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The French word "Excusez-moi" explained

Ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know about the basic word "Excusez-moi"? This include a complete definition of what it is and how you can use it in everyday life with an audio example. Plus, we also added some useful informations like synonym, dialogue example, slow pronunciation audio and more!

French to English translation

• 

  Translation : Excuse me

• 

  Register : Formal - Basic

Pronunciation

Slow

Normal

• 

  IPA : / ɛkskyzemwa /

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Excusez-moi meaning

Definition

It literally means:

• Excusez → Excuse
• moi→ me

"Excusez-moi" is a common way to express "Excuse me" in French. It's useful to express apologies in formal contexts or when talking to a stranger.

How to use it

Just like in English, "excusez-moi" (excuse me) is typically used when talking to a stranger in the street, few examples:

1. Excusez-moi Monsieur → Excuse me sir
2. Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous me donner l'heure s'il vous plaît ? → Excuse me, can you please tell me the time?
3. Excusez-moi de vous déranger... → Sorry to bother you...
4. etc.

But it can also be used to apologize in every other informal situation, to express "I am sory":

• Vous m'avez fait mal ! → You hurt me!
• Excusez-moi, je ne l'ai pas fait exprès → I am sorry, I didn't do it on purpose

Finally, when you need to express apologies in informal contexts, you can use instead: "Excuse-moi" (Excuse-me), "Désolé" (Sorry) or "Pardon" (Pardon).

Synonyms

• Excuse-moi → Excuse me
• Je m'excuse → I apologize
• Désolé → Sorry
• Pardon → Sorry
• Toutes mes excuses → All my excuses/apologies (Formal)

Example in a dialogue with audio

Dialogue

Attention ! Vous marchez sur mes chaussures !

Be careful! You walk on my shoes!

Excusez-moi

Excuse me

Pas de problème

No problem