pardon
/pɑrˈdɔn/
The Dutch phrase for "pardon me" is pardon.
pardon is a polite way to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor social slip, such as bumping into someone. You might use it when asking a question, as in Pardon, mag ik u even storen (Excuse me, may I bother you for a moment?).
Meaning: sorry, as an apology (phrase)
Which one should you use?
While pardon is used for minor social interruptions, the English loanword sorry is frequently used by Dutch speakers for more direct or personal apologies.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the English "pardon me", the Dutch pardon is often used as a standalone interjection without needing an object like "me".
How do you pronounce it?
/pɑrˈdɔn/
Did you know?
- If a Dutch speaker says Pardon? with a rising intonation, they are not apologizing but are asking you to repeat something they didn't hear.
- The Dutch pardon is a direct loan from French, following a long history of French influence on Dutch etiquette and formal vocabulary.
- While pardon is universal in the Netherlands, in some Flemish regions of Belgium, you may hear a stronger preference for French-influenced variations due to the bilingual nature of the area.
Examples in context
- Pardon, is die plaats bezet?Pardon me, is that seat taken?This sentence shows how to use pardon to ask if a seat is occupied.Tatoeba #1479935 by Citrine, translation #453419 by saasmath
- Pardon, hoe heet deze plaats?Pardon me, what's the name of this place?This sentence shows how to use pardon to ask for the name of a place.Tatoeba #8308572 by Elsofie, translation #2117552 by erikspen
- Pardon, ik wilde u niet storen.Pardon, I did not mean to disturb you.
Example conversation
Emma accidentally bumps into Lucas in a crowded hallway.
- EmmaOeps, pardon!Oops, pardon me!
- LucasGeeft niet, Emma.It doesn't matter, Emma.
- EmmaIk zag je niet staan.I didn't see you standing there.
- LucasGeen probleem, Lucas.No problem, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pardon me” translations and entries pardon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pardon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
