Excuse me and sorry in English: 20+ apologies and excuses

The short answer

In English, apologizing does not rely on one single word, you should distinguish at least four key phrases. Sorry (/ˈsɒri/) is the general, heartfelt apology. Excuse me (/ɪkˈskjuːz miː/) is for small interruptions and getting someone’s attention. Pardon? (/ˈpɑːrdn/) asks for repetition. I apologize (/aɪ əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/) is the formal, written register.

English is the native or second language of about 1.5 billion people according to Ethnologue 2024, and apology habits differ a lot between British, American, and Australian varieties. The key difference is this: in British English, Sorry is an almost reflex-like social gesture that people say dozens of times a day, while Americans often prefer Excuse me in the same situations.

“Apologizing in English is not only about making amends, in British culture especially, it is a ritual tool for maintaining social harmony, often used even when the speaker is not at fault.”

(David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Cambridge University Press, 2019)

This guide presents 20 English apology and excuse phrases by category: general apologies, attention-getting formulas, repetition requests, formal and written options, and ways to accept apologies. For each phrase, you will find IPA pronunciation, context, and cultural background.

Quick overview

Apologies

General apologies come up when you made a mistake, caused inconvenience, or triggered negative feelings. According to British Council research, Sorry is one of the most frequently spoken words in everyday English.

Sorry

Sorry is the most versatile apology word in English. With one syllable, you can admit fault, show sympathy, or simply soften a request. As an English speaker, note that in English, especially British English, Sorry appears much more often than many direct equivalents in other languages. This is not fake politeness, it is a natural part of the culture.

I'm sorry

I'm sorry is stronger than Sorry on its own because it includes “I”, which makes it feel personal. When you truly hurt someone’s feelings, criticized them unfairly, or made a serious mistake, this is the natural basic form. Stress matters too: if you stress I'm, accountability stands out; if you stress sorry, the emotional regret stands out.

I apologize

I apologize is the formal register of apologizing. It is natural in business letters, official emails, public apologies, and professional meetings. British spelling is I apologise (with s), American spelling is I apologize (with z), both are correct in the right context.

I'm so sorry

I'm so sorry naturally appears in two situations: after a serious mistake, and when expressing sympathy. With grief, accidents, or hard news, this is the reflex response, not simple Sorry, but this expanded form. The intensifier so is not over-the-top, it is a normal emotional marker in English.

My apologies

My apologies is common in British and semi-formal communication. It is one of the most common email openers when you replied late, canceled suddenly, or need to excuse an interruption. It feels more personal than I apologize, but still sounds professional.

Getting attention and small interruptions

These phrases are not apologies in the strict sense, they ask for forgiveness for a small interruption, moving through a crowd, or addressing a stranger. According to Trudgill & Hannah’s International English, Excuse me is one of the most culture-specific politeness formulas in English, its use and frequency vary by region.

Excuse me

Excuse me is the most versatile excuse formula in English. Talking to a stranger? Excuse me. Squeezing through a crowd? Excuse me. Interrupting someone? Excuse me. Did not hear the question? Excuse me? with rising intonation. As an English speaker, it is easy to internalize because the logic is straightforward.

Pardon me

Pardon me is slightly more formal and restrained than Excuse me, it fits restaurants, theaters, and more formal meetings. In the US, it is an elegant alternative when Excuse me feels too everyday. In British settings, it is less common but not unfamiliar.

Coming through!

Coming through! is not an apology, it is a compact, confident announcement: “I’m coming through, please make space.” It is especially useful in crowded malls, concerts, and narrow hallways. The exclamation point matters because people usually say it louder.

Phrases for asking someone to repeat

These phrases are not apologies, they politely signal that you did not understand what the other person said. In English, there are softer ways to ask for repetition than the blunt “What?”

Pardon?

Pardon? is peak politeness for asking someone to repeat. In British English, it is the default form that adults teach children instead of “What?” It feels short, polite, and clearly signals that you are attentive, you just did not hear.

Sorry?

Sorry? (with rising intonation) is a distinctly British form that people say almost automatically when they do not understand. It can feel odd that the same word can mean an apology and a repetition request, but context and intonation make the difference clear.

Could you repeat that?

Could you repeat that? is the clearest and safest way to ask for repetition. It avoids misunderstandings and cultural traps, any English speaker will understand it immediately. In phone and video calls, it is almost essential because noise and connection issues can block understanding.

I didn't catch that

I didn't catch that sounds more natural and less formal than Could you repeat that? The idiomatic verb catch here means “to catch and understand,” a very English metaphor worth using actively.

Formal apologies in writing

In business emails and official letters, apology wording follows different rules than spoken communication. According to the British Council, writing email apologies is one of the most common improvement areas for professionals learning English.

For a delayed reply:

Dear Ms. Thompson,

I apologize for the delayed response, I was traveling for the past week and only now had the opportunity to review your message in full.

Best regards, [Name]

For general inconvenience:

Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are taking immediate steps to resolve the issue.

For a faulty product or service:

I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the error in your order. We will ship the correct item immediately at no additional cost.

The structure of formal apology letters is usually: (1) state the apology, (2) acknowledge the mistake, (3) describe consequences or the fix, (4) reassure again. This four-step pattern is standard in English, and Cambridge Dictionary editors recommend it as a basic business-letter format.

How do we accept an apology?

It is just as important to know how to respond when someone apologizes as it is to apologize yourself. In English, several standard reply forms exist, and their formality depends on the situation.

That's okay (/ðæts oʊˈkeɪ/) is one of the most common accepting replies. It is neutral, friendly, and works in any situation.

No worries (/noʊ ˈwʌriz/) is casual, especially common in Australian and British English. It signals “it’s fine, it didn’t bother me.” Americans also understand and accept it, but No problem is the parallel form there.

It happens (/ɪt ˈhæpənz/) signals “this happens, you’re not the first.” It feels both open and forgiving, and it eases the situation for the person apologizing.

British vs. American difference

Context table: comparing British and American apologies

Practice with real English content

You learn apology formulas best from authentic dialogues, where you see the context, hear the intonation, and notice the cultural difference. In British series (like Fleabag or Downton Abbey), you can hear dozens of uses of Sorry. In American films (like The Office US), Excuse me and I apologize are more typical.

With the Wordy app, you can watch English movies and series with interactive subtitles: you can click any phrase and instantly see pronunciation, formality level, and cultural context. This way, you do not only know the phrases in theory, you learn them from real dialogue, the way native speakers learn too.

Our guide to the best movies to learn English helps you find series and films where you can hear natural apology and excuse formulas in both English varieties. Start learning on the Wordy English learning page.