Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| извини́те | izviníte/izviní | |
| извини́ | izviníte/izviní | |
| прости́те | prostíte/prostí | |
| прости́ | prostíte/prostí | |
| прошу́ проще́ния | prošú proščénija | |
| извиня́юсь | izvinjájusʹ | informal |
| пардо́н | pardón | colloquial |
| со́рри | sórri | slang |
These expressions are used as apologies or to ask for pardon.
Which one should you use?
While both извини́те and прости́те mean 'excuse me' or 'forgive me', извини́те is more commonly used for minor social transgressions like bumping into someone, whereas прости́те carries a slightly heavier sense of asking for forgiveness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use извини́те to mean 'forgive me' or 'pardon me' or прости́те to say 'excuse me' or 'pardon me'. If you want to be extremely formal, use прошу́ проще́ния, which translates to 'I beg your pardon' or 'I ask for your forgiveness'. In informal settings, use извини́ with friends and peers. For very casual or lighthearted situations, you might hear the colloquial пардо́н or the slang со́рри, which is a loanword from English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form извини́те is the polite or plural imperative used when addressing a stranger or a superior. The form извини́ is the singular imperative used when addressing a friend, a child or someone you know well.
How do you pronounce it?
izviníte/izviní
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that извиня́юсь is often criticized by linguistic purists because it literally means 'I am excusing myself' rather than 'excuse me'. It is best to avoid this form in formal settings.
Did you know?
- The word извини́те comes from the root вина́, meaning 'guilt' or 'blame'. When you say this, you are literally asking someone to remove the guilt from you.
- In a crowded Russian metro, you will often hear извините used as a 'verbal plow' to move through a crowd. It functions more as a signal to move aside than a genuine apology.
- In Russian culture, an apology is often accompanied by a slight nod of the head, which can change the perceived sincerity of the spoken word извини́те.
Examples in context
- Извините, не могли бы вы помочь мне?Excuse me, could you help me, please?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
