maaf kijiye (MAAF kee-jee-ye) | معاف کیجیے، کیا میں گزر سکتا ہوں؟ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Punjabi | Maaf karo (MAAF ka-ro) | معاف کرو، میں گزر سکدا آں؟ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Bengali | Maf korben (MAF kor-ben) | মাফ করবেন, আমি যেতে পারি? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Tamil | Mannikkavum (man-NIK-ka-vum) | மன்னிக்கவும், நான் செல்லலாமா? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go through? |
| Telugu | Kshaminchandi (ksha-MIN-chan-dee) | క్షమించండి, నేను వెళ్లవచ్చా? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go through? |
| Kannada | Kshamisi (ksha-MI-see) | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ, ನಾನು ಹೋಗಬಹುದೇ? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go through? |
| Malayalam | Kshamikkanam (ksha-MIK-ka-nam) | ക്ഷമിക്കണം, ഞാൻ പോകട്ടേ? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Marathi | Maaf kara (MAAF ka-ra) | माफ करा, मी जाऊ का? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go? |
| Gujarati | Maaf karo (MAAF ka-ro) | માફ કરો, હું જઈ શકું? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go? |
| Nepali | Maaf garnus (MAAF gar-noos) | माफ गर्नुहोस्, म जान सक्छु? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Sinhala | Samawenna (sa-ma-WEN-na) | සමාවෙන්න, මට යන්න පුළුවන්ද? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I go? |
| Thai | Khor thot (KOR-thot) | ขอโทษครับ ผมขอผ่านได้ไหม – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Vietnamese | Xin lỗi (sin-LOY) | Xin lỗi, tôi có thể đi qua không? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Indonesian | Permisi (per-MEE-see) | Permisi, saya lewat. – Meaning: Excuse me, I am passing. |
| Malay | Maafkan saya (MAAF-kan sa-ya) | Maafkan saya, boleh lalu? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Filipino | Paumanhin (pa-oo-man-HIN) | Paumanhin, dadaan ako. – Meaning: Excuse me, I will pass. |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | Duìbuqǐ (DWAY-boo-chee) | 对不起，我可以过去吗？ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Cantonese | M goi (MM GOY) | 唔該，可以過嗎？ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Japanese | Sumimasen (soo-mee-ma-SEN) | すみません、通ってもいいですか？ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Korean | Sillyehamnida (shil-lye-ham-nee-da) | 실례합니다, 지나가도 될까요? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Mongolian | Uuchlaarai (OOCH-laa-rai) | Уучлаарай, би явж болох уу? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Swahili | Samahani (sa-ma-HA-nee) | Samahani, naweza kupita? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Zulu | Uxolo (oo-KHO-lo) | Uxolo, ngingadlula? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Afrikaans | Verskoon my (fer-SKOON mai) | Verskoon my, mag ek verbygaan? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Somali | Iga raali ahow (EE-ga RAA-lee a-how) | Iga raali ahow, waan marayaa. – Meaning: Excuse me, I am passing. |
| Amharic | Yikirta (yee-KIR-ta) | ይቅርታ፣ ልሄድ እችላለሁ? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Yoruba | E joo (EH joo) | Ẹ jọ̀, jẹ́ kí n kọja. – Meaning: Excuse me, let me pass. |
| Igbo | Biko (BEE-ko) | Biko, ka m gafee. – Meaning: Excuse me, let me pass. |
| Hausa | Yi hakuri (yee ha-KOO-ree) | Yi hakuri, zan wuce. – Meaning: Excuse me, I will pass. |
| Danish | Undskyld (OON-skyld) | Undskyld, må jeg gå forbi? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Swedish | Ursäkta (UR-sek-ta) | Ursäkta, kan jag gå förbi? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Norwegian | Unnskyld (OON-shyld) | Unnskyld, kan jeg gå forbi? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Finnish | Anteeksi (AN-teyk-see) | Anteeksi, voinko mennä ohi? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Icelandic | Afsakið (AF-sa-kyith) | Afsakið, má ég fara framhjá? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Estonian | Vabandust (VA-ban-dust) | Vabandust, kas ma võin mööda minna? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Latvian | Atvainojiet (AT-vai-no-yet) | Atvainojiet, vai varu paiet garām? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Lithuanian | Atsiprašau (at-si-pra-SHAU) | Atsiprašau, ar galiu praeiti? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Albanian | Më falni (meh FAL-nee) | Më falni, mund të kaloj? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Croatian | Oprostite (oh-PROS-tee-te) | Oprostite, mogu li proći? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Serbian | Izvinite (iz-vee-NEE-te) | Izvinite, mogu li proći? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Bosnian | Izvinite (iz-vee-NEE-te) | Izvinite, mogu li proći? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Bulgarian | Izvinete (iz-vee-NE-te) | Извинете, мога ли да мина? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Macedonian | Izvinete (iz-vee-NE-te) | Извинете, може ли да поминам? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Slovenian | Oprostite (oh-PROS-tee-te) | Oprostite, lahko grem mimo? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Georgian | Bodishi (bo-DEE-shee) | ბოდიში, შეიძლება გავიდე? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Armenian | Neroghutyun (ne-ro-ghoo-TYUN) | Ներողություն, կարո՞ղ եմ անցնել։ – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Basque | Barkatu (bar-KA-too) | Barkatu, pasatu naiteke? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Catalan | Perdó (per-DO) | Perdó, puc passar? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Galician | Perdoa (per-DO-a) | Perdoa, podo pasar? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
| Maltese | Skuzani (sku-ZA-nee) | Skuzani, nista’ ngħaddi? – Meaning: Excuse me, may I pass? |
Why the Phrase “Excuse Me” Differs Across Languages
The phrase excuse me in all languages differs because cultures have unique ways of expressing politeness and apologies. While the purpose remains the same, each language developed its own polite expressions.
In many languages, the phrase may literally mean forgive me, pardon, or I apologize, but they all serve the same polite function.
How to Say Excuse Me in Different Languages Easily
If you want to remember excuse me translations, try these simple techniques:
Practice pronunciation regularly.
Use the phrase in small conversations.
Associate the phrase with the culture or country.
Repeat commonly used expressions often.
These tips make it easier to learn how to say excuse me in different languages.
Cultural Importance of Politeness Around the World
Politeness plays an important role in communication worldwide. Using phrases like excuse me shows respect and good manners.
Across cultures, people use polite expressions to:
Get someone’s attention respectfully
Apologize for small mistakes
Pass through crowded places
Start conversations politely
Because of this, the concept of excuse me around the world is essential for effective communication.
Conclusion
Learning excuse me in different languages helps improve communication and shows cultural respect. From Perdón in Spanish to Sumimasen in Japanese and Samahani in Swahili, every language offers a polite way to get someone’s attention or apologize.
Understanding these phrases can make travel, conversation, and cultural interaction much smoother.
FAQs
1. How do you say excuse me in different languages?
Examples include Perdón in Spanish, Excusez-moi in French, Entschuldigung in German, Sumimasen in Japanese, and Xin lỗi in Vietnamese.
2. What is the most common phrase for excuse me worldwide?
Many languages use words that mean pardon, forgive me, or I’m sorry, which function similarly to “excuse me.”
3. How do Asian languages say excuse me?
Examples include Sumimasen in Japanese, Sillyehamnida in Korean, Duìbuqǐ in Chinese, and Xin lỗi in Vietnamese.
4. Why do excuse me translations differ across languages?
Different cultures developed their own polite expressions based on social customs and language history.
5. Why is it important to learn polite phrases in other languages?
Using polite expressions like excuse me helps build respect, improves communication, and makes interactions smoother.
