Excuse Me in German: Entschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie, and Verzeihung
Excuse me
Entschuldigung
Excuse me in German is Entschuldigung. It is a long word for a beginner, but it does three jobs at once: it gets someone's attention, it lets you pass in a crowded tram, and it apologizes for a small mistake like stepping on a foot. Learn it early, because you will need it on your first day.
The list below has the formal and informal forms, the phrases for getting past someone, the polite "what did you say?", and audio for every phrase. It also explains when to use Entschuldigung and when you need the real apology, Es tut mir leid.
Ways to say excuse me in German
Entschuldigung alone works in every situation. The verb forms Entschuldigen Sie and Entschuldige let you choose formal or informal. The Darf ich and Kann ich forms are for getting past someone.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entschuldigung Works everywhere, formal and informal | Excuse me, sorry | Works everywhere, formal and informal | |
| Entschuldigen Sie Formal, to a person you address as Sie | Excuse me | Formal, to a person you address as Sie | |
| Entschuldige Informal, to a friend | Excuse me | Informal, to a friend | |
| Verzeihung A little old-fashioned but still heard | Pardon me | A little old-fashioned but still heard | |
| Darf ich mal? In a crowd or a narrow aisle | May I get past? | In a crowd or a narrow aisle | |
| Kann ich mal vorbei? Informal, same situation | Can I get past? | Informal, same situation | |
| Entschuldigung, wo ist …? The start of almost every question to a stranger | Excuse me, where is …? | The start of almost every question to a stranger | |
| Entschuldigen Sie die Störung Formal, when interrupting someone at work or on the phone | Sorry to bother you | Formal, when interrupting someone at work or on the phone | |
| Wie bitte? When you did not hear what was said | Excuse me? Pardon? | When you did not hear what was said | |
| Sorry Young Germans use the English word for small things | Sorry | Young Germans use the English word for small things | |
| Tschuldigung The clipped spoken form. Common, informal | Scuse me | The clipped spoken form. Common, informal |
How to reply to Entschuldigung
If someone wants your attention, answer Ja, bitte? If they apologize for a small thing, tell them it does not matter.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ja, bitte? When someone wants your attention | Yes, how can I help? | When someone wants your attention | |
| Kein Problem After a small apology | No problem | After a small apology | |
| Macht nichts After a small apology. Literally "it does nothing" | Never mind | After a small apology. Literally "it does nothing" | |
| Bitte When letting someone pass | Go ahead | When letting someone pass |
Example sentences
Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?
Excuse me, where is the train station?
Entschuldigen Sie, ist dieser Platz frei?
Excuse me, is this seat free?
Darf ich mal? Ich muss hier raus.
May I get past? I need to get off here.
Entschuldigung, das war keine Absicht.
Sorry, that was not on purpose.
Wie bitte? Können Sie das wiederholen?
Pardon? Can you repeat that?
Entschuldige, ich bin zu spät.
Sorry, I am late. (informal)
Good to know
One word, three uses
Entschuldigung gets attention (Entschuldigung, wo ist …?), lets you pass (Entschuldigung! in a crowd), and apologizes for a small mistake (Entschuldigung, das war keine Absicht). For all three, the tone of voice does the work.
Entschuldigung or Es tut mir leid?
Entschuldigung is for small things: bumping into someone, being two minutes late, interrupting. Es tut mir leid (I am sorry) is for a real apology when you feel bad about something. If you broke a friend's phone, Entschuldigung is not enough.
Formal and informal verb forms
Entschuldigen Sie is formal (with Sie). Entschuldige is informal (with du). Entschuldigt is for a group of friends. The noun Entschuldigung on its own avoids the choice, which is why beginners love it.
Pronunciation
ent-SHOOL-di-goong, with the stress on the second syllable. The sch is the English "sh", the u is a long "oo", and the g at the end sounds like a soft "k". Press play above to hear it.
Verzeihung
Verzeihung means pardon and comes from verzeihen (to forgive). It is a bit old-fashioned and you will hear it more from older people or in formal settings. It is not wrong, just less common than Entschuldigung.
Practice with flashcards
This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say excuse me in German to get someone's attention?
How do you say excuse me in German when passing someone?
What is the difference between Entschuldigung and Es tut mir leid?
Is Entschuldigung formal or informal?
How do you say excuse me when you did not hear something?
What does Verzeihung mean?
Continue learning
Common German Phrases
Greetings, goodbyes, please and thank you, yes and no, and more, all with audio
German Phrases Flashcards
Drill the common phrases from English to German
Hello in German
Hello and Hi in German: Hallo, Guten Tag, and the Regional Greetings
Good morning in German
Good Morning in German: Guten Morgen, Morgen, and Moin
Thank you in German
Thank You in German: Danke, Danke schön, and Vielen Dank
Yes in German
Yes in German: Ja, Doch, Genau, and the Other Ways to Agree
No in German
No in German: Nein, Nicht, Kein, and the Casual Nee
You're welcome in German
You're Welcome in German: Bitte, Bitte schön, and Gern geschehen
How are you in German
How Are You in German: Wie geht's, Wie geht es dir, Wie geht es Ihnen
Goodbye in German
Goodbye in German: Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, and Bis bald
Cheers in German
Cheers in German: Prost, Zum Wohl, and Other Toasts
Please in German
Please in German: Bitte and Its Four Meanings
Good night in German
Good Night in German: Gute Nacht, Schlaf gut, and Sweet Dreams
Sorry in German
Sorry in German: Es tut mir leid, Entschuldigung, and How to Apologize
Good evening in German
Good Evening in German: Guten Abend, Schönen Abend, and Guten Tag
Welcome in German
Welcome in German: Willkommen and Herzlich willkommen
My name is in German
My Name Is in German: Ich heiße, Ich bin, and Mein Name ist
Happy birthday in German
Happy Birthday in German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag and Herzlichen Glückwunsch
I love you in German
I Love You in German: Ich liebe dich, Ich hab dich lieb, and Mein Schatz