Cool MateCome again vs Pardon
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Come again
Top 2,000 (common)
Pardon
Top 2,000 (common)
| Come again | Pardon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kʌm əˈgɛn//🇺🇸 //kʌm əˈɡɛn// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑː.dən//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən// |
| Meaning | Please repeat what you just said. | To excuse someone for something they did wrong. |
| Example | Could you come again? I didn’t catch that. | Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | come again later, come again please, come again for clarity | pardon me, pardon my interruption, pardon my mistake |
| Antonyms | go away, leave | blame, condemn, punish |
| Common mistakes | Using it in very formal situations where a more serious phrase is needed., Saying it too aggressively can come off as rude. | Confused with 'forgive' - 'pardon' is more formal., Used inappropriately in casual conversations., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'pardon?' without context. |
| Usage notes | Used when asking someone to repeat something. It's polite but can be used in casual situations as well. | Use 'pardon' in formal situations or when asking for forgiveness. Less common in casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Come again vs Pardon
What's the difference between Come again and Pardon?
Come again: Please repeat what you just said. Pardon: To excuse someone for something they did wrong.
Can you show an example of each?
Come again: Could you come again? I didn’t catch that. Pardon: Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting?
Can I use Come again and Pardon interchangeably?
Not always. Come again and Pardon 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.