Cool MateBegging your pardon vs Excuse me vs Pardon me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Begging your pardon
Excuse me
Pardon me
| Begging your pardon | Excuse me | Pardon me | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbɛɡɪŋ jɔːr ˈpɑːdn//🇺🇸 //ˈbɛɡɪŋ jʊr ˈpɑrdən// | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑːdən miː//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən mi// |
| Meaning | A polite way to ask someone to repeat something. | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. | Excuse me |
| Example | I didn't hear you clearly; begging your pardon, could you repeat that? | Excuse me, could you please help me? | Pardon me, could you please repeat that? |
| Register | Formal | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | begging your pardon, pardon me, excuse me | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? | pardon my interruption, pardon my dust, pardon my mistakes |
| Antonyms | - | ignore me, overlook, disregard | - |
| Common mistakes | Used in an informal setting where 'sorry' is more appropriate., Not followed by clarification or repetition of the misunderstood phrase., Assuming everyone understands this phrase; it may be unfamiliar to non-native speakers. | Using 'excuse me' in a rude way, Saying 'excuse me' too loudly in quiet places, Not using it when walking past someone | 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. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts to show respect or when you did not hear or understand something. It may sound overly formal in casual conversations. | 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. | 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. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Begging your pardon vs Excuse me vs Pardon me
What's the difference between Begging your pardon, Excuse me, and Pardon me?
Begging your pardon: A polite way to ask someone to repeat something. Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. Pardon me: Excuse me
Which is more common: Begging your pardon, Excuse me, and Pardon me?
Excuse me is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Begging your pardon: I didn't hear you clearly; begging your pardon, could you repeat that? Excuse me: Excuse me, could you please help me? Pardon me: Pardon me, could you please repeat that?
Can I use Begging your pardon, Excuse me, and Pardon me interchangeably?
Not always. Begging your pardon, Excuse me, and Pardon me 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.