Ways to say it
| Czech | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| promiň | [ˈpromɪɲ] (narrow) | informal, singular |
| pardon | [ˈpardon] (narrow) | |
| promiňte | [ˈpromɪɲtɛ] (narrow) | formal, plural, singular |
The primary way to express regret or sorrow is through the verb forms promiň or promiňte. You can also use the word pardon as a quick, polite way to apologize for a minor physical bump in a crowd or to ask someone to repeat something they said. If you want to be even more formal and say "I apologize," you can use the phrase Omlouvám se.
Which one should you use?
promiň is the singular, informal form used for one person you know well, such as a friend or family member. promiňte is the formal form used for strangers, elders or when addressing a group of people (plural). pardon functions as a shorter, polite interjection for minor social slips or requests for repetition.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use promiň in informal situations with friends and peers. Use promiňte in formal situations when speaking to strangers or people of higher authority.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When apologizing for a specific action, you can add the pronoun mi (to me) to the verb, such as in the phrase promiň mi to (forgive me for it).
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to use "excuse me" to get a stranger's attention, do not use the informal promiň, as it is too casual. Instead, use the formal promiňte.
Did you know?
- The word promiň is derived from the root mít meaning 'to have' or 'to hold', suggesting the act of letting go of a grudge.
- While English uses 'sorry' for both apologies and expressions of sympathy, Czech often uses different phrases for the latter, as promiň implies a personal fault.
- The phrase promiňte literally means 'forgive', shifting the focus of the apology from the speaker's regret to the listener's act of granting forgiveness.
Examples in context
- Promiňte, ale neznám vás.I'm sorry, but I don't know you.This example shows how to use the formal promiňte to express that you do not know someone.Tatoeba #13863766 by Ergulis, translation #13863767 by Ergulis
- Promiň, že ti píši až teď.I am sorry for not being able to write you earlier.This example demonstrates using the informal promiň to apologize for a delay in writing.Tatoeba #9041148 by Ergulis, translation #9041146 by Ergulis
- Promiňte, špatně vás slyším.I'm sorry, but I can't hear you well.This example uses the formal promiňte to apologize for a difficulty in hearing someone.Tatoeba #10082396 by aldar, translation #56377 by CK
- Promiňte, že jsem přišel pozdě.Excuse me for being late.
- Omlouvám se za nedorozumění.I apologize for the misunderstanding.
- Promiň, že jsem ti nezavolal.Sorry I didn't call you.
- Omlouvám se, že jsem ti ublížil.I apologize for hurting you.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukáš accidentally stepped on Lucie's foot.
- LukášPromiň, Lucie, neviděl jsem tě.Sorry, Lucie, I didn't see you.
- LucieTo nic nenI, je to v pořádku.It's nothing, it's okay.
- LukášOpravdu mi to je líto.I am really sorry.
- LucieUž je to dobré, nevadí.It's fine now, it doesn't matter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries promiň, pardon, promiňte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries promiňte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
