You will tell three Turkish phrases for “sorry” apart: for your own fault, for a bump, and for speaking to a stranger.
The idea
Turkish splits English “sorry” into jobs. Özür dilerim is a real apology when something is your fault. Pardon is the light word for a bump or for squeezing past, and Pardon? means “say that again?”. Affedersiniz opens a question to a stranger; to a friend it becomes affedersin. The reply is önemli değil.
| Small matter, friend | Small matter, polite | Real apology | Reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| affedersin | affedersiniz | özür dilerim | önemli değil |
| pardon | pardon | çok özür dilerim | sorun değil |
Examples
- Özür dilerim, geç kaldım.I'm sorry, I'm late.Özür dilerim is a real apology, so the reason comes after it. Geç kalmak means to be late.
- Affedersiniz, banka nerede?Excuse me, where is the bank?The ending -siniz makes affedersiniz polite, for strangers and elders. Nothing is your fault here; it only opens the question.
- Pardon, size çarptım.Sorry, I bumped into you.Pardon is the light word for a bump. For a bigger mistake, switch to özür dilerim.
- Pardon?Pardon? (please say that again)With a rising voice, Pardon? asks the speaker to say it again.
- Çok özür dilerim.I'm very sorry.
- Önemli değil.It's nothing. / No problem.
- Affedersin, bu senin kalemin mi?Excuse me, is this your pen?To a friend you say affedersin, the sen form. To a stranger you say affedersiniz, as in the next sentence.
- Affedersiniz, bu sizin kaleminiz mi?Excuse me, is this your pen?
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Watch out
Do not start with özür dilerim to stop a stranger or to pass someone in a crowd: it sounds as if you had wronged them. Use affedersiniz or pardon there, and keep özür dilerim for real mistakes such as being late.
Try it yourself
You stop a stranger to ask the way: Excuse me, where is the bank?
Show answer or example answer
Affedersiniz / Pardon
Affedersiniz: you are stopping a stranger, so the polite -siniz form fits, and nothing is your fault. Pardon also works as a light opener.
You are late and it is your fault: I am sorry, I am late.
Show answer or example answer
Özür dilerim / Çok özür dilerim
Özür dilerim: being late is your fault, so a real apology fits better than the light pardon.
You speak to a friend: Excuse me, is this your pen?
Show answer or example answer
Affedersin / Pardon
Affedersin: a friend gets sen, so the word ends in -sin; -siniz would sound distant. Pardon works too.
Someone apologises to you. You answer: It's nothing.
Show answer or example answer
Önemli değil / Sorun değil
Önemli değil: it answers the apology and says the matter is not important. Sorun değil means the same.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
You stop a stranger to ask the way: Excuse me, where is the bank?
You are late and it is your fault: I am sorry, I am late.
Özür dilerim / Çok özür dilerim
You speak to a friend: Excuse me, is this your pen?
Someone apologises to you. You answer: It's nothing.
Önemli değil / Sorun değil
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Think of three small moments from today, such as being late, passing someone on a bus, or asking the way. Write which phrase you would say in each and why.