What are some polite ways to say "excuse me" in Russian
Polite ways to say “excuse me” in Russian include several everyday phrases that cover different situations: getting someone’s attention, apologizing, asking to pass, or requesting permission. The safest all-purpose choice is Извините; Простите is also polite, while Разрешите is more formal and typically used when asking to go through or to be allowed to do something.
The main polite forms
- Извините (Izvinite) — the most common and versatile polite form. It works in formal situations, when addressing strangers, when apologizing, and when politely interrupting.
- Простите (Prostite) — another formal polite word, close in meaning to “excuse me” or “sorry.” It often sounds slightly more apologetic than Извините.
- Разрешите (Razreshite) — literally “allow me.” It is used in more formal speech when asking permission or asking someone to move aside.
In real conversation, Извините is the safest default because it is broad enough to fit most polite situations. It is the Russian equivalent of the kind of phrase that works both before a question and after a small mistake.
Informal alternatives
- Извини (Izvini) — informal “excuse me” or “sorry,” used with one person in a familiar setting.
- Прости (Prosti) — informal “forgive me” or “sorry,” also used with friends, family, or children.
These forms are only appropriate when speaking to someone as ты rather than вы. In doubt, the polite form is usually the better choice.
When to use each phrase
Russian uses different expressions depending on the social situation, and the nuance matters.
- Getting attention: Извините is the most natural choice before asking a question.
- Apologizing for a small mistake: Простите or Извините both work.
- Asking to pass by someone: Разрешите пройти is a standard polite formula.
- Interrupting politely: Извините sounds natural and respectful.
A useful rule is that Извините is the most flexible phrase, Простите is slightly more apologetic, and Разрешите is the most formal of the three.
Adding пожалуйста
Adding пожалуйста (pozhaluysta) makes the phrase softer and more polite:
- Извините, пожалуйста
- Простите, пожалуйста
- Разрешите, пожалуйста
This extra word is especially common in service encounters, public spaces, and formal requests. It does not change the core meaning, but it makes the tone warmer and more considerate.
Useful examples
- Извините, вы говорите по-английски? — “Excuse me, do you speak English?”
- Разрешите пройти. — “Excuse me, let me pass.”
- Извините, пожалуйста, где метро? — “Excuse me, please, where is the метро?”
- Простите, я не понял. — “Sorry, I didn’t understand.”
- Извини, я опоздал. — “Sorry, I’m late.”
These examples show a key feature of Russian politeness: the excuse-me phrase is often the first word in the sentence, not a phrase added at the end.
Pronunciation notes
The stress patterns are important because Russian stress is not fixed:
- извини́те
- прости́те
- разреши́те
- извини́
- прости́
- пожа́луйста
Saying the stressed syllable clearly helps these phrases sound natural. Извините is often heard with a soft, neutral tone in public speech, while Разрешите can sound more formal and sometimes more old-fashioned in everyday settings.
Common mistakes
- Using informal forms with strangers: Извини and Прости are too casual for most unfamiliar adults.
- Overusing one phrase in every situation: Извините is versatile, but Разрешите пройти sounds better when the goal is literally to pass.
- Forgetting the level of formality: Russian politeness depends on whether the person is a stranger, older, in authority, or socially distant.
- Sounding too abrupt: adding пожалуйста often makes the sentence smoother and more natural.
Quick practical guide
- Need a safe default? Say Извините.
- Need to sound a bit more apologetic? Say Простите.
- Need permission or to pass through? Say Разрешите.
- Speaking casually with friends? Use Извини or Прости.
In everyday Russian, small politeness markers matter a lot, and frequent use of these phrases builds natural conversational rhythm. Active speaking practice helps these forms become automatic, especially because learners need to match vocabulary with situation, tone, and pronunciation in real time.