How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in French
Excusez-moi
ehk-skew-ZAY mwah
[ehk-skew-ZAY mwah]
💬 Usage Tip: The [-ez] ending in [excusez] sounds like (ay), not like an English zed. The whole phrase runs together as (ex-kew-zay-mwah).
🇫🇷 In France: [Excusez-moi] is the safe polite choice with strangers: to get past someone, get attention, or soften a request. It lands better than bluntly starting with your question.
Phrase Breakdown
Excusez
[ehk-skew-ZAY]
excuse
Formal or plural imperative of “excuser,” used to politely get attention or apologize.
Dans la rue, je dis « Excusez-moi » pour demander mon chemin.
In the street, I say “Excuse me” to ask for directions.
-moi
[mwah]
me
Object pronoun meaning “me”; attached here to form “Excuse me.”
Dans la rue, je dis « Excusez-moi » pour demander mon chemin.
In the street, I say “Excuse me” to ask for directions.
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