How to Say Sorry and Excuse Me in Turkish

To say sorry in Turkish, say Özür dilerim, play (“I apologize”). It is the real apology, for when you did something wrong. For small everyday slips, like bumping into someone on the tram, a quick Pardon, play is enough. To get someone’s attention, as in “excuse me, where is…?”, say Affedersiniz, play. And Kusura bakmayın, play is the polite “sorry for the trouble” that Turks use all the time.

English uses “sorry” and “excuse me” for many different things, but Turkish keeps them apart. Below you will find which word fits which moment, how to say what you are sorry for, the replies people expect, and how to say “I’m sorry” when someone is ill or has lost someone. Every example has a play button so you can hear it.

Özür dilerim: the real apology

Özür dilerim, play is built from özür, play (“apology, excuse”) and dilemek (“to wish, to ask for”), so it literally means “I ask for forgiveness”. Say it like ö-ZÜR di-le-RIM. The ö is like the vowel in “her” said with rounded lips, and the ü is an “ee” with rounded lips.

• Özür dilerim.

  I’m sorry.

• Çok özür dilerim.

  I’m very sorry.

• Özür dilerim, geç kaldım.

  I’m sorry, I’m late.

• Gecikme için özür dileriz.

  We apologize for the delay.

The ending -im means “I”. A company, an airline or a family apologizing together uses -iz (“we”): Özür dileriz, play. You will hear it in announcements at stations and airports.

Excuse me in Turkish: affedersiniz and pardon

Affedersiniz, play (from affetmek, “to forgive”) is the polite “excuse me” for starting a conversation with a stranger: asking the way, asking a question in a shop, or stopping someone in the street. With a friend or a child, the sen form is Affedersin, play.

Pardon, play, borrowed from French, is shorter and lighter. Use it when you bump into someone, step on a foot, or need to squeeze past on a crowded tram. It also works to get attention, just a little more casually than affedersiniz.

• Affedersiniz,excuse memetrometronerede?where

  Word by word: excuse me, metro, where.

  Excuse me, where is the metro?

• Pardon, geçebilir miyim?

  Excuse me, can I get past?

• Affedersiniz, saat kaç?

  Excuse me, what time is it?

• Ay, pardon!

  Oops, sorry!

In Türkiye

How to call a waiter

In a Turkish café or restaurant, snapping your fingers at the waiter comes across as rude. Catch the waiter’s eye and say Bakar mısınız?, play, literally “Would you look?”. It is the standard, polite way to call anyone who is serving you, and you can start with Pardon, play to make it softer.

Pardon, bakar mısınız?

Excuse me, could you come over?

Kusura bakma: sorry for the trouble

Kusura bakmayın, play literally means “don’t look at the fault”. It is softer than özür dilerim and covers the small inconveniences of daily life: being late, keeping someone waiting, calling at a bad time, or not being able to help. Use kusura bakma, play with people you call sen and kusura bakmayın, play with people you call siz or with a group.

• Kusura bakma, seni beklettim.

  Sorry for keeping you waiting.

• Kusura bakmayın, bilmiyorum.

  Sorry, I don’t know.

• Geç saatte aradım, kusura bakmayın.

  Sorry for calling so late.

• Kusura bakma, yarın gelemiyorum.

  Sorry, I can’t come tomorrow.

Saying what you are sorry for: için

To say what you are apologizing for, put the reason first and add için, play (“for”) after it, just as with thank you. For an action, Turkish turns the verb into a noun with a “my” ending: geç kaldığım için, play (“for my being late”). This form comes later in the course, but these phrases are worth learning as fixed expressions.

• Geçlatekaldığımmy stayingiçinforözürapologydilerim.I ask

  Word by word: late, my staying, for, apology, I ask.

  I’m sorry I’m late.

• Rahatsız ettiğim için kusura bakmayın.

  Sorry for disturbing you.

• Her şey için özür dilerim.

  I’m sorry for everything.

Often the simplest way is two short sentences: say what happened in the past tense, then apologize. The ending -dı/-di is the Turkish past tense.

• Unuttum, özür dilerim.

  I forgot, I’m sorry.

• Yanlış anladım, pardon.

  I misunderstood, sorry.

• Bardağı kırdım, çok özür dilerim.

  I broke the glass, I’m so sorry.

How to reply to an apology

When someone apologizes to you, Turks rarely say “I forgive you”. They play it down instead, just like English “no worries”.

• Özür dilerim! – Önemli değil.

  I’m sorry! – It’s fine.

• Kusura bakma, geç kaldım. – Olsun, gel otur.

  Sorry, I’m late. – Never mind, come and sit down.

• Pardon! – Sorun değil.

  Sorry! – No problem.

Estağfurullah, play is an Arabic loanword you will hear from older and more formal speakers. Turks say it when someone apologizes too much or puts themselves down, as in “please, not at all”.

Sorry to hear that: sympathy and condolences

When English speakers say “I’m sorry” to show sympathy, Turkish uses different phrases altogether. Çok üzüldüm, play (“I became very sad”) means “I’m so sorry to hear that”. Geçmiş olsun, play (“may it be past”) is said to someone who is ill or has had bad luck. And when someone has lost a loved one, the fixed phrase is Başınız sağ olsun, play (“may your head be healthy”).

• Telefonun mu çalındı? Çok üzüldüm.

  Your phone was stolen? I’m so sorry.

• Hastaymışsın, geçmiş olsun!

  I heard you’re ill, get well soon!

• Başınız sağ olsun. – Dostlar sağ olsun.

  I’m sorry for your loss. – Thank you. (literally: May friends be healthy.)

Frequently asked questions

How do you say sorry in Turkish? Say Özür dilerim, play (ö-ZÜR di-le-RIM) for a real apology, or Pardon, play for a small slip.

How do you say excuse me in Turkish? Affedersiniz, play to get a stranger’s attention, or Pardon, play to get past someone. To call a waiter, say Bakar mısınız?, play

What does kusura bakma mean? Literally “don’t look at the fault”. It means “sorry” or “please excuse me” for small inconveniences. Use kusura bakmayın, play with people you call siz.

How do you say “I’m sorry for your loss” in Turkish? Başınız sağ olsun, play. The usual reply is Dostlar sağ olsun, play.

Practice polite Turkish in the free A1 lessons

Polite phrases are easiest to learn in real situations. Unit 1 of the A1 course is free and covers greetings, thanks and introducing yourself, and unit 7, Where are you going?, practices asking the way with Affedersiniz, play. For more everyday expressions, see 50 common Turkish phrases and how to say thank you in Turkish. Not sure of your level? Take the 3-minute level test.

To practice these phrases in conversation, book 1-on-1 live lessons with Kerem, a native Turkish teacher. Okuduğunuz için teşekkürler!, play (“Thanks for reading!”)