You are a beginner German speaker who knows the words Entschuldigung and Entschuldigen Sie bitte but freezes when you actually need to stop a stranger, squeeze past someone on a train, or interrupt a shop worker. This workshop gives you three spoken role-plays that move from a supported first attempt to an unexpected complication to a realistic follow-up decision. You will say the phrases out loud, respond to a next-turn challenge, and check your own success with concrete criteria. The focus is on using the exact phrases from the source lesson: Entschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie bitte, Verzeihung, Würden Sie mich bitte vorbeilassen?, and Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz noch frei?
Preparation: Match the phrase to the social distance
Before you speak, decide how much politeness the situation requires. Entschuldigung is your neutral default: it works for stopping a stranger, asking a quick question, or beginning an interruption. Entschuldigen Sie bitte adds formality and is safer with staff, older strangers, or anyone you address with Sie. Verzeihung is more formal or old-fashioned; it can sound stiff in casual settings but is useful in traditional or very polite contexts. For physically passing someone, use the full polite request Würden Sie mich bitte vorbeilassen? rather than a command. If you need a seat, combine attention-getting with a specific question: Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz noch frei? Practise saying each phrase with a clear, calm voice and a slight pause after the attention-getter so the other person has time to look at you.
Handling the harder turn: when the person does not move or answers unexpectedly
The real challenge is not saying Entschuldigung once; it is what you do when the first attempt does not produce the expected response. If someone does not hear you or does not move, repeat the attention-getter slightly louder and add the specific request: Entschuldigung, würden Sie mich bitte vorbeilassen? If they answer your seat question with a complication, such as saying the seat is taken or asking why you need it, stay polite and give a short reason. Use the source phrases you have: Entschuldigen Sie bitte, or repeat Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz noch frei? If you accidentally bump someone while passing, switch from attention-getting to apology: Oh, entschuldigen Sie bitte. The key is to keep your tone calm and your sentence short. Do not switch to English or give up; use the phrases you have and let the conversation continue.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Entschuldigung!
Excuse me!
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong
Entschuldigen Sie bitte.
Excuse me, please.
ent-SHOOL-dee-gen zee BIT-tuh
Verzeihung!
Excuse me! / Pardon!
fair-TSY-oong
Würden Sie mich bitte vorbeilassen?
Would you please let me pass?
VUER-den zee mikh BIT-tuh for-BYE-las-sen
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz noch frei?
Excuse me, is this seat still free?Ja, der ist noch frei. Bitte setzen Sie sich.
Yes, it is still free. Please sit down.Danke. Entschuldigen Sie bitte, würden Sie mich kurz vorbeilassen?
Thank you. Excuse me, please, would you let me pass for a moment?Natürlich, ich mache Ihnen Platz.
Of course, I will make room for you.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Asking a stranger for directions at a train station
You are at a German train station. You need to find Platform 7, but you are not sure which way to go. A stranger is standing near a sign, looking at their phone. You have about thirty seconds before your train is announced.
Your task: Say aloud: Entschuldigung! Wait a moment, then use the source phrase Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof? as your model and adapt it aloud to ask for Gleis 7. If the person looks at you but does not answer immediately, repeat: Entschuldigen Sie bitte. Communicate clearly that you need Platform 7 and that you are in a hurry. Use a polite tone and make eye contact.
Passing someone in a narrow train aisle
You are on a crowded regional train. Your seat is at the far end of the carriage. A person is standing in the aisle with a large suitcase, blocking your way. They are wearing headphones and may not hear you at first.
Your task: Say aloud: Entschuldigung! Then, if they do not move, say: Entschuldigen Sie bitte, würden Sie mich bitte vorbeilassen? Speak clearly and wait for them to make room. If they still do not respond, repeat the request once more, slightly louder, and add Danke. Your goal is to pass without sounding rude or giving up.
Interrupting a shop worker to ask about a seat
You are in a small café in Germany. You see an empty chair at a table where one person is already sitting. You want to ask if the seat is free. A shop worker is nearby, wiping a table. You decide to ask the worker first, but the worker is busy and you need to interrupt politely.
Your task: Say aloud: Entschuldigen Sie bitte! When the worker looks up, ask: Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz noch frei? Point to the chair. If the worker says they are not sure, repeat: Entschuldigen Sie bitte, or ask: Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen? Communicate clearly which seat you mean and that you want to sit down.
Common questions
What is the difference between Entschuldigung and Entschuldigen Sie bitte?
Entschuldigung is the neutral, everyday form you can use with almost anyone. Entschuldigen Sie bitte is more polite and slightly more formal, so it is safer with strangers, staff, or older people you address with Sie. Both are correct; choose based on how formal the situation feels.
Can I use Verzeihung instead of Entschuldigung?
Yes, but Verzeihung is more formal or old-fashioned. It can sound a bit stiff in casual settings. Use it in formal or traditional contexts when you want to be extra polite, but stick with Entschuldigung for everyday situations.
How do I ask someone to move so I can pass?
Use the full polite request Würden Sie mich bitte vorbeilassen? You can also say Entschuldigung, dürfte ich bitte vorbei? Both are requests, not commands. Avoid literal translations like Geh aus dem Weg, which sounds rude.
Sources and further reading
- german: using excuse meChecked September 2026
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