How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in Italian
Mi scusi
mee SKOO-zee
[mee SKOO-zee]
💬 Usage Tip: [mi] means "me" here, so [mi scusi] is literally "excuse me." You'll see the same pattern in [mi aiuta?] "can you help me?" and [mi dica] "tell me / go ahead."
🇮🇹 In Italy: This is the polite way to get a stranger's attention or apologize lightly. With friends or children, Italians are more likely to say [scusa].
Phrase Breakdown
Mi
[mee]
me / to me
An object pronoun meaning 'me'; in this phrase it is part of a polite apology or attention-getting expression.
Per chiedere informazioni, dico: "Mi scusi, dov'è la stazione?"
To ask for information, I say: "Excuse me, where is the station?"
scusi
[SKOO-zee]
excuse / pardon
From the verb 'scusare'; here it is a polite formal way to say 'excuse me' or 'sorry'.
Per chiedere informazioni, dico: "Mi scusi, dov'è la stazione?"
To ask for information, I say: "Excuse me, where is the station?"
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