Excuse Me in Italian: Scusi vs Scusa With Audio
Hear Scusi and Scusa in Italian and compare formal and informal address. Practise asking a question or asking to pass, with pronunciation and recorded examples.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr LearnYour first Italian phrases
Listen to a phrase, then try saying it aloud. The full conversation is below.
Scusi.
Excuse me. (formal)
SKOO-zeeScusa.
Excuse me. (informal)
SKOO-zahPermesso?
May I? / Excuse me, may I pass?
per-MES-soh
Choose an Italian attention-getter for the job: Scusi when addressing someone as Lei, Scusa with tu, and Permesso? when asking to pass or enter. These choices depend on the relationship and setting, not age alone. Then rehearse the recorded bus-stop exchange: A asks for information, B invites the question, A asks where the stop is, and B says it is in front of the café.
By the end, you can…
- choose between formal and informal ways to get someone's attention in Italian.
- use scusi, scusa, permesso, and senta appropriately in public situations.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Scusi.
Excuse me. (formal)
SKOO-zee
The form used when addressing one person as Lei. It is a useful polite default for an unfamiliar service or information request.
Scusa.
Excuse me. (informal)
SKOO-zah
The form used with tu. Friends often use it, and some informal settings use tu between people who have just met; the relationship and setting matter.
Permesso?
May I? / Excuse me, may I pass?
per-MES-soh
A short request for permission to enter or move past someone. Let the other person make space or acknowledge the request before moving.
Senta, ...
Excuse me, listen, ... (formal)
SEN-tah
A formal attention-getter that normally introduces what you want to say. The ellipsis marks an unfinished opener, not a complete request; use the full recorded Scusi question for this lesson’s dialogue.
Mi scusi, posso chiederle una cosa?
Excuse me, may I ask you something? (formal)
mee SKOO-zee, POS-soh KYEH-der-leh OO-nah KOH-zah
A complete polite opener when you need help or information from someone you do not know.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Scusi and senta address one person as Lei; scusa and senti address one person as tu. Choose according to the relationship and setting. In the recording, Scusi, posso chiederle un'informazione? asks permission to request information. Certo, mi dica. invites A to continue. The actual information question follows: Grazie. Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus? Keep the opening request separate from the bus-stop question.
When to use it
Use Permesso? when asking to pass or enter. To request information, rehearse the complete recorded exchange. A asks about the bus stop, and B answers È proprio lì, davanti al bar.: it is right there, in front of the café. This is a location statement, not an instruction to turn right. Senta, ... is only an opening fragment; it needs a following request or statement.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, posso chiederle un'informazione?
Excuse me, may I ask you for some information?SKOO-zee, POS-soh KYEH-der-leh oon-een-for-mats-YOH-nehCerto, mi dica.
Of course, tell me.CHER-toh, mee DEE-kahGrazie. Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus?
Thank you. Where is the bus stop?GRAH-tsyeh. doh-VEH lah fer-MAH-tah del-LOW-toh-boosÈ proprio lì, davanti al bar.
It is right there, in front of the café.eh PROH-pryoh lee, dah-VAN-tee al barA little context goes a long way
Scusi and Scusa reflect Lei and tu address respectively. Age alone does not determine which form people use: relationship and setting also matter. Permesso? asks permission to enter or pass. Keep a considerate tone and allow the other person to respond; the words do not replace waiting for space.
One thing to watch for
Treating Scusa as always wrong with a stranger, or choosing solely by the other person’s age.
Try this instead: Match Scusi to Lei and Scusa to tu. For the formal information request in this recording, use Scusi, posso chiederle un'informazione? The informal form is appropriate where tu is established.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1In the recorded formal exchange, how does A ask permission to request information?
Show a sample answer
Scusi, posso chiederle un'informazione?
Scusi and chiederle address B formally as Lei. B replies Certo, mi dica., meaning Of course, tell me. This invites the actual question.
2You are squeezing past people on a crowded train. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Permesso.
Permesso is the standard way to ask to pass or enter. You could also say Permesso, grazie, but Scusi alone is less specific for physically moving through a crowd.
3A asks Scusi, posso chiederle un'informazione? Which complete recorded response invites A to continue?
Show a sample answer
Certo, mi dica.
B says Of course, tell me. A then asks the bus-stop question. This is permission to ask, not the answer about the location.
4Listen to the bus-stop question and reply. Who asks the question, where is the stop, and which complete recorded line gives its location? Then rehearse both roles.
Show a sample answer
A asks: Grazie. Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus? B answers: È proprio lì, davanti al bar. The bus stop is right there, in front of the café.
A needs information; B provides it. Replay A’s question, say B’s answer, then listen to B’s clip to check. Lì means there and davanti al means in front of; the reply does not tell you to turn right.
Choose Scusi with Lei, Scusa with tu, and Permesso? to ask to pass or enter. Finish by asking the recorded bus-stop question and understanding the reply: right there, in front of the café.
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