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How to Say ‘Excuse me.’ in French

Excusez-moi.

ex-kew-zay mwah

[ex-kew-zay mwah]

🇫🇷 In France: This is the polite way to open with a stranger, like a neighbour you're knocking in on. Going straight to your question without it can come across as abrupt.

Phrase Breakdown

Excusez

[ex-kew-zay]

Excuse me

Used to politely get someone's attention or apologize.

Example

Excusez-moi, puis-je passer?

Excuse me, may I pass through?

-moi

[mwah]

Used to refer to oneself, asking for attention or pardon.

Example

Excusez-moi de vous déranger.

Excuse me for disturbing you.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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