Cool MateBeg pardon vs Excuse me vs Pardon vs Sorry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Beg pardon
Excuse me
Pardon
Sorry
| Beg pardon | Excuse me | Pardon | Sorry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bɛg ˈpɑːdn//🇺🇸 //bɛg ˈpɑːrdən// | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑː.dən//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. | To excuse someone for something they did wrong. | A word used to express regret or apology. |
| Example | I beg pardon, could you repeat that? | Excuse me, could you please help me? | Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? | I'm really sorry for the mistake I made. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |||
| Collocations | beg pardon for, beg pardon politely, beg pardon in conversation | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? | pardon me, pardon my interruption, pardon my mistake | 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 | blame, condemn, punish | happy, unapologetic |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'pardon me', which is more casual., Overusing in informal contexts., Not using it at all when needing to interrupt. | Using 'excuse me' in a rude way, Saying 'excuse me' too loudly in quiet places, Not using it when walking past someone | Confused with 'forgive' - 'pardon' is more formal., Used inappropriately in casual conversations., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'pardon?' without context. | 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 'beg pardon' in formal settings or when being polite. It may sound outdated in casual conversation. | 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 'pardon' in formal situations or when asking for forgiveness. Less common in casual settings. | 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: Beg pardon vs Excuse me vs Pardon vs Sorry
What's the difference between Beg pardon, Excuse me, Pardon, and Sorry?
Beg pardon: Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. Pardon: To excuse someone for something they did wrong. Sorry: A word used to express regret or apology.
Which is more formal: Beg pardon, Excuse me, Pardon, and Sorry?
Beg pardon is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Beg pardon: I beg pardon, could you repeat that? Excuse me: Excuse me, could you please help me? Pardon: Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? Sorry: I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.
Can I use Beg pardon, Excuse me, Pardon, and Sorry interchangeably?
Not always. Beg pardon, Excuse me, Pardon, 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.