Cool MateBeg pardon vs Forgive me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Beg pardon
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Forgive me
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Beg pardonMost common: Forgive me
| Beg pardon | Forgive me | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bɛg ˈpɑːdn//🇺🇸 //bɛg ˈpɑːrdən// | 🇬🇧 //fəˈɡɪv mi//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɪv mi// |
| Meaning | Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. | Please excuse me or let me off the hook. |
| Example | I beg pardon, could you repeat that? | Forgive me for being late to the meeting. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | beg pardon for, beg pardon politely, beg pardon in conversation | forgive me for something, forgive me if, please forgive me |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'pardon me', which is more casual., Overusing in informal contexts., Not using it at all when needing to interrupt. | Confused with 'forgive' used without an object., Using inappropriately informal contexts., Incorrectly conjugating 'forgive' (e.g., forgiving me). |
| Usage notes | Use 'beg pardon' in formal settings or when being polite. It may sound outdated in casual conversation. | Use 'forgive me' when apologizing. It's appropriate in personal and professional contexts, but avoid it in very casual situations. |
Frequently asked questions: Beg pardon vs Forgive me
What's the difference between Beg pardon and Forgive me?
Beg pardon: Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. Forgive me: Please excuse me or let me off the hook.
Which is more formal: Beg pardon and Forgive me?
Beg pardon is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Beg pardon and Forgive me?
Forgive me is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Beg pardon: I beg pardon, could you repeat that? Forgive me: Forgive me for being late to the meeting.
Can I use Beg pardon and Forgive me interchangeably?
Not always. Beg pardon and Forgive 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.