What does it mean word for word?
The word Verzeihung literally means 'forgiveness'.
Which one should you use?
While Verzeihung is a valid way to say 'pardon me', the word Entschuldigung is the much more common, neutral way to say 'excuse me' in everyday German. Additionally, Verzeihung carries a slightly more formal or weightier tone of 'forgiveness' compared to the more casual Entschuldigung.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal situations, you can use Verzeihung interchangeably with Entschuldigen Sie bitte. For an informal way to say "Pardon me", you can use Entschuldige bitte, or even the English loanword Sorry, which is common in informal settings among Germans.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to use the verb form to say "pardon me" or "forgive me" formally, you use the phrase Verzeihen Sie mir.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛɐ̯ˈtsaɪ̯ʊŋ/
Did you know?
- The word Entschuldigung literally means 'de-guilting' or 'removing the guilt' from someone.
- Unlike English where 'pardon' can be a request to repeat a word, Germans rarely use Verzeihung for this and instead use Wie bitte?
- While Verzeihung is a way to apologize, it can also be used as a single-word exclamation to express disbelief or shock, much like saying 'Pardon me!' in English when someone says something outrageous.
Examples in context
- Verzeihung, sprechen Sie Englisch?Pardon me, do you speak English?This example shows how to use Verzeihung to politely ask if someone speaks English.Tatoeba #712495 by Esperantostern, translation #456591 by lukaszpp
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte, darf ich kurz etwas fragen?Excuse me, may I ask something quickly?
- Verzeihung, hat diese Sitzung bereits begonnen?Pardon me, has this meeting already started?
- Entschuldige bitte, ich habe deinen Kaffee umgestoßen.Pardon me, I spilled your coffee.
- Sorry, hast du einen Moment Zeit?Sorry, do you have a moment?
- Verzeihung, ich bin zu spät.Pardon me, I am late.
- Bitte, Verzeihung für das Missverständnis.Please, pardon me for the misunderstanding.
Example conversation
Laura accidentally bumps into Julian in a hallway.
- LauraVerzeihung, Julian! Das war keine Absicht.Pardon me, Julian! That wasn't on purpose.
- JulianKein Problem, Laura. Das macht nichts.No problem, Laura. It doesn't matter.
- LauraGeht es dir gut?Are you doing okay?
- JulianJa, alles bestens. Danke.Yes, everything is fine. Thanks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Verzeihung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
