Ways to say it
| Serbian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| oprostite | /oprǒstite/ | Latin | |
| извините | Cyrillic, formal | ||
| извини | izvini | /izʋini/ | Cyrillic, informal |
| опростите | Cyrillic | ||
| izvinite | Latin, formal | ||
| izvini | Latin, informal |
These terms are used to say sorry, as apology (noun).
Which one should you use?
The form izvinite is used for a minor "excuse me," whereas oprostite carries a slightly heavier weight, functioning more as "forgive me" or "I beg your pardon."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To address strangers, elders or individuals in professional settings, use the formal forms извините or izvinite. For friends, family or people younger than you, use the informal forms извини or izvini.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Serbia, people may use Oprosti instead of Izvini in informal situations. In regions where people also speak Croatian or Bosnian, you can use Oprostite instead of Izvinite in formal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form izvinite is the second-person plural/formal imperative, which is used when addressing either a group of people or a single person in a formal context. The form izvini is the second-person singular imperative, used for a single person in an informal context.
How do you pronounce it?
/oprǒstite/
Did you know?
- While izvinite is used for minor slips, the root izvin is historically linked to the idea of 'winding' or 'unwinding' oneself from a mistake.
- The word oprostite shares a deep linguistic root with the word for 'release' or 'let go', treating a mistake as something the other person must physically let go of.
- In certain dialects and regional variations across the Balkans, the choice between these words can actually act as a linguistic marker for which country's standard language you are closer to.
Examples in context
- Извини, је л' ово твоје?Excuse me, is this yours?This sentence uses извини.Tatoeba #8862197 by Lebad, translation #8808786 by sundown
- Izvinite, ko je ova žena?Excuse me, who is this woman?This sentence uses izvinite.Tatoeba #488807 by Lebad, translation #393492 by Mouseneb
- Извини, да ли ово припада теби?Excuse me, does this belong to you?Tatoeba #8862199 by Lebad, translation #8808785 by sundown
- Izvinite, možete li mi reći kako doći do autobuske stanice?Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the bus station?
- Izvinite na kašnjenjuExcuse me for being late
- Izvinite, da li mi možete pokazati put do trga?Excuse me, can you show me the way to the square?
- Izvini, ali moram da te prekinem na trenutakExcuse me, but I need to interrupt you for a moment
- Izvini, mogu li proći?Excuse me, can I pass through?
- Izvini, da li mi možeš posuditi olovku?Excuse me, can you lend me a pen?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Stefan accidentally bumps into Milica on the street.
- MilicaOprostite, nisam vas video.Excuse me, I didn't see you.
- StefanU redu je, nema problema.It's okay, no problem.
- MilicaJoš jednom oprostite zbog toga.Excuse me once more for that.
- StefanSve je u redu, Milice.Everything is fine, Milica.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations and entries oprostite, извини, izvinite, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
