12 Ways To Say Excuse Me In German Formally And Informally (Entschuldigung Alternatives)

The most common way to say excuse me in German is: Entschuldigung.

You might already know this. But did you know there are other alternatives?

Based on what you want to express in your German sentences, you can say different things. There are at least 12 ways to say excuse me in German, and of course, one of them is what we have already mentioned.

But, before we start, here’s a short video from Mahalo German on the correct pronunciation of Entschuldigung:

And now, onto the 12 different ways to say excuse me in German with explanations and real-life examples!

1. Entschuldigung (Excuse me)

You can use it in various situations, whether you want to get someone’s attention, apologize for a minor inconvenience, or squeeze past someone in a crowded space.

For example, if you accidentally bump into someone on the street, you can say, “Entschuldigung!” to express your apology.

In a real situation, this could sound like:

• Lena: Entschuldigung, ist hier noch frei? (Excuse me, is this seat taken?)
• Markus: Nein, bitte nehmen Sie Platz. (No, please have a seat.)

2. Entschuldigen Sie bitte (Excuse me, please)

“Entschuldigen Sie bitte” is a polite way to say “excuse me” when you need to get someone’s attention or ask for help.

It’s suitable for more formal situations or when addressing strangers.

If you’re in a restaurant and need to get the waiter’s attention, you can say, “Entschuldigen Sie bitte, können wir bestellen?” (Excuse me, please, can we order?)

Here’s how it might play out in a real conversation:

• Sophia: Entschuldigen Sie bitte, wo finde ich die Toiletten? (Excuse me, please, where can I find the restrooms?)
• Kellner: Die Toiletten befinden sich am Ende des Ganges auf der linken Seite. (The restrooms are at the end of the hallway on the left side.)

3. Verzeihung (Pardon)

“Verzeihung” is another way to say pardon me or excuse me in German.

It’s slightly more formal than “Entschuldigung” but can be used in similar situations.

For example, if you need to interrupt someone during a conversation, you can say, “Verzeihung, darf ich Sie kurz unterbrechen?” (Pardon me, may I interrupt you briefly?) – More on this one later!

A real-life example could go like this:

• Felix: Verzeihung, haben Sie vielleicht eine Uhr dabei? (Pardon me, do you happen to have a watch on you?)
• Emilia: Ja, es ist gerade 14:30 Uhr. (Yes, it’s currently 2:30 PM.)

4. Könnte ich Sie kurz stören? (Could I bother you for a moment?)

This phrase is a polite way to ask for someone’s attention or help.

It’s good for situations where you need to interrupt someone or ask for a favor.

For instance, if you’re in a store and can’t find a particular item, you could approach a staff member and say, “Könnte ich Sie kurz stören? Ich suche die Gewürzabteilung.” (Could I bother you for a moment? I’m looking for the spice section.)

Here’s how it might sound in a real conversation:

• Max: Könnte ich Sie kurz stören? Ich habe eine Frage zu diesem Produkt. (Could I bother you for a moment? I have a question about this product.)
• Verkäuferin: Natürlich, wie kann ich Ihnen helfen? (Of course, how can I help you?)

5. Darf ich mal durch? (May I get through?)

When you need to pass by someone in a crowded space, like on a bus or in a narrow aisle, you can say “Darf ich mal durch?” to politely ask for space to move through.

A real-life scenario could unfold like this:

• Anna: Darf ich mal durch? Ich muss an der nächsten Haltestelle aussteigen. (May I get through? I need to get off at the next stop.)
• Passagier: Oh, natürlich! Entschuldigung. (Oh, of course! Sorry about that.)

6. Entschuldigen Sie, aber… (Excuse me, but…)

This phrase is useful when you want to politely interrupt someone or introduce a request.

It’s a way to soften the interruption and show respect for the other person’s time and attention.

Let’s say, if you’re in a meeting and have a question, you could say, “Entschuldigen Sie, aber ich habe eine Frage zu diesem Punkt.” (Excuse me, but I have a question about this point.)

In a real conversation, it might go like this:

• Lukas: Entschuldigen Sie, aber könnten Sie mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof erklären? (Excuse me, but could you please explain to me how to get to the train station?)
• Passant: Ja, gehen Sie einfach diese Straße entlang und biegen Sie an der zweiten Kreuzung links ab. (Yes, just go along this street and turn left at the second intersection.)

7. Entschuldigen Sie mich bitte (Excuse me, please)

This phrase is similar to “Entschuldigen Sie bitte” but can be used when you need to leave a conversation or situation politely.

It’s a way to express your apology for the interruption and excuse yourself.

Like, if you’re chatting with someone at a party but need to step away, you can say, “Entschuldigen Sie mich bitte, ich muss kurz woanders hin.” (Excuse me, please, I need to go somewhere else for a moment.)

Here’s how it could play out in a real situation:

• Mia: Entschuldigen Sie mich bitte, ich muss mal kurz zur Toilette. (Excuse me, please, I need to quickly go to the restroom.)
• Ben: Kein Problem, wir sehen uns später! (No problem, see you later!)

8. Könnten Sie mir bitte einen Moment schenken? (Could you spare me a moment, please?)

This phrase is a very polite way to ask for someone’s time and attention.

It’s suitable for situations where you need to discuss something important or ask for a favor.

A real-life example might sound like this:

• Jonas: Könnten Sie mir bitte einen Moment schenken? Ich hätte eine Bitte an Sie. (Could you spare me a moment, please? I have a request for you.)
• Chefin: Natürlich, kommen Sie doch bitte in mein Büro. (Of course, please come into my office.)

9. Ich wollte nur fragen… (I just wanted to ask…)

This phrase is a casual way to introduce a question or request.

It’s for informal situations or when you’re speaking with someone you know well.

Here’s how it might sound in a real conversation:

• Lisa: Ich wollte nur fragen, ob du mir das Salz reichen könntest. (I just wanted to ask if you could pass me the salt.)
• Tom: Klar, hier bitte. (Sure, here you go.)

10. Entschuldigung, darf ich Ihnen etwas sagen? (Excuse me, may I say something to you?)

This phrase is a polite way to start a conversation with someone or to introduce a comment.

It shows respect for the other person and their time.

At a conference, you want to share your thoughts with the speaker after their presentation, you could say, “Entschuldigung, darf ich Ihnen etwas sagen? Ich fand Ihren Vortrag sehr inspirierend.” (Excuse me, may I say something to you? I found your presentation very inspiring.)

A real-life scenario could go like this:

• Emma: Entschuldigung, darf ich Ihnen etwas sagen? Sie haben da etwas auf Ihrer Jacke. (Excuse me, may I say something to you? You have something on your jacket.)
• Fremder: Oh, vielen Dank für den Hinweis! (Oh, thank you very much for letting me know!)

11. Darf ich Sie kurz unterbrechen? (May I interrupt you for a moment?)

This phrase is used to politely interrupt someone during a conversation or presentation.

It acknowledges that you’re aware of the interruption and asks for permission to speak.

In a real-life situation, it could sound like this:

• Paul: Darf ich Sie kurz unterbrechen? Ich glaube, wir haben einen wichtigen Aspekt übersehen. (May I interrupt you for a moment? I think we’ve overlooked an important aspect.)
• Kollege: Natürlich, bitte teilen Sie uns Ihre Gedanken mit. (Of course, please share your thoughts with us.)

12. Könnte ich Ihre Aufmerksamkeit bitte haben? (Could I have your attention, please?)

This phrase is often used in formal settings, such as presentations or speeches, to politely request the audience’s attention.

t’s a way to signal that you’re about to begin speaking or to regain focus if the audience has become distracted.

Here’s how it might play out in a real scenario:

• Lehrerin: Könnte ich Ihre Aufmerksamkeit bitte haben? Wir beginnen jetzt mit dem Unterricht. (Could I have your attention, please? We’re starting the lesson now.)
• Schüler: Entschuldigung, wir sind jetzt still. (Sorry, we’ll be quiet now.)

Learn how to say excuse me in German naturally with Conversation Based Chunking

Now, there are different ways you can use to learn how to say excuse me in German.

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