ببخشید
bibaxšēd/ˈbi.bax.ʃeːd/
The Persian phrase for "excuse me" is ببخشید (bibaxšēd).
ببخشید is a common way to say "excuse me" or "sorry." It is used both to grab someone's attention and to apologize for a minor social transgression or an interruption.
Meaning: sorry, as apology (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ببخشید is the imperative mood used for the second-person plural or the polite second-person singular, meaning "forgive (plural/polite)."
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbi.bax.ʃeːd/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable. The romanization is bibaxšēd.
Did you know?
- If you accidentally bump into someone, simply saying ببخشید is polite, but adding ببخشید، شرمنده (bibaxšid, šarmande) means 'Excuse me, I am ashamed', which is a very common way to show deep regret.
- The root of ببخشید comes from the verb بخشیدن, which means both 'to forgive' and 'to give or bestow'. In Persian, forgiving someone is conceptually viewed as giving them a gift of mercy.
- In many Iranian social settings, saying ببخشید is often accompanied by a slight tilt of the head or a small hand gesture toward the chest to signal sincerity.
Examples in context
- الآن، لطفاً مرا ببخشید.Now, please excuse me.This sentence is useful for seeing how to ask someone to excuse you politely.Tatoeba #11120066 by sinakd, translation #3563807 by CK
- ببخشید، شما انگلیسی صحبت می کنید؟ – بعله. یکم."Excuse me, do you speak English?" "Yes. A little."This sentence shows how to use the phrase to get someone's attention before asking a question.Tatoeba #4293697 by deadmarshal, translation #4293267 by Adelpa
- ببخشید.Excuse me.This sentence provides a simple, direct use of the phrase.Tatoeba #667786 by pliiganto, translation #433504 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Reza accidentally bumps into Sara in a store.
- رضا Rezaببخشید، من ندیدم شما را.Bebakhshid, man nadidam shoma ra.Excuse me, I didn't see you.
- سارا Saraاشکالی ندارد، اتفاقی بود.Eshkali nadarad, ettefaghi bud.It's okay, it was an accident.
- رضا Rezaباز هم ببخشید.Baz ham bebakhshid.Sorry again.
- سارا Saraخواهش میکنم، مشکلی نیست.Khahesh mikonam, moshkeli nist.You're welcome, it's no problem.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ببخشید, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
