Cool MateExcuse me vs My apologies vs Pardon me vs Sorry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excuse me
Top 1,000 (very common)
My apologies
Top 2,000 (common)
Pardon me
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Sorry
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most formal: Pardon me
| Excuse me | My apologies | Pardon me | Sorry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //maɪ əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //maɪ əˈpɑlədʒiz// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑːdən miː//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən mi// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. | I'm sorry. | Excuse me | A word used to express regret or apology. |
| Example | Excuse me, could you please help me? | My apologies for the mistake. | Pardon me, could you please repeat that? | I'm really sorry for the mistake I made. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |||
| Collocations | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? | extend my apologies, offer my apologies, express my apologies | pardon my interruption, pardon my dust, pardon my mistakes | be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something), be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something), be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something) |
| Antonyms | ignore me, overlook, disregard | No apology, Unapologetic, No regrets | - | happy, unapologetic |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excuse me' in a rude way, Saying 'excuse me' too loudly in quiet places, Not using it when walking past someone | Confused with 'my excuse' which has a different meaning., Used too casually in formal settings. | Used incorrectly in casual situations, where 'excuse me' is more appropriate., Mispronounced or said too quickly, losing clarity., Omitting 'please' when seeking favor or attention. | Using 'sorry' when it's not needed, making it seem insincere., Confusing 'sorry' with 'I'm sorry' — they can be used interchangeably, but 'I'm sorry' can sound more formal., Not using 'sorry' in situations where an apology is expected. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when you need to interrupt or ask for help politely. It's appropriate in most situations but avoid using it in very formal contexts. | Use this phrase to express regret; appropriate in most situations but more common in written or formal contexts. | Used to politely ask someone to repeat or to get attention. Formal context, often used when someone is interrupting or needs to ask for clarification. | Use 'sorry' to apologize in casual and formal situations. It’s polite in conversations if you've made a mistake. Avoid overusing it in professional settings where you need to be more specific about the issue. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excuse me vs My apologies vs Pardon me vs Sorry
What's the difference between Excuse me, My apologies, Pardon me, and Sorry?
Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. My apologies: I'm sorry. Pardon me: Excuse me Sorry: A word used to express regret or apology.
Which is more formal: Excuse me, My apologies, Pardon me, and Sorry?
Pardon me is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Excuse me: Excuse me, could you please help me? My apologies: My apologies for the mistake. Pardon me: Pardon me, could you please repeat that? Sorry: I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.
Can I use Excuse me, My apologies, Pardon me, and Sorry interchangeably?
Not always. Excuse me, My apologies, Pardon me, and Sorry are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.