Excuse Me vs Pardon Me vs Sorry? What Did You Say?

Part of the series: Words You Know — Meanings You Don’t
By Tymur Levitin, Levitin Language School

The Question That Changes Everything

How do you react when you don’t hear something? Do you say:

• “Sorry?”
• “Excuse me?”
• “Pardon me?”
• or even “What did you say?”

Most learners think they’re interchangeable. But the truth is: each one sends a different message. Sometimes polite. Sometimes aggressive. Sometimes neutral. Let’s break it down.

“Sorry?” — The Most Natural Way

This is the default choice for most native English speakers:

• Friendly, light, common
• Used in casual or neutral situations
• A soft way to say: “I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat it?”

Examples:

• “Sorry? Could you say that again?”
• “Sorry? What was that?”

Pros:

• Sounds natural
• Works in most social contexts
• Does not demand formality

Cons:

• Too casual for very formal contexts
• Might sound vague if overused

“Excuse Me?” — Attention or Challenge?

This phrase is a double-edged sword. It can mean:

• A polite request to repeat something
• Or an expression of surprise or offense

Examples:

• “Excuse me? I didn’t hear you.”
• “Excuse me?! What did you just say?”

Pros:

• Works in formal contexts
• Useful for attracting attention politely

Cons:

• Can sound confrontational depending on tone
• Often used when speaker is shocked or offended

“Pardon Me?” — Elegant, Soft, Slightly Old-Fashioned

This is considered very polite in British English. Less common in American English.

Examples:

• “Pardon me? Could you repeat that, please?”
• “Pardon?”

Pros:

• Very polite and soft
• Good for formal or respectful settings

Cons:

• Can sound outdated or overly formal in casual speech
• Rare in modern American usage

“What Did You Say?” — Literal, Risky, Direct

This phrase can sound rude if not said gently. Often used when you are shocked or challenging someone.

Examples:

• “What did you say?!” (angry)
• “Sorry, what did you say?” (neutral)

Pros:

• Direct, clear
• Useful in conflict or correction

Cons:

• Can sound aggressive
• Must be softened with tone or modifiers

Tone Changes Everything

The words you use matter. But the tone you use matters even more.

Compare:

• “Excuse me?” (flat tone) = neutral request
• “Excuse me?!” (sharp tone) = shock or confrontation
• “Sorry?” (gentle) = normal, friendly

Cultural Comparison

German:

• “Entschuldigung?” = formal attention or request
• “Wie bitte?” = polite way to say “Sorry, what?”

Russian / Ukrainian:

• “Простите?” / “Вибачте?” = often sounds heavier than “Sorry?”
• No direct equivalent to light “Sorry?” — risk of sounding too formal or too cold

Spanish:

• “¿Cómo?” = neutral, casual
• “¿Perdón?” = polite, most common
• “¿Disculpe?” = more formal

What We Teach Instead

At Levitin Language School, we teach not just words, but usage:

• What native speakers actually say
• How it sounds in real life
• Which tone matches which phrase

You don’t just memorize expressions — you learn to feel them.

Related Posts in the Series

• Thank You, Thanks, Thanks a Lot
• Sorry vs Excuse Me: One Mistake, Two Cultures
• I Love You Doesn’t Mean What You Think

🏦 Author: Tymur Levitin, Founder and Senior Instructor
🔗 Meet your teacher: Tymur Levitin →
© Tymur Levitin. All rights reserved.

🔹 Series: Words You Know — Meanings You Don’t
🔸 Choose your language: https://levitinlanguageschool.com/#languages
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