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What are some polite ways to say "excuse me" in Russian visualisation

What are some polite ways to say "excuse me" in Russian

Главные Вопросы для Повседневной Жизни при Изучении Русского Языка: What are some polite ways to say "excuse me" in Russian
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In Russian, there are several polite ways to say “excuse me,” depending on the context, level of formality, and whether you’re addressing one person or multiple people. Here are the most common expressions:

Formal or Polite Usage

  1. Извините (Izvinite)

    • This is the most common and versatile way to say “excuse me” in formal situations or when addressing strangers. It can be used to apologize, get someone’s attention, or ask for permission (e.g., “Excuse me, what time is it?”).
    • Example: Извините, вы говорите по-английски? (“Excuse me, do you speak English?”) 1, 2, 6.

  2. Простите (Prostite)

    • Similar to извините, this is another formal way to say “excuse me” or “forgive me.” It is slightly stronger and often used to express regret or ask for forgiveness.
    • Example: Простите, я не хотел вас беспокоить. (“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to bother you.”) 1, 6.

  3. Разрешите (Razreshite)

    • This phrase translates as “allow me” or “excuse me” and is used in formal contexts when asking for permission or requesting to pass by someone.
    • Example: Разрешите пройти. (“Excuse me, let me pass.”) 5.

Informal Usage

  1. Извини (Izvini)

    • This is the informal singular version of извините, used when speaking to friends, family, or peers.
    • Example: Извини за опоздание. (“Excuse me for being late.”) 1, 6.

  2. Прости (Prosti)

    • The informal counterpart of простите, used in casual conversations with close acquaintances.
    • Example: Прости, я забыл позвонить. (“Sorry, I forgot to call.”) 1, 6.

Adding Politeness

To make any of these phrases even more polite, you can add пожалуйста (pozhaluysta), meaning “please.” For example:

  • Извините, пожалуйста. (“Excuse me, please.”) 1.

Special Contexts

  • If you bump into someone accidentally or interrupt a conversation, you can use either извините or простите depending on the formality.
  • When asking someone to move aside politely (e.g., on public transport), you might use разрешите пройти (“Allow me to pass”) or simply say извините.

These phrases are highly versatile and widely understood across different regions of Russia.

References

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