Which one should you use?
While pardon is a direct apology for a mistake, the phrases excuse-moi or excusez-moi are more commonly used to get someone's attention or to ask someone to move out of the way.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, Canada, it is common to hear pardon used in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative form pardonne-moi is used when speaking to a child or someone you know well. The imperative form pardonnez-moi is used when speaking to a group of people, a superior or a stranger.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use pardon as a standalone interjection to mean 'excuse me' when passing through a crowd. However, in French, pardon is more strictly an apology for a fault, whereas excusez-moi is better suited for requesting passage.
Did you know?
- Using the rising intonation with Pardon ? can sometimes sound like you are challenging the person's statement rather than simply being unable to hear them.
- The French concept of le pardon is deeply tied to the religious act of absolution in the Catholic Church, giving the word a more solemn history than its English counterpart.
- If you accidentally step on someone's foot, pardon is a quick apology, but using the full je vous demande pardon adds a level of old-fashioned, elegant politeness.
Examples in context
- Je vous demande pardon.Pardon me?This sentence shows how to use pardon in a request for forgiveness.Tatoeba #514782 by Micsmithel, translation #31477 by CK
- Pardonne-moi de dire ça.Pardon me for saying so.This sentence shows how to use pardon when apologizing for a specific action.Tatoeba #911459 by sacredceltic, translation #41345 by CK
- Pardonne-moi s'il te plaît.Pardon me, please.This sentence shows how to use pardon with a polite addition.Tatoeba #12784 by mouche, translation #599210 by Dejo
- Excusez-moi de vous déranger, mais…Excuse me for bothering you, but…
- Je suis désolé(e), j'ai oublié votre nomI am sorry, I forgot your name
- Excuse-moi, je ne t'avais pas vu(e)Excuse me, I didn't see you
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma accidentally bumps into Nathan in a crowded hallway.
- EmmaOh, pardon !Oh, pardon me!
- NathanCe n'est pas grave.It's no big deal.
- EmmaJe suis désolée, Nathan.I am sorry, Nathan.
- NathanNe t'inquiète pas, Emma.Don't worry, Emma.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pardon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
