przepraszam
/pʂɛˈpra.ʂam/
przepraszam is the Polish way to say 'I'm sorry'.
przepraszam is the most common and universally acceptable way to say 'I'm sorry' in Polish. It is used both to apologize for a mistake and to politely get someone's attention. If you wish to express a deeper sense of regret or convey that you genuinely feel sorry for something, you might use the expression Przykro mi.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is the first-person singular present tense of the verb przepraszać, which literally means 'to beg pardon' or 'to ask for forgiveness'.
Which one should you use?
While przepraszam is the standard apology, you can add serdecznie before it to create Serdecznie przepraszam, which conveys a sincere and heartfelt apology. For a more casual alternative, Sorki is a popular shorthand form used mainly in spoken language.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to apologize for a specific thing, use the pattern przepraszam za… followed by the noun in 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?
- The casual sorki is a direct loanword from the English 'sorry' that has been adapted to Polish phonetics and grammar.
- In Poland, saying przepraszam while passing through a crowded area is often accompanied by a slight nod of the head, but touching a stranger's shoulder to get their attention is generally avoided.
- If you bump into someone in a crowded Polish bus, saying przepraszam is often more of a functional tool to navigate space than a genuine admission of guilt.
Examples in context
- Przepraszam za spóźnienie.I am sorry for being late.
- Przepraszam, czy może pan pomóc?Excuse me, can you help me?
- Bardzo przepraszam za ten błąd.I am very sorry for this mistake.
Example conversation
Piotr accidentally bumps into Anna in a crowded hallway.
- AnnaOjej, uważaj!Oh, watch out!
- PiotrPrzepraszam, nie zauważyłem cię.I am sorry, I didn't see you.
- AnnaNic nie szkodzi.It doesn't matter.
- PiotrDziękuję, Anna.Thank you, Anna.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry przepraszam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
