Cool MateExcuse me vs Pardon vs Sorry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excuse me
Top 1,000 (very common)
Pardon
Top 2,000 (common)
Sorry
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Excuse me | Pardon | Sorry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑː.dən//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | 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 | 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 | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | ||
| Collocations | 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 | 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 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: Excuse me vs Pardon vs Sorry
What's the difference between Excuse me, Pardon, and Sorry?
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.
Can you show an example of each?
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 Excuse me, Pardon, and Sorry interchangeably?
Not always. 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.