Ways to Say “Excuse me”

Ways to Say “Excuse Me”

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we will look at other ways to say excuse me. Firstly, we can use “excuse me” to show regret and ask for forgiveness. Secondly, we use it to ask people to repeat things because we have not heard or understood what they are saying.  And thirdly we can use it as an exclamation to get someone’s attention.

“Excuse me” to show regret and ask for forgiveness

• Am I sitting in your seat? Do excuse me.
• I must ask you to excuse me for being late.

Ways to say “excuse me”

My bad

You can use the phrase “my bad” to say that you know something is your fault and that you are sorry.

• I dropped the plate, my bad.
• “I think this is the wrong time to make a visit” “Sorry, my bad. I’ll come later.”
• Sorry, I gave you the wrong number. My bad.

Forgive me

You can use the polite phrase “forgive me” before you say something that may sound rude.

• Forgive me for forgetting your birthday. I was very busy.
• Please forgive me for saying it, but I don’t like your new boyfriend.
• Forgive me but I think you look awful. You should see a doctor.

If you want to be more formal and polite you can use the phrase “I beg your forgiveness”.

I am terribly sorry for what I’ve done and I beg your forgiveness.

Pardon me

We use “pardon me” to say that we are sorry for doing something or before we say something that might seem rude.

• Please, pardon me for being late.
• Pardon me for saying this, but these shoes look awful on you.
• Pardon me but you’ve done it all wrong.

I’m sorry

We can say I’m sorry, I’m really (very) sorry or simply sorry to express apology and regret.

• I’m sorry I can’t come to your birthday party, I have to work late.
• I’m so sorry but I forgot your name. Could you repeat it, please?
• I’m really sorry but I have to go now.
• Sorry for interrupting you but I’d better answer the phone.

Ways to say “excuse me”

My apologies

The phrase “my apologies” is a polite way of saying that you are sorry. Make sure you do not mistake it with “my apology” because it is used differently.

• My apologies but I’m afraid I can’t assist you today.
• Please accept my apologies for the late response to your email.
• Accept my sincere apologies for my rude behaviour.

I beg your forgiveness

This is another polite way to show your regret and ask for forgiveness.

• I beg your forgiveness to have kept you waiting.
• I’m afraid we will be late and I beg your forgiveness for that.
• I beg your forgiveness for disappointing you.

Excuse me as a way to ask people to repeat things

What are the phrases for asking people to repeat things because we did not hear or understand what they had said?

Excuse me, what did you say?

Come again?

The phrase “come again” is used to ask people to repeat or explain something.

• “His latest film is one of the best he’s ever made.” “Come again? Which film?
• “The name of the opera we watched last night is “Orpheus and Eurydice”. “Come again? Orpheus and …?”

Ways to say “excuse me”

Say again

We can use the phrase “say again” to ask someone to repeat something. It is quite informal. We can make it more polite by adding would/could you to it and please.

• “My phone number is 077634356578.” “Say again, I want to write it down.”
• Sorry, I didn’t quite catch what you said. Could you say it again, please?

How’s that (again)?

Use the phrase to ask people to repeat or explain something.

• How’s that again? Will you sing it one more time?
• How’s that? Could you explain it in more detail?

Could you repeat that?

• I’m afraid I didn’t hear you. Could you repeat that, please?
• “Sorry to inform you that the train 7865 has been cancelled.” “Could you repeat that? Train …?”

I beg your pardon

“I beg your pardon” is a polite phrase we use to ask people to repeat things because we haven’t heard or understood them.

• “When you come to the traffic light, turn left and then go past the supermarket.” “I beg your pardon? I didn’t catch it. Turn left and then…
• “They serve dinner in the hotel national restaurant from 7-11.” “I beg your pardon?”

Pardon me

Pardon me is a polite phrase to ask people to repeat something we haven’t heard or understood well.

• “When we were on holiday last year, we met Amy Winehouse.” “Pardon me? Did you just say that you met Amy Winehouse?”
• Pardon me, I didn’t hear what you said.

We can use “excuse me” to attract people’s attention, especially if we do not know them.

• Excuse me, do you know when is the next train to London?

Pardon me is an alternative phrase.

• Pardon me, could you drive us to the nearest restaurant? We are starving.

Ways to say excuse me

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