Crossing

Courtesy

How to say “Excuse me” in 16 languages

Here is “Excuse me” in all 16 languages Crossing covers, with each language's regional variants side by side. Every version shows the native script, a romanization where the script isn't Latin, and a pronunciation guide written for English speakers, with notes on formality and other forms.

EnglishExcuse meAlso: “Pardon me”

Spanish Español

French Français

German Deutsch

Italian Italiano

  • Italy

    Scusi

    SKOO-see

    Formal

    To get past people in a crowd, say "Permesso" (pehr-MEHS-soh).

    Italian travel phrases

Portuguese Português

Greek Ελληνικά

  • Greece

    Συγγνώμη

    Syngnómi

    seegh-NOH-mee

    Also means sorry. A more formal option is "Με συγχωρείτε" (Me synchoreíte).

    Greek travel phrases

Turkish Türkçe

  • Türkiye

    Affedersiniz

    ahf-feh-DEHR-see-neez

    Formal

    To call a waiter or shop assistant, "Bakar mısınız?" is more usual.

    Turkish travel phrases

Russian Русский

Hindi हिन्दी

  • India

    माफ़ कीजिए

    Māf kījiye

    maaf KEE-jee-yay

    Formal

    Works both for getting attention and for a polite pardon.

    Hindi travel phrases

Bengali বাংলা

Gujarati ગુજરાતી

Mandarin Chinese 中文

  • China

    不好意思

    Bù hǎoyìsi

    boo how-ee-suh

    Gets attention politely and also works as a light apology.

    More ways to say this

    • 请问

      Qǐngwèn

      ching-wun

      Use it right before a question, such as when asking the way.

    Mandarin Chinese travel phrases

Japanese 日本語

  • Japan

    すみません

    Sumimasen

    soo-mee-mah-SEN

    Formal

    Also works as a light apology or thanks.

    Japanese travel phrases

Korean 한국어

  • South Korea

    저기요

    Jeogiyo

    juh-gee-yoh

    Formal

    The everyday way to get someone's attention, including a waiter's.

    More ways to say this

    • 실례합니다

      Sillyehamnida

      sheel-lyeh-hahm-nee-dah

      Formal

      More formal, for interrupting someone or entering an office.

    Korean travel phrases

Arabic العربية

  • Egypt

    لو سمحت

    Law samaht

    lao sah-MAHT

    To a man. To a woman: "لو سمحتي" (law samahti).

    More ways to say this

    • لو سمحتي

      Law samahti

      lao sah-MAH-tee

      To a woman. To a man: "لو سمحت" (law samaht).

    Arabic phrases for Egypt

Hebrew עברית

More phrases, side by side

Full phrase pages

Hear every phrase in the app.

Crossing has these phrases and hundreds more in 16 languages, side by side, with audio and the replies you're likely to hear back. Compare two languages free, or up to five with Premium.

Coming soon to the App Store Coming soon to Google Play

Free to download, with an optional Premium subscription. Email us and we'll write once, when it's out.