excuser
/ɛk.sky.ze/
The English phrase "excuse" can be translated into French using the verbs excuser or pardonner.
Meaning: forgive, pardon (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| excuser | /ɛk.sky.ze/ /ɛs.ky.ze/ (colloquial) |
| pardonner | /paʁ.dɔ.ne/ |
The verb excuser is used to forgive a person or an action, particularly in the context of social transgressions or minor faults. It is commonly used in polite social formulas, such as asking to be excused from a room or apologizing for a minor inconvenience like being late. Related nouns like prétexte or excuse can also refer to an explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement.
Which one should you use?
While both verbs mean to forgive, excuser is often used for social transgressions or minor faults, whereas pardonner is deeper and more formal, often used for serious offenses or moral forgiveness.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ɛk.sky.ze/ and has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'excuse me' for almost everything, a French speaker might say pardon to get past someone in a crowd or excusez-moi to start a conversation with a stranger.
- The word excuser was borrowed from the Latin excūsāre, which originally carried the sense of 'making an excuse' or 'providing a pretext'.
- In French, the phrase je vous demande pardon is a formal way to apologize that literally means 'I ask your pardon', which is far more insistent than a simple 'sorry'.
Examples in context
- Je ne peux pas l'excuser.I cannot excuse her.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of excuser in the context of being unable to excuse someone.Tatoeba #127832 by sacredceltic, translation #261352 by CM
- Veuillez excuser mon retard.Please excuse my being late.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of excuser when apologizing for a delay.Tatoeba #583147 by sacredceltic, translation #277377 by CK
- Veuillez m'excuser un moment.Excuse me for a moment.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of excuser when asking to be excused for a moment.Tatoeba #3640584 by sacredceltic, translation #3636199 by CK
- Excusez-moi de vous déranger, mais auriez-vous un instant ?Excuse me for bothering you, but do you have a moment?
- Désolé d'être en retard !Sorry for being late!
- Je m'excuse pour mon comportement.I apologize for my behavior.
- S'cuse, t'as un instant ?Excuse me, do you have a moment?
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas forgot to call Léa back.
- LucasLéa, s'il te plaît, peux-tu m'excuser ?Léa, please, can you excuse me?
- LéaPourquoi devrais-je t'excuser ?Why should I excuse you?
- LucasJ'ai oublié de t'appeler hier soir.I forgot to call you last night.
- LéaD'accord, je veux bien t'excuser.Alright, I am willing to excuse you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse” translations and entries excuser, pardonner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries excuser, pardonner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
