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How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in German

Entschuldigung

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Germans rarely chat with strangers unprompted, so opening with Entschuldigung before a compliment softens the interruption and makes it feel polite rather than intrusive.

Phrase Breakdown

Entschuldigung

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong]

excuse me / sorry

A polite way to get attention or apologize.

Example

Entschuldigung, wo ist die Toilette? Entschuldigung is very useful in restaurants.

Excuse me, where is the toilet? Entschuldigung is very useful in restaurants.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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