Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| affedersiniz | /affedeɾsiniz/ (from spelling rules) | formal |
| pardon | /ˈpaɾ.don/ | |
| özür dilerim | /øzyɾ dileɾim/ (from spelling rules) | |
| affedersin | /affedeɾsin/ (from spelling rules) | informal |
Use affedersiniz or pardon to get someone's attention or to apologize for minor social slips, such as bumping into someone. If you want to express a sincere apology for a mistake you have made, use özür dilerim (I apologize).
Which one should you use?
While affedersiniz and pardon are used to get attention or for small social slips, özür dilerim is specifically used to express a sincere apology for a mistake. Additionally, mazur görün serves as a formal alternative that translates to 'please excuse me.'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Affedersiniz is the standard formal way to say 'excuse me'. You can use the informal affedersin with friends, family or people younger than you. Pardon is a common, quick way to get attention or apologize briefly and özür dilerim can be used in informal settings to say 'I apologize'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal form affedersin is used with friends, family or people younger than you, whereas the polite/formal version is affedersiniz.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of affedersiniz is /affedeɾsiniz/. The [f] is like the [f] in food, the [ɾ] is like the American English [t] in atom, the [s] is like the [s] in send, the [i] is like the [ee] in creek, the [n] is like the [n] in not and the [z] is like the [z] in zone.
Did you know?
- The word pardon entered the Turkish language via the French word 'pardon' during the Ottoman era.
- The word özür can also be used in the phrase özür dilemek, which literally means 'to wish for an excuse'.
- Turkish distinguishes between pardon for a social slip and özür dilerim for a moral mistake, which English often collapses into 'sorry'.
Examples in context
- Affedersiniz, bu ne kadar?Excuse me, how much is it?This sentence shows how to use affedersin to ask for a price.Tatoeba #3523088 by deyta, translation #3216095 by Dreamk33
- Affedersiniz, bu kaç para?Excuse me, how much is this?Tatoeba #3868225 by maydoo, translation #3847206 by CK
- Affedersiniz, bu kadın kim?Excuse me, who is this woman?This sentence shows how to use affedersin to ask for an identity.Tatoeba #488806 by deyta, translation #393492 by Mouseneb
- Affedersiniz, sizi rahatsız etmek istemem ama acil bir sorum olacak.Excuse me, I don't want to bother you, but I have an urgent question.
- Mazur görün, geç kaldığım için özür dilerim.Please excuse me, I apologize for being late.
- 201 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve accidentally bumps into Can at a library.
- MerveAffedersiniz, sizi görmedim.Excuse me, I didn't see you.
- CanSorun değil, olabilir.No problem, it happens.
- MerveÇok üzgünüm, affedersiniz.I am very sorry, excuse me.
- CanÖnemli değil, Merve Hanım.It's not important, Ms. Merve.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations and entries affedersiniz, pardon, affedersin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries affedersin, pardon, özür, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
