How to Say ‘Sorry’ in French
Pardon
par-dohn
[par-dohn]
💬 Usage Tip: The final n isn't said fully. It just makes the vowel nasal, roughly (par-dohn).
🇫🇷 In France: This is what people say when they bump into someone or need to squeeze past on the metro. A rising Pardon ? means "Sorry, what did you say?"
Phrase Breakdown
Pardon
[par-dohn]
sorry / pardon
Used to apologize lightly, ask someone to repeat, or get past someone.
Si je bouscule quelqu'un, je dis « Pardon ».
If I bump into someone, I say “Sorry.”
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