Cool MateBeg pardon vs Sorry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Beg pardon
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Sorry
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most formal: Beg pardonMost common: Sorry
| Beg pardon | Sorry | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bɛg ˈpɑːdn//🇺🇸 //bɛg ˈpɑːrdən// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. | A word used to express regret or apology. |
| Example | I beg pardon, could you repeat that? | I'm really sorry for the mistake I made. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | beg pardon for, beg pardon politely, beg pardon in conversation | 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 | - | 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 '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 It may sound outdated in casual conversation.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 '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 Sorry
What's the difference between Beg pardon and Sorry?
Beg pardon: Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. Sorry: A word used to express regret or apology.
Which is more formal: Beg pardon and Sorry?
Beg pardon is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Beg pardon and Sorry?
Sorry is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Beg pardon: I beg pardon, could you repeat that? Sorry: I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.
Can I use Beg pardon and Sorry interchangeably?
Not always. Beg 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.