How to Politely Get Someone's Attention in French: Excusez-moi, Pardon and More
Learn French phrases to politely get attention or interrupt, including excusez-moi and pardon, with pronunciation, register and regional notes.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
To politely get someone's attention in French, the two safest tools are excusez-moi and pardon. They work in shops, on trains, in offices and at gatherings, and they are also the normal way to interrupt a conversation briefly. This lesson focuses only on getting attention and interrupting; it does not cover apologizing for mistakes. You will learn which phrase fits which situation, how to add monsieur or madame, and how to keep your tone warm rather than abrupt.
By the end, you can…
- politely get a stranger's attention in French using excusez-moi or pardon.
- interrupt a conversation briefly and then make my request.
- choose between formal and informal attention-getters for different listeners.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Excusez-moi
Excuse me
ehk-skew-zay-mwah
Standard polite attention-getter with one stranger or several people; use it in shops, stations and offices. In Quebec, you may also hear excusez-moi pronounced with a tighter final vowel, but the phrase is the same.
Pardon
Pardon me / Sorry to bother you
par-dohn
Very common when you need to pass someone, cut in briefly, or ask a quick question. It is short, polite and works in both France and Quebec.
Excusez-moi de vous déranger
Excuse me for disturbing you
ehk-skew-zay-mwah duh voo day-rahn-zhay
Use when you are clearly interrupting someone who is busy or already speaking; it softens the interruption before you state your request.
Puis-je vous poser une question ?
May I ask you a question?
pweezh voo poh-zay ewn kess-tyohn
A formal, careful way to ask for attention, especially with officials, staff or older strangers. In everyday speech, many speakers prefer Est-ce que je peux vous poser une question ?
Excuse-moi
Excuse me
ehk-skew-mwah
Informal singular; use it with friends, family, classmates or people you already address with tu. Do not use it with a stranger in a formal setting.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Add a title after the attention-getter to sound respectful: Excusez-moi, madame. / Excusez-moi, monsieur. / Pardon, mademoiselle is now less common in France and can sound dated, so Pardon, madame is usually safer. You can also add a short reason: Excusez-moi, je cherche la gare. This keeps the interaction clear and polite.
When to use it
Use excusez-moi or pardon before you speak, not after you have already interrupted. If the person is talking, wait for a tiny pause, then say Excusez-moi de vous déranger and make your request quickly. If you only need to pass, Pardon alone is enough. In Quebec, pardon and excusez-moi are both standard; in very informal settings, some speakers use excuse-moi, but formal public situations still call for excusez-moi.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Excusez-moi, madame.
Excuse me, ma'am.ehk-skew-zay-mwah mah-dahmOui ? Je peux vous aider ?
Yes? Can I help you?wee? zhuh puh voo zay-dayPardon de vous déranger. Je cherche la station de métro.
Pardon me for disturbing you. I'm looking for the metro station.par-dohn duh voo day-rahn-zhay. zhuh shersh lah stah-syohn duh may-trohBien sûr. C'est tout droit, à droite.
Of course. It's straight ahead, on the right.byan sewr. say too drwah, ah drwahtA little context goes a long way
In France, excusez-moi and pardon are expected before almost any request to a stranger, including shop assistants and bus drivers. In Quebec, the same phrases are standard, though service interactions can be a little more informal. In both places, a soft rising intonation and a brief smile matter: the words alone can sound sharp if your tone is flat.
One thing to watch for
Using Excuse-moi with a stranger in a formal situation because it is shorter.
Try this instead: Use Excusez-moi or Pardon with strangers, officials and staff. Save Excuse-moi for people you call tu, such as a friend or classmate. Example: Excusez-moi, monsieur, vous avez l'heure ?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You need to stop a stranger in the street to ask for directions. Which phrase is the safest choice?
Show a sample answer
Excusez-moi, monsieur.
Excusez-moi is polite and works with a stranger; adding monsieur makes it respectful. Pardon, monsieur is also correct in this situation.
2A friend is talking and you want to interrupt briefly. Which form fits?
Show a sample answer
Excuse-moi, je peux te parler une seconde ?
Excuse-moi is the informal singular and matches a friend you address with tu. Excusez-moi would sound too distant here.
3You are already interrupting someone who is busy. What can you say before your request?
Show a sample answer
Excusez-moi de vous déranger.
This explicitly acknowledges the interruption and softens it. Pardon de vous déranger is also acceptable and equally polite.
Say excusez-moi or pardon before you speak, add madame or monsieur for respect, and use excuse-moi only with people you call tu.
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