An Essential Phrase for Global Etiquette: ‘Excuse Me’ in Multiple Tongues
Traveling abroad or connecting with friends from different cultures? Knowing how to say ‘Excuse Me’ in various languages can make all the difference. This key phrase is your gateway to gaining attention, navigating crowded spaces, or expressing politeness. Let’s embark on a linguistic journey to master this crucial expression in 10 languages!
Spanish (Español) – ‘¡Perdón!’
In Spanish-speaking countries, “¡Perdón!” is often used to mean ‘Excuse Me’. Whether you’re trying to get through a crowd or catch someones attention, you can use it like this:
- Example: ¡Perdón! ¿Podría decirme cómo llegar al museo? – Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the museum?
French (Français) – ‘Excusez-moi’
The French take their etiquettes seriously. To politely interrupt or pass by someone, use “Excusez-moi”. Here’s a practical example:
- Example: Excusez-moi, je cherche la gare. – Excuse me, I’m looking for the train station.
Mandarin Chinese (???) – ‘???’ (Duìbùq?)
In Mandarin Chinese, “???” can be used both to apologize and to say ‘Excuse Me’. If you need to squeeze through a crowded market, you may say:
- Example: ???, ??????? – Excuse me, can I get through?
German (Deutsch) – ‘Entschuldigung’
German has a very direct way of saying ‘Excuse Me’ with “Entschuldigung”. Whether you’ve bumped into someone at Oktoberfest or need to ask for directions, you can say:
- Example: Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof? – Excuse me, where is the train station?
Italian (Italiano) – ‘Scusi’
In Italy, “Scusi” is the formal and most common way of saying ‘Excuse Me’. To slip past someone in the narrow streets of Rome, you might say:
- Example: Scusi, posso passare? – Excuse me, may I pass?
Japanese (???) – ‘?????’ (Sumimasen)
Be it in bustling Tokyo or a tranquil town, “?????” is a versatile phrase that covers everything from getting attention to apologizing:
- Example: ???????????????? – Excuse me, where is the next station?
Hindi (??????) – ‘????? ??????’ (k?am? k?jiye)
When speaking Hindi, “????? ??????” is the polite way to say ‘Excuse Me’, whether to navigate through the crowd or to ask for assistance:
- Example: ????? ??????, ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??? – Excuse me, how do I get to the Taj Mahal?
Arabic (???????) – ‘?????’ (a’fuwan)
The Arabic “?????” is what you’ll use in the Middle East or North African countries to say ‘Excuse Me’. Whether interrupting or getting past, it’s respectful to say:
- Example: ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? – Excuse me, where can I find the train station?
Portuguese (Português) – ‘Com licença’
In Brazil or Portugal, “Com licença” is the equivalent of ‘Excuse Me’. It’s the passport to courteous interaction:
- Example: Com licença, você pode me ajudar? – Excuse me, can you help me?
Russian (???????) – ‘????????’ (Izvinite)
Finally, in Russia, “????????” is a formal way to catch someone’s attention or to apologize for a minor inconvenience:
- Example: ????????, ?? ?? ??????????, ??? ????????? ?????? – Excuse me, can you tell me where the metro is?
Conclusion: Your Passport to Politeness
Learning to say ‘Excuse Me’ in different languages isn’t just about wordsit’s about showing respect and navigating social situations with ease. It’s a powerful tool that helps you connect with people across the globe. The next time you find yourself in a new country or encountering a new language, remember these phrases. They are your passport to politeness and clear communication.
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