Ways to say it
| Slovenian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oprosti | informal | |
| oprostite | /ɔprɔstíːtɛ/ | formal |
These terms are used to express regret, sorrow or to ask for forgiveness. While they can mean 'I'm sorry' to express regret, oprostite is most frequently used as 'excuse me' to initiate an interaction or to pass through a crowd.
What does it mean word for word?
The word oprosti literally means 'forgive' or 'excuse' in the imperative mood.
Which one should you use?
Oprostite is used to mean both 'I'm sorry' and 'excuse me'. In contrast, oprosti is the informal way to say 'I'm sorry'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Oprostite is the polite, formal version. Oprosti is the informal version.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form oprostite is used when addressing a person formally (using 'vi') or when addressing a group of people. The form oprosti is used when addressing a single person informally (using 'ti').
Did you know?
- The word oprostite is derived from the root prost, which means 'free'. To ask for forgiveness is literally to ask to be 'set free' from the guilt or the obligation of the mistake.
- While oprostite handles most apologies, Slovenians often use žal mi je to express genuine emotional sorrow or sympathy, similar to 'I am sorry' when someone has suffered a loss.
- In many Slavic-influenced contexts, using the imperative 'forgive me' is considered more sincere than a simple 'pardon'. It places the power of the social interaction entirely in the hands of the person being addressed.
Examples in context
- Spoštovana gospa Novak, oprostite, ker sem naredil napako v svojem poročilu.Respected Mrs. Novak, I'm sorry for making a mistake in my report.
- Oprosti, da sem pozabil tvoj rojstni dan.I'm sorry I forgot your birthday.
- Opraviči me, ker sem te prekinil med pogovorom.Excuse me for interrupting you during the conversation.
- Oprosti, ne bom zamudil.Sorry, I won't be late.
- Oprosti, pozabila sem na tvoj rojstni dan.Sorry, I forgot your birthday.
Example conversation
Ana accidentally spills some water on Luka's table.
- AnaOprosti, Luka! Vse sem polila.Sorry, Luka! I spilled everything.
- LukaNi problema, Ana. Pomagim ti.No problem, Ana. I'll help you.
- AnaRes mi je žal za to.I am really sorry for this.
- LukaV redu je, zdaj je vse suho.It's okay, everything is dry now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries oprostite, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
