How to Say 'Excuse Me' in French: Pronounce 'Excusez-moi' and 'Pardon' Correctly
Learn to pronounce 'excusez-moi' and 'pardon' and use them to get attention, pass by, or interrupt politely in French-speaking places.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
To get someone's attention in French, the two most useful expressions are 'excusez-moi' and 'pardon'. 'Excusez-moi' is pronounced roughly 'ehk-skew-zay mwah', with the final 'z' sound linking to 'moi'. 'Pardon' is pronounced 'par-dohn', with a nasal vowel at the end. These are attention-getters, not apologies for a serious wrong. Use 'excusez-moi' to interrupt a stranger politely, and 'pardon' to pass by or to excuse a small bump. This lesson gives you the exact pronunciation and the patterns you need in real public situations.
By the end, you can…
- pronounce 'excusez-moi' and 'pardon' clearly enough to be understood.
- use these expressions to get attention, pass by someone, or interrupt politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Excusez-moi
Excuse me
ehk-skew-zay mwah
Use to get a stranger's attention or to interrupt politely. The 'z' at the end of 'excusez' links to 'moi': 'excusez-moi'.
Pardon
Excuse me / Sorry
par-dohn
Use when passing by someone, or after a small accidental bump. It is shorter and often softer than 'excusez-moi'.
Excusez-moi, est-ce que cette place est libre ?
Excuse me, is this seat free?
ehk-skew-zay mwah, ess-kuh set plass ay lee-bruh
Use on public transport or in a waiting room. 'Cette place' means 'this seat'; 'libre' means 'free' or 'available'.
Pardon, je peux passer ?
Excuse me, may I get past?
par-dohn, zhuh puh pass-ay
Use in a crowded aisle or bus. It asks permission to move past someone.
Excusez-moi de vous déranger.
Excuse me for bothering you.
ehk-skew-zay mwah duh voo day-rahn-zhay
Use when you need to interrupt someone who is busy, for example a staff member. It is polite and slightly formal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Excusez-moi' + a question. For example: 'Excusez-moi, où est la gare ?' (Excuse me, where is the station?) or 'Excusez-moi, est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider ?' (Excuse me, can you help me?). 'Pardon' works alone when you just need to pass: 'Pardon, je peux passer ?' You can also use 'Pardon' before a question in casual speech: 'Pardon, c'est bien ici ?' (Excuse me, is this the right place?). Both expressions are polite and standard in France and other French-speaking regions.
When to use it
Use 'excusez-moi' when you approach someone to ask for information or to interrupt a conversation. Use 'pardon' when you move through a crowd, step on someone's foot lightly, or need to squeeze past. For example, in a busy metro: 'Pardon, pardon' as you move. If you need to ask a staff member a question, start with 'Excusez-moi de vous déranger' to show respect. Avoid using 'excusez-moi' for a serious apology; for that, use 'je suis désolé' or 'je m'excuse'. In Quebec, 'excusez-moi' is also common, but you may hear 'pardon' used similarly.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Excusez-moi, est-ce que cette place est libre ?
Excuse me, is this seat free?ehk-skew-zay mwah, ess-kuh set plass ay lee-bruhOui, elle est libre. Installez-vous.
Yes, it's free. Have a seat.wee, ell ay lee-bruh. an-stall-ay vooMerci. Pardon, je peux passer ?
Thank you. Excuse me, may I get past?mair-see. par-dohn, zhuh puh pass-ayBien sûr, je me pousse.
Of course, I'll move over.byan sewr, zhuh muh poossA little context goes a long way
In French-speaking cultures, 'excusez-moi' and 'pardon' are standard polite forms. Using them shows awareness of others in public. 'Pardon' is very common in crowded spaces and is not considered rude. In more formal settings, such as a workplace or a shop, 'excusez-moi de vous déranger' is appreciated. Avoid using 'excusez-moi' with friends for small things; a simple 'pardon' or 'désolé' is enough. In Quebec, you might hear 'excusez' alone, but 'excusez-moi' remains clear and polite.
One thing to watch for
Adding an extra z sound before moi in excusez-moi.
Try this instead: Excusez-moi is /ɛkskyze mwa/. The written final z in excusez is silent; the z sound occurs inside excusez before its final vowel. There is no liaison before the consonant m in moi. Keep the French rounded /y/ vowel in excusez.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely get a stranger's attention to ask a question?
Show a sample answer
Excusez-moi
'Excusez-moi' is the standard polite way to get attention. 'Pardon' could also work in some contexts, but 'excusez-moi' is more common for starting a question.
2What do you say when you need to pass by someone in a crowded aisle?
Show a sample answer
Pardon, je peux passer ?
This asks permission to pass. You could also say just 'Pardon' while moving, but adding the question makes it clearer and more polite.
3How do you ask if a seat is free, starting with 'excuse me'?
Show a sample answer
Excusez-moi, est-ce que cette place est libre ?
This combines the attention-getter with a question about the seat. You could also say 'Pardon, cette place est libre ?' with a rising intonation, which is also correct.
Use 'excusez-moi' to get attention and 'pardon' to pass by. Pronounce them 'ehk-skew-zay mwah' and 'par-dohn', and you'll be polite and clear in any French-speaking public space.
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