How to Say Excuse Me in English: 18 Natural Phrases for Every Situation

In English, the safest way to say excuse me is "Excuse me" (ik-SKYOOZ mee): use it to get past someone, politely interrupt, or flag a small social slip. For actual fault or harm, English usually prefers "Sorry" (SOR-ee) or a fuller apology like "I apologize" (eye uh-POL-uh-jyz).

English is the most widely used language in international communication, and it is spoken in many countries as a first or additional language. Ethnologue lists English among the world’s top languages by total speakers (Ethnologue, 27th edition, 2024), which is why these small politeness choices matter: you will hear different defaults in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and beyond.

If you want practice in real speech, movie and TV dialogue is ideal because you hear the tone, speed, and follow-up lines. Pair this guide with our best movies to learn English list, then listen for how characters soften interruptions, apologize, and move through crowds.

What "excuse me" actually does in English

"Excuse me" is less about guilt and more about social coordination. It signals: I need a small adjustment from you, and I am trying not to threaten your comfort.

Politeness research in pragmatics, especially Brown and Levinson’s Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage (Cambridge University Press), explains why these phrases work: they protect the other person’s "face" by framing your need as respectful rather than demanding.

In English, "excuse me" commonly covers three jobs:

• Passing through space: getting by, reaching something, moving in a crowd.
• Interrupting: entering a conversation, asking a question, correcting.
• Minor transgressions: small slips like coughing, burping, or a tiny bump.

For bigger harm, English shifts to apology language: "sorry", "I apologize", "That’s my fault", and repair offers like "Let me fix that."

The core phrase you can always use

Excuse me

Use "Excuse me" (ik-SKYOOZ mee) when you need someone’s attention or space, and the situation is small.

A useful detail: in fast speech, many speakers reduce it to something like "’scuse me" while keeping the same meaning. As a learner, say the full form clearly.

"Excuse me" vs "sorry" vs "pardon": the practical rule

English learners often ask which one is "correct." They are all correct, but they point to different social meanings.

Cambridge Dictionary and Merriam-Webster both separate "excuse" (requesting allowance) from "apologize" (expressing regret) in their definitions (Cambridge Dictionary, accessed 2026; Merriam-Webster, accessed 2026). That maps well to real usage:

• Excuse me: I need to interrupt or pass, or I am flagging a small slip.
• Sorry: I caused inconvenience, discomfort, or harm, even small.
• Pardon: often "repeat that?" or a slightly formal "excuse me."

David Crystal’s The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language is helpful here because it treats everyday speech as systematic, not random: English politeness is built from small, repeatable patterns (modal verbs, softeners, and intonation), not just vocabulary.

Passing through crowds and physical space

Excuse me, can I get by?

Use this when someone is blocking a hallway, aisle, or subway door.

Sorry, just squeezing past

This is friendly and common when space is tight.

Coming through

This is more direct. It can be neutral or urgent depending on tone.

Getting someone’s attention (shops, restaurants, airports)

Excuse me, could you help me?

Use this with staff, strangers, or anyone you do not know well.

If you are learning numbers for gates, floors, and addresses, our numbers in English guide helps you say them clearly in real situations.

Excuse me, do you have a moment?

This is useful when you need time, not just a quick answer.

Sorry to bother you

This is polite and slightly more apologetic than "Excuse me."

Interrupting in conversation (without sounding rude)

Excuse me, can I jump in?

Use this in meetings, group conversations, and classes.

Sorry to interrupt

This is more explicitly apologetic than "Excuse me."

If I may

This is formal and often used in debates or structured meetings.

When you did something wrong: small mistakes vs real apologies

Sorry

"Sorry" (SOR-ee) is the workhorse apology in English. It can be tiny (bumping someone) or serious (depending on context and follow-up).

My bad

This is casual and common, especially among younger speakers.

That’s on me

This is casual-to-polite and takes responsibility more clearly than "my bad."

I apologize

This is formal and stronger. It fits customer service, workplace emails, and serious situations.

When you did not hear: asking for repetition

Sorry?

This is extremely common, especially in American English. Intonation does the work.

Excuse me?

This can also mean "repeat that," but it can carry a second meaning: surprise or mild offense.

Pardon?

This is understood everywhere, and it is common in some regions and age groups.

British Council learning materials on apologies and polite requests emphasize that English often prefers softeners like "could you" and "would you" for these moments (British Council, accessed 2026). That is why "Sorry, could you repeat that?" sounds more natural than a bare "Repeat."

Leaving, stepping away, or ending a conversation politely

Excuse me for a moment

Use this when you need to step away without giving a long explanation.

I’m going to step out for a second

This is casual and common at work.

Regional and cultural notes that change the feel

English is global, but politeness norms are local. The same phrase can land differently depending on where you are.

US and Canada: quick softeners and frequent "sorry"

In North America, "Sorry" is often used as a low-cost smoother, even for tiny things like brushing past someone. That does not always mean deep regret, it is often just social lubrication.

If you want to sound natural, add a softener: "Sorry, just a sec" or "Excuse me, could I…?" These "small words" matter, and Deborah Tannen’s work on conversational style and framing is a useful lens: speakers manage rapport through pacing, overlap, and indirectness, not only through vocabulary.

UK and Ireland: "sorry" as a default, "pardon" as an option

In the UK, "Sorry?" is a very common repetition request. "Pardon?" is also understood, and "Excuse me" is standard for getting attention.

A practical listening tip: in British TV, you will often hear "Sorry" used where learners expect "Excuse me." Both can be correct, but the tone is usually lighter than learners assume.

Service settings everywhere: avoid "Hey!"

"Hey!" can be friendly with friends, but it can sound abrupt with staff or strangers. Use "Excuse me" plus your request.

If you are curious about how casual English changes online and in youth speech, compare this guide with our English slang list. Slang is not automatically rude, but it is often more relationship-dependent than polite formulas.

Common mistakes learners make (and how to fix them)

Overusing "pardon me" in casual life

"Pardon me" is correct, but in many places it sounds formal. If you are in a crowded cafe, "Excuse me" or "Sorry" will usually fit better.

Saying "Excuse me" for serious harm

If you spilled coffee on someone, "Excuse me" alone is too small. Use "I’m so sorry" plus a repair offer: "Let me get napkins" or "Can I replace that?"

Using swear words as fillers

Some learners copy movies and add strong language when frustrated. In real life, that can damage trust quickly, especially at work.

If you want to understand intensity levels safely, read our English swear words guide. It is better to know what not to repeat than to learn it the hard way.

How to practice so it comes out automatically

Memorizing a list is not enough. You need fast retrieval under pressure, like when you are squeezing past someone on a train.

Use this three-step drill:

1. Pick one situation (crowd, interruption, repetition request).
2. Choose one base phrase ("Excuse me", "Sorry", or "Sorry to interrupt").
3. Add one upgrade: a modal ("could you"), a softener ("just"), or a reason ("I didn’t catch that").

Movies and TV are perfect for this because you can replay the same micro-scene and copy the timing. Start with our best movies to learn English, then shadow one scene until your mouth produces the phrase without planning.

Quick cheat sheet: choose the right phrase fast

• Need space: "Excuse me" or "Sorry, just squeezing past."
• Need attention: "Excuse me, could you help me?"
• Interrupting: "Sorry to interrupt" or "Excuse me, can I jump in?"
• Didn’t hear: "Sorry?" or "Sorry, could you repeat that?"
• Minor mistake: "Sorry" or "My bad" (casual).
• Formal apology: "I apologize" or "I’m sorry about that."

If you want more practical phrase guides, browse the Wordy blog and learn phrases the way you actually hear them on screen.

Final note: what native speakers listen for

Native speakers often judge politeness less by the exact words and more by:

• Tone (soft vs sharp)
• Pacing (not cutting someone off aggressively)
• Repair (offering a fix after an apology)

That is why "Excuse me" can sound kind or rude depending on intonation. Train your ear with real dialogue, and your phrasing will start to match the situation automatically.