Cool MateExcuse me vs You what
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excuse me
Top 1,000 (very common)
You what
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Excuse meMost common: Excuse me
| Excuse me | You what | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //juː wɒt//🇺🇸 //ju wɑt// |
| Meaning | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. | A response used to ask someone to repeat or clarify what they just said. |
| Example | Excuse me, could you please help me? | I didn't catch that, you what? |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? | say you what, respond with you what, use you what |
| Antonyms | ignore me, overlook, disregard | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excuse me' in a rude way, Saying 'excuse me' too loudly in quiet places, Not using it when walking past someone | 'You what?' used in serious situations, it can come off as rude., Confusing 'you what?' with 'what do you mean?' which is more formal., Using it too often in conversations, can sound dismissive. |
| 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. | Commonly used in casual conversations among friends. Avoid in formal settings as it may seem disrespectful or abrupt. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Excuse me vs You what
What's the difference between Excuse me and You what?
Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. You what: A response used to ask someone to repeat or clarify what they just said.
Which is more formal: Excuse me and You what?
Excuse me is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Excuse me and You what?
Excuse me is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excuse me: Excuse me, could you please help me? You what: I didn't catch that, you what?
Can I use Excuse me and You what interchangeably?
Not always. Excuse me and You what 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.