Meanings
phrase
- CanadaUSSaid as a request to repeat information.
- CanadaUSSaid, as though as a request to repeat information, in order to indicate disbelief or indignation.
It was so hot I took off my clothes and sat by the window to cool off. Excuse me?
- Said as a request for an individual's attention.
Excuse me? Anna? Is that you? — Oh, yes. I am here!
2016, VOA Learning English (public domain) - Said as a request to pass somebody.
Excuse me: can I get through please?
- Sorry, as an apology.
"Excuse me, sir! There must be someone you've confused me for"
2011, That Handsome Devil, Charlie’s Inferno - formalSaid as an expression of unexpected or early farewell.
Oh, excuse me, I hadn't realized how late it was. I need to get home and make dinner.
nounexcuse me (plural excuse mes)
plural excuse mes
- danceAn old-fashioned type of dance where partners are constantly changed.
Synonyms & antonyms
request to repeat
Similar
I beg your pardon?
Similar
pardon?I'm sorry?come again?say again?sorry?
Translations
Arabic عَفْوًا!, مَاذَا قُلْتَ؟
- عَفْوًا! (ʕafwan!)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- مَاذَا قُلْتَ؟ (māḏā qulta?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- مَاذَا قُلْتِ؟ (māḏā qulti?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- مَرَّة ثَانِيَة، مِن فَضْلِكَ؟ (marra ṯāniya, min faḍlika?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- مَرَّة ثَانِيَة، مِن فَضْلِكِ؟ (marra ṯāniya, min faḍliki?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- عُذْراً! (ʕuḏran!)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- عَن إِذْنَك (ʕan ʔiḏnak)request for attention
- عَن إِذْنِك (ʕan ʔiḏnik)request for attention
- عَفْوًا (ʕafwan)request for attention
- عَذْرًا (ʕaḏran)request for attention
- المَعْذِرَة (al-maʕḏira)request to pass
- اِعْذِرْنِي (iʕḏirnī)sorry, as apology
Bengali দুঃখিত, মাফ করবেন
- দুঃখিত (dukkhito)sorry, as apology
- মাফ করবেন (maph korben)sorry, as apology
Bulgarian извине́те, пардо́н
- извине́те (izvinéte)sorry, as apology
- пардо́н (pardón)sorry, as apology
Chinese Cantonese 唔該借借 /唔该借借, 對唔住 /对唔住
- 唔該借借 /唔该借借 (m⁴ goi¹ ze³ ze³)request to pass
- 對唔住 /对唔住 (deoi³ m⁴ zyu⁶)sorry, as apology
- 唔好意思 (m⁴ hou² ji³ si¹)sorry, as apology
Chinese Mandarin 請再説一遍 /请再说一遍, 再説一遍 /再说一遍
- 請再説一遍 /请再说一遍 (qǐng zài shuō yíbiàn)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- 再説一遍 /再说一遍 (zài shuō yíbiàn)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- 什麼？ /什么？ (shénme)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- 哦？ (é?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- 請問 /请问 (qǐngwèn)request for attention
- 勞駕 /劳驾 (láojià)request for attention
- 得罪 (dézuì)request for attention
- 借過 /借过 (jièguò)request to pass
- 勞駕 /劳驾 (láojià)request to pass
- 對不起 /对不起 (duìbùqǐ)sorry, as apology
- 抱歉！ (bàoqiàn!)sorry, as apology
- 不好意思 (bùhǎoyìsi)sorry, as apology
Czech promiňte, promiňte
- promiňterequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- promiňterequest for attention
- s dovolenímrequest to pass
- promiňtesorry, as apology
Danish hvad sagde du, hva'
- hvad sagde durequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- hva'request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- undskyldrequest for attention
- undskyld migrequest to pass
- undskyldsorry, as apology
- undskyldindignation
Dutch pardon, wablief
- pardonrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- wabliefrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- wat zegt urequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- wat zeg jerequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- pardonrequest for attention
- excuseerrequest for attention
- pardonrequest to pass
- excuseerrequest to pass
- excuseert u mijrequest to pass
- pardonsorry, as apology
- excuseersorry, as apology
- excuseert u mijsorry, as apology
Esperanto senkulpigu min
- senkulpigu minsorry, as apology
Estonian vabandage, vabanda
- vabandagesorry, as apology
- vabandasorry, as apology
Finnish anteeksi?, anteeksi kuinka?
- anteeksi?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- anteeksi kuinka?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- anteeksi mitä?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- anteeksirequest for attention
- anteeksirequest to pass
- anteeksi, saanko ohittaarequest to pass
- anteeksisorry, as apology
- suokaa anteeksisorry, as apology
- pyydän anteeksi!indignation
- anteeksiindignation
French pardon, plaît-il
- pardonrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- plaît-ilrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- commentrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- quoirequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- heinrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- pardonrequest for attention
- pardonrequest to pass
- excusez-moirequest to pass
- excuse-moirequest to pass
- pardonsorry, as apology
- excusez-moisorry, as apology
- mes excusessorry, as apology
German Entschuldigung?, wie bitte?
- Entschuldigung?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- wie bitte?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- Entschuldigungrequest for attention
- Verzeihungrequest for attention
- Entschuldigungrequest to pass
- darf ich bitte durch?request to pass
- Entschuldigungsorry, as apology
- entschuldigen Siesorry, as apology
- es tut mir leidsorry, as apology
- Entschuldigung!indignation
Greek συγγνώμη, συγγνώμη
- συγγνώμηrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- συγγνώμη (syngnómi)request for attention
- συγγνώμη (syngnómi)request to pass
- συγγνώμη (syngnómi)sorry, as apology
- συγγνώμη (syngnómi)indignation
Hawaiian e kala mai
- e kala maisorry, as apology
Hebrew סְלִיחָה
- סְלִיחָה (slikhá)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
Hindi ज़रा सुनिये, क्षमा कीजिए
- ज़रा सुनिये (zarā suniye)request for attention
- क्षमा कीजिए (kṣamā kījie)request for attention
- क्षमा कीजिए (kṣamā kījie)request to pass
- माफ़ कीजिए (māf kījie)sorry, as apology
- माफ़ करो (māf karo)sorry, as apology
Hungarian tessék?, elnézést
- tessék?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- elnézéstrequest for attention
- legyen szívesrequest for attention
- szabad lesz?request to pass
- elnézéstsorry, as apology
- elnézést kéreksorry, as apology
- bocsánatsorry, as apology
Icelandic afsakið?, afsakaðu?
- afsakið?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- afsakaðu?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- fyrirgefðu?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- afsakið?request for attention
- fyrirgefðu?request for attention
- afsakaðu?request for attention
- heyrðurequest for attention
- afsakið?request to pass
- fyrirgefðu?request to pass
- fyrirgefðusorry, as apology
- fyrirgefðu mérsorry, as apology
- afsakiðsorry, as apology
Indonesian permisi, permisi
- permisirequest for attention
- permisirequest to pass
- maafkan sayasorry, as apology
Irish gabh mo leithscéal, gabhaigí mo leithscéal
- gabh mo leithscéalrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- gabhaigí mo leithscéalrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- gabh mo leithscéalrequest for attention
- gabhaigí mo leithscéalrequest for attention
- gabh mo leithscéalrequest to pass
- gabhaigí mo leithscéalrequest to pass
- gabh mo leithscéalsorry, as apology
- gabhaigí mo leithscéalsorry, as apology
- gabh mo leithscéalindignation
- gabhaigí mo leithscéalindignation
Italian scusi?, prego?
- scusi?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- prego?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- scusa?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- come?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- scusirequest for attention
- scusarequest for attention
- scusaterequest for attention
- permessorequest to pass
- scusarequest to pass
- scusirequest to pass
- scusaterequest to pass
- scusisorry, as apology
Japanese もういちどいってください, え、何ですか
- もういちどいってください (mō ichido itte kudasai)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- え、何ですかrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- もう一回 (mō ikkai)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- もう一度 (mō ichido)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- 何？ (nani?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- え？ (e?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- すみません (sumimasen)request for attention
- 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu)request for attention
- すみません (sumimasen)request to pass
- 申しわけございません (mōshiwake gozaimasen)sorry, as apology
- すみません (sumimasen)sorry, as apology
- 御免なさい (gomennasai)sorry, as apology
Korean 뭐라고요?, 여보세요
- 뭐라고요? (mwo-rago-yo?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- 여보세요 (yeoboseyo)request for attention
- 저기요 (jeogi-yo)request for attention
- 잠시만요 (jamsi-man-yo)request to pass
- 죄송합니다 (joesong-hamnida)sorry, as apology
- 미안해요 (mian-haeyo)sorry, as apology
- 실례합니다 (sillye-hamnida)sorry, as apology
Latin ignosce mihi, ignoscite mihi
- ignosce mihirequest to pass
- ignoscite mihirequest to pass
- ignosce mihisorry, as apology
- ignoscite mihisorry, as apology
Latvian atvainojiet
- atvainojietsorry, as apology
Lithuanian atsiprašau, dovanokite
- atsiprašaurequest to pass
- dovanokitesorry, as apology
Malay tumpang tanya, tumpang lalu
- tumpang tanyarequest for attention
- tumpang lalurequest to pass
- maafkan sayasorry, as apology
- maafsorry, as apology
Norwegian Bokmål hva?, unnskyld?
- hva?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- unnskyld?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- hæ?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- unnskyldrequest for attention
- unnskyldrequest to pass
- unnskyldsorry, as apology
- beklagersorry, as apology
- unnskyld megindignation
Polish proszę?, przepraszam
- proszę?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- przepraszamrequest for attention
- przepraszamrequest to pass
- przepraszamsorry, as apology
- wybaczsorry, as apology
- wybaczciesorry, as apology
- proszę wybaczyć...sorry, as apology
- wybaczą państwo...sorry, as apology
- proszę o wybaczenieindignation
Portuguese como?, o que?
- como?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- o que?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- oi?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- perdão?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- com licençarequest for attention
- licençarequest for attention
- com licençarequest to pass
- licençarequest to pass
- perdãosorry, as apology
- desculpasorry, as apology
- me desculpe/desculpasorry, as apology
- desculpassorry, as apology
Romanian poftim?, pardon?
- poftim?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- pardon?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- scuzați-măsorry, as apology
Russian что вы сказа́ли?, прошу́ проще́ния
- что вы сказа́ли? (što vy skazáli?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- прошу́ проще́ния (prošú proščénija)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- что? (što?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- как-как? (kak-kak?)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- прости́те (prostíte)request for attention
- извини́те (izviníte)request for attention
- извини́те (izviníte)request to pass
- извини́те (izviníte/izviní)sorry, as apology
- извини́ (izviníte/izviní)sorry, as apology
- прости́те (prostíte/prostí)sorry, as apology
- прости́ (prostíte/prostí)sorry, as apology
- прошу́ проще́ния (prošú proščénija)sorry, as apology
Scottish Gaelic b' àill leat?, b' àill leibh?
- b' àill leat?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- b' àill leibh?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- gabh mo leisgeulrequest for attention
- gabh mo leisgeulrequest to pass
- gabh mo leisgeulsorry, as apology
Slovak ospravedlnte, prepáčte
- ospravedlnterequest for attention
- prepáčterequest for attention
- prepáčtesorry, as apology
- prepáčsorry, as apology
- ospravedlntesorry, as apology
Spanish perdón, disculpe/perdone (usted)
- perdónrequest for attention
- disculpe/perdone (usted)request for attention
- con permisorequest to pass
- permisorequest to pass
- permítame (usted) (a mí)expression of unexpected or early farewell
- perdone/disculpe (usted)expression of unexpected or early farewell
- perdóneme/discúlpeme (usted) (a mí)expression of unexpected or early farewell
Swahili samahani rudia, tafadhali naomba unipishe
- samahani rudiarequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- tafadhali naomba unipisherequest to pass
Swedish ursäkta?, ursäkta mig?
- ursäkta?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- ursäkta mig?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- va?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- vad sa du?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- hur sa?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- ursäkta migrequest for attention
- ursäkta migrequest to pass
- ursäktarequest to pass
- ursäktasorry, as apology
- ursäkta migsorry, as apology
- förlåtsorry, as apology
- ursäkta mig!indignation
Tagalog paulit po, ano ulit?
- paulit porequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- ano ulit?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- ano ho?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- ano po?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- ha?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- tao porequest for attention
- makikiraan porequest to pass
- pasintabirequest to pass
- pasensiyasorry, as apology
- pasensiya nasorry, as apology
- pasensiya na, ano po?indignation
Tamil மன்னி, மன்னிக்கணும்
- மன்னி (maṉṉi)request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- மன்னிக்கணும் (maṉṉikkaṇum)request for attention
Thai ขอโทษ, ขอโทษ
- ขอโทษ (kɔ̌ɔ-tôot)request for attention
- ขอโทษ (kɔ̌ɔ-tôot)sorry, as apology
Turkish efendim?, affedersiniz
- efendim?request to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- affedersinizrequest to repeat — see also come again, what, pardon
- affedersinrequest for attention
- affedersinizrequest for attention
- pardonrequest for attention
- affedersinrequest to pass
- affedersinizrequest to pass
- izin verir misin?request to pass
- izin verir misiniz?request to pass
- özür dilerimrequest to pass
- müsade eder misin?request to pass
- müsade eder misiniz?request to pass
Ukrainian перепро́шую, дару́йте
- перепро́шую (perepróšuju)request for attention
- дару́йте (darújte)request for attention
- перепро́шую (perepróšuju)request to pass
- дару́йте (darújte)request to pass
- ви́бачте (výbačte)sorry, as apology
- ви́бач (výbač)sorry, as apology
- проба́чте (probáčte)sorry, as apology
- проба́ч (probáč)sorry, as apology
- перепро́шую (perepróšuju)sorry, as apology
Urdu مُعاف کِیجِیے
- مُعاف کِیجِیے (mu'āf kījiye)sorry, as apology
Vietnamese xin lỗi, xin lỗi cho hỏi
- xin lỗirequest for attention
- xin lỗi cho hỏirequest for attention
- xin lỗisorry, as apology
Cite this entry
APA
excuse me. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/excuse%20me
MLA
“excuse me.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/excuse%20me. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “excuse me,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/excuse%20me.
Source: excuse me on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.