Hindi · Greetings & Essentials
"Excuse me" in Hindi: सुनिए
सुनिएsuniye
Note: to apologize: माफ़ कीजिए (maaf keejiye)
Excuse me in Hindi is सुनिए (suniye) when you want someone's attention — literally "please listen". To apologize for bumping someone, say maaf keejiye. Both are polite with aap.
In a crowded metro
सुनिए, क्या यह सीट खाली है?suniye, kya yeh seat khaali hai?
Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce सुनिए
Say it
su-NI-ye
/sʊnɪeː/
Suniye is su-NI-ye. Stress the middle ni lightly. The final ye is soft. It is the polite imperative of sunna, to listen.
"Excuse me" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| सुनिएsuniye | excuse me; please listen Getting attention politely. | Getting attention politely. |
| माफ़ कीजिएmaaf keejiye | sorry; excuse me (apology) After a bump or interruption. | After a bump or interruption. |
| जी सुनिएji suniye | excuse me (warm) Softens the call further. | Softens the call further. |
| एक मिनटek minat | one minute; excuse me a second Stopping someone briefly. | Stopping someone briefly. |
How to use सुनिए in real life
- 1In a crowded metro
सुनिए, क्या यह सीट खाली है?
suniye, kya yeh seat khaali hai?
Excuse me, is this seat free?
Suniye opens the ask without sounding rude.
- 2Calling a waiter
सुनिए जी, एक पानी और दीजिए।
suniye ji, ek paani aur deejiye.
Excuse me, one more water please.
Ji keeps service talk respectful.
- 3Passing in a narrow aisle
सुनिए, ज़रा किनारा कीजिए।
suniye, zara kinaara keejiye.
Excuse me, please make a little room.
Common in shops and trains.
Mistakes English speakers make with सुनिए
Incorrect: Using only suniye after stepping on a foot
Correct: माफ़ कीजिए (maaf keejiye)
Suniye gets attention. Maaf keejiye apologizes.
Incorrect: Sun with strangers: sun!
Correct: Suniye / ji suniye
Bare sun sounds rough. Keep the polite -iye ending.
Good to know
Indian public spaces are dense; a soft suniye plus a palm gesture works better than a loud hey. Shopkeepers may call you suniye too. If you need to interrupt a conversation, a short maaf keejiye before suniye feels smoother.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Asking for directions in a busy market lane
ChatPal
सुनिए, मेट्रो स्टेशन किस तरफ़ है?
suniye, metro station kis taraf hai?
Excuse me, which way is the metro station?
You
सुनिए, मैं भी वहीँ जा रहा हूँ — साथ चलें?
suniye, main bhi vahin ja raha hoon — saath chalen?
Excuse me — I'm going that way too. Shall we walk together?
ChatPal
हाँ, चलिए। आगे बाएँ लेना है।
haan, chaliye. aage baayen lena hai.
Yes, come. Ahead we take a left.
You
शुक्रिया। बिना सुनिए कहे रुकना मुश्किल था।
shukriya. bina suniye kahe rukna mushkil tha.
Thanks. It was hard to stop anyone without saying suniye.
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 Hindi
Is suniye rude?
No. It is the standard polite attention-getter with aap.
What do I say after bumping someone?
Maaf keejiye or sorry. Then move aside.
Can I say excuse me in English?
Yes, widely understood. Suniye still helps in Hindi-only settings.
How do friends get attention?
They may say arrey or use a name. Keep suniye for strangers and service staff.
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
