Need to apologize, get someone's attention, or politely interrupt in French? While "excusez-moi" is a classic, the world of French politeness and social interaction offers a rich tapestry of expressions for saying "excuse." Knowing these different nuances can make your French sound much more natural and help you navigate various situations with ease.

From formal apologies to casual interjections, mastering these phrases will greatly enhance your conversational skills. Let's dive into the many ways you can say "excuse" in French!

The noun 'excuse' – L'excuse

The noun “excuse” – L'excuse

L'excuse is the standard and most common word for “excuse” or “apology” in French.

As a feminine noun, you'll always use une with it in the singular, and des in the plural:une excuse - an excuse des excuses - excuses (or an apology, in plural context)

Primarily, une excuse refers to a reason given to justify an action or behavior, especially when it's considered wrong or inappropriate. It can also mean an apology.

You’ll frequently encounter phrases like:avoir une excuse (to have an excuse)donner une excuse (to give an excuse)chercher une excuse (to look for an excuse)

When it comes to apologizing, the plural form is often used:faire ses excuses (to apologize, literally "to make one's excuses")demander des excuses (to demand an apology)présenter ses excuses (to present one's apologies, a more formal way to apologize)

An excuse can be a perfectly valid reason for something, or it can be a flimsy justification. The context usually makes it clear.

While une excuse can be a false reason, the word un prétexte specifically refers to a pretext or a flimsy, often dishonest, excuse. L'excuse is more neutral and covers both valid and invalid reasons.

Knowing how to give or ask for excuses is fundamental for polite communication in French, whether you're explaining a delay or offering a sincere apology.

💡 * J'ai une bonne excuse pour mon retard. (I have a good excuse for my lateness.)* Il a fait ses excuses pour son comportement. (He apologized for his behavior.)* Elle n'a aucune excuse pour ce qu'elle a fait. (She has no excuse for what she did.)* Je te dois des excuses. (I owe you an apology.)* Ne cherche pas d'excuses. (Don't look for excuses.)

The common 'pardon' – Pardon

The word Pardon is one of the most versatile and frequently used French expressions, serving multiple purposes from an apology to a request for clarification.

Most commonly, Pardon is used to say 'excuse me' when you need to get someone's attention, pass through a crowd, or interrupt politely.

It also functions as a simple 'sorry' or 'I apologize' for minor offenses, like bumping into someone or making a small mistake.

If you didn't hear or understand what someone said, a quick Pardon? (often with an interrogative tone) is the polite way to ask them to repeat themselves, much like 'I beg your pardon?' or 'Come again?' in English.

While Excusez-moi is also used for 'excuse me,' Pardon often feels slightly more informal and can convey a broader range of meanings with just one word, making it incredibly useful in daily conversation.

Mastering the use of Pardon is a key step in sounding more natural and polite in French, as it's deeply ingrained in everyday interactions.

💡 * Pardon, je peux passer ? (Excuse me, can I pass?)

Oh, pardon ! J'ai pas fait exprès. (Oh, sorry! I didn't do it on purpose.)

Pardon ? Je n'ai pas bien entendu. (Pardon? I didn't hear properly.)

Pardon de vous déranger. (Pardon for disturbing you.)

Il a dit "pardon" après son éternuement. (He said "pardon" after his sneeze.)

Saying 'sorry' – Désolé(e)

When you want to express “sorry” in French, the most common and versatile word you’ll use is désolé(e).

Like many French adjectives, désolé changes its ending to agree with the gender of the person speaking. If you are male, you say désolé. If you are female, you say désolée.

Grammatically, désolé(e) functions as an adjective, meaning 'sorry' or 'apologetic'. You’ll almost always use it with the verb être (to be).

The standard way to say 'I am sorry' is Je suis désolé (for a male speaker) or Je suis désolée (for a female speaker).

To express that you are 'really sorry' or 'very sorry', you can add adverbs like vraiment (really) or très (very) before désolé(e), as in Je suis vraiment désolé(e).

For plural apologies: a group of males or mixed genders would say Nous sommes désolés. A group of females would say Nous sommes désolées.

This term is suitable for a wide range of situations, from minor inconveniences to more serious apologies, making it an essential phrase for French learners.

💡 * Je suis désolé, je n'ai pas vu le panneau. (I'm sorry, I didn't see the sign.)

Désolée, je ne peux pas venir ce soir. (Sorry, I can't come tonight.)

Nous sommes désolés pour le dérangement. (We are sorry for the inconvenience.)

Oh, je suis vraiment désolé(e) ! (Oh, I'm really sorry!)

Il était désolé d'avoir oublié son anniversaire. (He was sorry he forgot her birthday.)

The 'pretext' or 'false excuse' – Le prétexte

Le prétexte translates to "the pretext" or "the false excuse" in English. It refers to a reason given to justify an action, often with the implication that the reason is not the real one.

Unlike a simple 'reason' (une raison), un prétexte almost always carries a connotation of dishonesty, evasion, or a hidden motive. It's a superficial explanation used to conceal the truth.

Prétexte is a masculine noun. It is frequently used with verbs like donner un prétexte (to give a pretext) or chercher un prétexte (to look for an excuse).

💡 * Il a utilisé un faux prétexte pour ne pas venir à la réunion. (He used a false pretext not to come to the meeting.)

Je cherche un prétexte pour partir tôt. (I'm looking for an excuse to leave early.)

Son mal de tête n'était qu'un prétexte. (His headache was just a pretext.)

Ne me donne pas de prétextes ! (Don't give me excuses!)

Sous prétexte de fatigue, il a annulé la sortie. (Under the pretext of tiredness, he cancelled the outing.)

The 'explanation' as an excuse – L'explication

While l'explication literally means 'the explanation,' in certain contexts, it takes on the nuance of 'the excuse' or 'the justification' for a mistake or absence.

This usage often implies a slightly negative or critical tone, suggesting that the explanation offered might be weak, fabricated, or an attempt to avoid responsibility.

You'll frequently hear it when someone is demanding a reason for something undesirable, or when someone is trying to downplay their fault. It's less about genuine understanding and more about accountability.

It's important to distinguish this from a simple request for information. When used as 'the excuse,' it often comes after a fault or a failure to meet expectations, rather than a neutral inquiry.

When you hear 'C'est quoi l'explication?' in a pointed tone, be aware that the speaker might be looking for an admission of fault, not just a factual account. It implies skepticism towards the forthcoming 'reason'.

💡 * C'est quoi ton explication pour être en retard encore une fois ? (What's your excuse for being late again?)

J'attends toujours ton explication pour ce désordre. (I'm still waiting for your explanation/excuse for this mess.)

Ne me sors pas une explication bidon ! (Don't give me a lame excuse!)

Il n'y a pas d'explication possible pour un tel comportement. (There's no possible excuse for such behavior.)

Son explication n'a convaincu personne. (His explanation/excuse didn't convince anyone.)

The 'justification' – La justification

In French, the noun la justification directly translates to "the justification" or "the reason/proof" for something. It refers to the act of explaining or proving why an action was taken, or why a statement is true.

In daily conversation, la justification is used when someone needs to provide a reason or an explanation for their behavior, a decision, or a claim. It implies a need to make something understandable or acceptable, often in response to a question or doubt.

Beyond simple explanations, la justification frequently appears in formal or administrative contexts. Here, it often refers to actual documents or evidence that support a claim, such as a doctor's note for an absence (une justification d'absence) or receipts for expenses (une justification de dépenses).

While often a direct translation of "justification," the French la justification can carry a slightly more formal or evidentiary weight than its English counterpart. It's less often used for purely philosophical or abstract 'justifications' and more for concrete reasons or proofs. Be mindful of this nuance when choosing your words.

💡 *Il a donné une bonne justification pour son retard. (He gave a good justification for his lateness.)
*Nous attendons la justification de vos dépenses. (We are awaiting the justification for your expenses.)
*Quelle est la justification de cette décision ? (What is the justification for this decision?)
*Je n'ai pas de justification à fournir. (I have no justification to provide.)

To 'apologize' or 'excuse oneself' – S'excuser

The verb s'excuser is the primary way to express 'to apologize' or 'to excuse oneself' in French. It is a reflexive verb, meaning it always requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that agrees with the subject.

As a reflexive verb, s'excuser conjugates with the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses (like the passé composé). For example, 'I apologized' becomes Je me suis excusé(e), and 'You apologized' is Tu t'es excusé(e).

While often translated as 'to apologize,' s'excuser also means 'to excuse oneself' in various contexts. This can be for leaving a place, for not being able to attend an event, or simply to make an excuse for something. It carries the nuance of asking for forgiveness or permission to be excused.

💡 * Je suis vraiment désolé, je dois m'excuser pour mon retard. (I'm really sorry, I must apologize for my lateness.)

Elle s'est excusée d'avoir oublié notre rendez-vous. (She apologized for having forgotten our appointment.)

Pourriez-vous m'excuser un instant ? Je dois prendre cet appel. (Could you excuse me for a moment? I need to take this call.)

Nous nous sommes excusés auprès du professeur pour notre comportement. (We apologized to the teacher for our behavior.)

Il s'est excusé de ne pas pouvoir venir à la fête. (He excused himself for not being able to come to the party.)

The standard 'excuse me' – Excusez-moi

The standard 'excuse me' – Excusez-moi

Excusez-moi is the most common and versatile way to say 'excuse me' in French. It's used to apologize for minor infringements, to get someone's attention, or to ask to pass.

This form uses the 'vous' conjugation, making it appropriate for formal situations, addressing multiple people, or when you don't know the person well. It conveys politeness and respect.

For informal contexts or when speaking to a single person you know well, you would use the 'tu' form: Excuse-moi.

💡 * Excusez-moi, je peux passer? (Excuse me, may I pass?)

Excusez-moi, vous avez l'heure? (Excuse me, do you have the time?)

Excusez-moi de vous déranger. (Excuse me for disturbing you.)

Excusez-moi, c'est mon sac. (Excuse me, that's my bag.)

The formal 'please excuse me' – Veuillez m'excuser

To say 'please excuse me' in a formal context in French, the most appropriate phrase is Veuillez m'excuser.

This phrase literally translates to 'Please excuse me'. It combines Veuillez, the formal imperative form of the verb vouloir (to want), used here to mean 'please', and m'excuser, which is the reflexive verb s'excuser (to excuse oneself) conjugated for 'me'.

You would typically use Veuillez m'excuser when you need to politely interrupt someone, get their attention in a formal setting, or pass through a crowded space. It conveys a high level of respect and politeness.

It is also used to formally apologize for a minor inconvenience, a small mistake, or when you need to leave a situation politely. For instance, if you accidentally bump into someone or need to exit a meeting early.

While Excusez-moi is a common and versatile way to say 'excuse me', and Pardon is even more casual, Veuillez m'excuser elevates the level of formality and deference. It's reserved for situations requiring utmost politeness, such as addressing a superior, a public official, or in written correspondence.

💡 *Veuillez m'excuser, je dois vous interrompre un instant. (Please excuse me, I must interrupt you for a moment.)
*Veuillez m'excuser pour ce léger retard. (Please excuse me for this slight delay.)
*Veuillez m'excuser, puis-je passer? (Please excuse me, may I pass?)
*Veuillez m'excuser, mais je ne suis pas d'accord avec ce point. (Please excuse me, but I do not agree with this point.)
*Veuillez m'excuser de ne pas avoir répondu plus tôt. (Please excuse me for not having replied sooner.)

Are there other ways to say 'excuse' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'excuse' or 'apology' in French. However, the nuances of expressing regret, seeking understanding, or even dismissing something can be quite rich, with regional variations, formal expressions, and informal slang terms.

To delve deeper, you could try an online search for phrases like 'synonymes d'excuse en français' or 'comment s'excuser en [pays francophone]' to explore regional or more specific expressions.

When you encounter new ways to express 'excuse' or 'apology,' always verify their meaning and observe how native speakers use them in different contexts before incorporating them into your own speech.

As you immerse yourself in French media — books, films, podcasts, and conversations — pay close attention to the subtle ways people apologize, justify, or dismiss things. You'll likely pick up on a broader range of expressions.

For a comprehensive look at the various meanings and uses of 'excuse' and related terms, the WordReference entry for excuse is an excellent starting point, offering a wealth of examples and nuances.

I hope this article has clarified the many ways to say 'excuse' in French. To conclude, here's a thought that highlights the value of taking responsibility: S'excuser, c'est se grandir. (To apologize is to grow.)

9 ways to say "excuse" in French