If you want to go beyond excusez-moi and use good manners to say “excuse me” in French, this helpful guide will introduce you to more options. From formal to informal, alternative ways to say “excuse me” in French will vary based on the situation.
Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method can provide examples of real-life scenarios like what to say to get a server’s attention vs. what people might say if they accidentally bump into each other on the Trocadéro metro station. Knowing how to say “excuse me” in French will also be useful when you inevitably need something repeated for clarity.
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When to use ‘excusez-moi’ in French
Excusez-moi is a way to get someone’s attention, especially if you’re going to ask a question or request help. Using the vous vs. tu form makes it a polite and formal way to say “excuse me.” You can follow up with your questions about asking for the time or getting directions in French.
- Excusez-moi. = Excuse me.
- Excusez-moi. Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ? = Excuse me. Do you speak English?
- Excusez-moi. Quelle heure est-il ? = Excuse me. What time is it?
- Excusez-moi. Où se trouve le supermarché ? = Excuse me. Where is the supermarket?
Other ways to say ‘excuse me’ in French
There are a few other options if you want to say “excuse me.” Some are more formal, and it’s important to understand the situations in which you’d say them if you want to have good manners in French. Some French-speaking countries are naturally more or less formal than others. You can always start with the formal and observe carefully to know when a casual expression would be appropriate.
1. Excuse-moi (“Excuse me,” informal)
The equivalent of excusez-moi, this phrase is the informal tu (you) form of the verb. That means you use it with people you know well in casual situations. If you’re staying with family, speaking to a child, or talking to just one friend, the tu form might be appropriate. Use it for interrupting and getting someone’s attention or asking for repetition or a small favor.
- Excuse-moi, qu’est-ce que tu as dit ? = Excuse me, what did you say?
- Excuse-moi, cheri. Il est temps de partir. = Excuse me, honey. It’s time to leave.
2. Pardon (“Pardon”)
Used as a polite interruption or attention getter, you can use pardon in many of the same ways as excusez-moi, though excusez-moi might be considered more polite. Say “pardon” if you’re moving past someone in a crowded space like the metro. Using a title like madame/monsieur (Madam/Sir) could add extra respect.
- Pardon, madame. = Excuse me, madam.
- Pardon, monsieur. = Excuse me, sir.
Use pardon? when you haven’t heard what someone said and you’d like them to repeat it.
- Pardon ? Je n’ai pas bien compris. = Pardon? I didn’t understand well.
- Pardon ? Je n’ai pas entendu ce que vous avez dit. = Pardon? I didn’t hear what you said.
3. S’il vous plaît (“Please,” formal)
To get someone’s attention, like in a shop or restaurant, or to preface a request for help, say s’il vous plaît (please). Though it means “please” in other sentences, when it’s used to get attention, it’s used in much the same way as excusez-moi. This is the formal form of the expression for please in French.
- S’il vous plaît, où est le métro? = Excuse me, where is the metro?
- S’il vous plaît, savez-vous combien coûte un billet aller-retour? = Excuse me, do you know how much a round-trip ticket costs?
4. S’il te plait (“Please,” informal)
This is the informal equivalent of s’il vous plaît.
- S’il te plaît, quelle heure est-il? = Excuse me, what time is it?
- S’il te plaît, où sont les toilettes? = Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
5. Excusez-moi de vous déranger (“Excuse me for bothering you,” formal)
This classic formal French formula for interrupting someone or causing them a minor inconvenience means “excuse me for bothering you (monsieur/madame; sir/madam).” You might need help from someone at the front desk of a hotel. By using the entire phrase, you’re showing courtesy by acknowledging that you’re interrupting what they’re currently working on.
- Excusez-moi de vous déranger, madame. = Excuse me for bothering you, madam.
- Bonjour. Est-ce que je peux vous aider ? = Hello, can I help you?
6. Si vous voulez bien m’excuser (“If you’ll excuse me,” formal)
Imagine you’re sitting and socializing with a group of people and you need to stand up to do something else. The expression si vous voulez bien m’excuser (If you’ll excuse me) is a polite way of leave-taking.
- Si vous voulez bien m’excuser, je devrais y aller. = If you’ll excuse me, I should go.
7. Si tu veux bien m’excuser (“If you’ll excuse me,” informal)
The informal version of “if you’ll excuse me,” you would only say this to one person at a time, using the plural vous form for a group.
- Si tu veux bien m’excuser, je vais prendre mon petit-déjeuner. = If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have breakfast.
8. Veuillez m’excuser (“Please excuse me”)
This is a formal way to ask forgiveness for causing a problem or inconvenience. You may also see this in writing.
- Veuillez m’excuser pour tout inconvénient. = Please excuse me for any inconvenience.
9. Je vous prie de bien vouloir m’excuser (“I ask you to please forgive me,” formal)
This formulaic expression in the French language is quite soutenu (formal) and is already quite long before you even apologize. It might be seen more in writing and business correspondence.
- Je vous prie de bien vouloir m’excuser pour cette réponse tardive. = I ask you to please forgive me for this late response.
10. Comment ? (“How?”)
In casual French, if you find you haven’t heard someone correctly or weren’t paying attention, you can use comment ?, a French question word that literally means “how?” but conveys the same meaning as “excuse me?/I beg your pardon?” in French.
11. Je m’excuse (“I apologize,” informal)
The phrase je m’excuse (I apologize) uses a reflexive verb format that literally translates to “I excuse myself.” It’s a slightly controversial expression, because instead of asking the person that you’ve inconvenienced to excuse you, you’re saying “I excuse me.”
Even though it’s considered improper by the Académie Française, it’s nevertheless a common way that French-speakers might say “excuse me/sorry” in French. If you want to be sure your apology is well-received, the Académie Française suggests je vous prie de m’excuser or excusez-moi. Now you have several alternatives to choose from so that you’re sure to put your best French manners to good use.
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