Bağışlayın

Excuse Me or Sorry

Level 1

Bağışlayın is the standard polite way to get someone's attention or offer a minor apology in Azerbaijani. It is the plural/formal form of the verb bağışlamaq (to forgive).

How It Works

The word bağışlayın is derived from the verb bağışlamaq.

1. Morphology:
It consists of the stem bağışla- and the plural/polite imperative suffix -yın. Because the stem ends in the vowel 'a', a buffer 'y' is added to separate it from the suffix -ın, following the rules of vowel harmony.

2. Meaning and Usage:
While bağışlayın is the standard way to say "excuse me" or "sorry," the root verb bağışlamaq also means "to gift," "to donate," or "to bestow" (e.g., hədiyyə bağışlamaq - to give a gift).

3. Usage Contexts:

  • Formal/Polite: Use this with strangers, elders, or in professional settings.
  • Attention-getting: It is the most natural way to start a conversation with someone you don't know.
  • Minor Apologies: It is perfect for social slips like sneezing or accidentally blocking someone's path.

4. Register:
The singular form bağışla is used with close friends or children. For more serious apologies, speakers use Üzr istəyirəm (I apologize) or Məni bağışlayın (Forgive me). Note that Xahiş edirəm means "please" or "you're welcome" and is used for requests, not for apologizing.

Examples (4)

  1. Bağışlayın, bu yer boşdur?

    Excuse me, is this seat free?

    Word by Word: Forgive (me), this place free-is?

    Used here to politely get someone's attention before asking a question.

  2. Bağışlayın, gecikdim.

    Sorry, I am late.

    Word by Word: Forgive (me), I-was-late.

    A standard minor apology for a social transgression like being late.

  3. Məni bağışlayın, bir sual verə bilərəm?

    Excuse me, can I ask a question?

    Word by Word: Me forgive, one question give can-I?

    Adding 'məni' (me) makes the request for forgiveness slightly more personal or emphatic.

  4. Bağışlayın, metro haradadır?

    Excuse me, where is the metro?

    Word by Word: Forgive (me), metro where-is?

    A very common way to ask for directions from a stranger.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the informal 'Bağışla' with a stranger.

    Different MeaningBağışla, saat neçədir?
    Bağışlayın, saat neçədir?

    'Bağışla, saat neçədir?' is fine with a friend or a younger person. With a stranger or an elder, use the polite 'Bağışlayın'.

  • Forgetting the buffer 'y' between vowels.

    Bağışlaın
    Bağışlayın

    In Azerbaijani, two vowels usually cannot sit next to each other in a suffix chain. The 'y' is required to bridge the stem 'bağışla' and the suffix 'ın'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

BağışlayınLevel 1Excuse Me or Sorry

Learn This First

Bağışlayın is a fixed polite expression derived from the verb 'bağışlamaq' (to forgive). To understand its usage, a learner should be familiar with the concept of formal/polite address in Azerbaijani, typically introduced through second person plural verb endings.

Words in This Pattern

bağışlamaq