German · Greetings & Essentials
"Excuse me" in German: Entschuldigung
Entschuldigung
Excuse me in German is Entschuldigung. Use it to pass through a crowd or to apologize lightly. With friends, Entschuldige is enough. Verzeihung is more formal.
Crowded tram
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How to pronounce Entschuldigung
Say it
ent-SHOOL-di-goong
/ɛntˈʃʊldɪɡʊŋ/
ent-SHOOL-di-goong. Stress on Schul. Soft -gung.
"Excuse me" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Entschuldigung | excuse me / sorry Default polite form. | Default polite form. |
| Entschuldige | sorry / excuse me Informal du form. | Informal du form. |
| Entschuldigen Sie | excuse me (formal) With Sie. | With Sie. |
| Verzeihung | pardon me Slightly more formal. | Slightly more formal. |
How to use Entschuldigung in real life
- 1Crowded tram
Entschuldigung, darf ich vorbei?
Excuse me, may I get past?
Classic squeeze-through line.
- 2Asking a stranger
Entschuldigung, ist das der Weg zum Dom?
Excuse me, is this the way to the cathedral?
Opens a polite question.
- 3Bumping someone
Oh, Entschuldigung!
Oh, excuse me!
Quick apology.
Mistakes English speakers make with Entschuldigung
Incorrect: Excuse me, wo ist der Bahnhof?
Correct: Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?
Start with Entschuldigung, not English excuse me.
Incorrect: Entschuldigung Sie! (wrong word order)
Correct: Entschuldigen Sie!
Formal imperative needs the verb form Entschuldigen Sie.
Good to know
A short Entschuldigung! is enough when you brush past someone. Long speeches feel awkward. For a real mistake, add das wollte ich nicht or das tut mir leid after Entschuldigung.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding seats in a busy cafe
ChatPal
Entschuldigung, sind die Plätze frei?
Excuse me, are these seats free?
You
Entschuldigung, wir wollten uns nur kurz setzen.
Excuse me, we only wanted to sit for a moment.
ChatPal
Alles gut. Setzt euch.
All good. Sit down.
You
Danke!
Thanks!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Excuse me" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Excuse me" in German
Is Entschuldigung formal?
It works with strangers. With friends use Entschuldige.
What is the difference from Tut mir leid?
Entschuldigung is lighter and also means excuse me. Tut mir leid is a clearer apology.
How do you say excuse me formal?
Entschuldigen Sie or Entschuldigung.
Can I just say 'Schuldigung?
Yes, in fast speech. Learners should start with the full Entschuldigung.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
