Przepraszam
/pʂɛˈpra.ʂam/
Przepraszam is the Polish way to say "i am sorry".
Przepraszam is used as an expression to apologize for a mistake or to politely get someone's attention. If you wish to express sympathy or regret about a situation, such as saying "I am sorry to hear that", you should use przykro mi instead of przepraszam.
What does it mean word for word?
The word przepraszam is a first-person singular verb that literally means "I beg forgiveness".
How does it change in a sentence?
When apologizing for a specific thing, use the preposition za followed by the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable. The IPA is /pʂɛˈpra.ʂam/.
Did you know?
- While przepraszam is used for apologies, the word wybacz is used for a deeper, more emotional 'forgive me', which carries a weight closer to a spiritual or lifelong plea.
- When someone says przepraszam to get your attention, the common response is not 'you are welcome', but rather słucham, which means 'I am listening'.
- The word prosić (to ask/beg) is also found in the Polish word for 'please', which is proszę. This reveals that many polite requests in Polish share a common linguistic ancestry of 'asking' or 'requesting'.
Examples in context
- Przepraszam za to, co zrobiłem.I am sorry for what I did.This sentence is useful for practicing how to use Przepraszam when apologizing for an action.Tatoeba #1348813 by Ollie1337, translation #620127 by ulyssemc1
- Przepraszam, czy to miejsce jest wolne?Excuse me, is this seat free?
- Przepraszam za spóźnienie.I am sorry for being late.
Example conversation
Małgorzata accidentally bumps into Piotr in a crowded store.
- MałgorzataPrzepraszam, nie zauważyłam pana.I am sorry, I didn't notice you.
- PiotrNic się nie stało.It's nothing.
- MałgorzataCzy nic panu nie spadło?Did you drop anything?
- PiotrNie, wszystko jest w porządku.No, everything is fine.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry przepraszam.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
