afsakið / fyrirgefðu
Excuse Me and Sorry
Afsakið means excuse me, fyrirgefðu means sorry, and því miður means unfortunately.
How It Works
Afsakið means excuse me. It comes from the verb afsaka (to excuse). It is the plural command, but it has become a fixed polite phrase that you can say to one stranger or to a whole room. Use it to get attention or for a small apology:
- Afsakið, hvar er klósettið? Excuse me, where is the toilet?
- Afsakið biðina. Sorry for the wait.
Fyrirgefðu means sorry. It is the command of fyrirgefa (to forgive) with þú joined on, so it speaks to one person. To several people, say fyrirgefið. It also works like excuse me and pardon?: Fyrirgefðu, hvað sagðirðu? (Sorry, what did you say?)
Því miður means unfortunately or I'm afraid. It is not an apology for something you did. Use it when you have to give bad news. It counts as the first part of the sentence, so the verb comes next and the subject moves after it, as in verb-second word order: Því miður veit ég það ekki.
If you bump into someone, say fyrirgefðu or afsakið, not því miður.
Examples (6)
- Afsakið, hvar er klósettið?
Excuse me, where is the toilet?
Word by Word: Excuse, where is the-toilet?
- Því miður veit ég það ekki.
Unfortunately, I don't know.
Word by Word: By-that less know I it not.
The verb veit comes right after því miður, before ég.
- Fyrirgefðu, ég skil ekki.
Sorry, I don't understand.
Word by Word: Forgive-you, I understand not.
- Fyrirgefðu, hvað sagðirðu?
Sorry, what did you say?
Word by Word: Forgive-you, what said-you?
- Afsakið biðina.
Sorry for the wait.
Word by Word: Excuse the-wait.
- Fyrirgefið, krakkar, ég gleymdi því.
Sorry, kids, I forgot it.
Word by Word: Forgive, kids, I forgot it.
Fyrirgefið speaks to more than one person.
Common Mistakes
Saying því miður when you bump into someone.
Því miður!Fyrirgefðu!Því miður means unfortunately. It regrets a fact, like bad news. To say sorry for your own action, use fyrirgefðu or afsakið.
Keeping the subject before the verb after því miður.
Því miður ég veit það ekki.Því miður veit ég það ekki.Því miður takes the first place in the sentence, so the verb must come second, right after it.
Saying fyrirgefðu to a group.
Fyrirgefðu, krakkar!Fyrirgefið, krakkar!Fyrirgefðu is the one-person command. For a group, use fyrirgefið, or the fixed phrase afsakið.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Apologies build on greetings and on þú for everyone.
Related Patterns
- The Verb Comes Second
Því miður fills the first place, so the verb comes next: Því miður veit ég það ekki.
Level 1 - Commands (komdu, farðu)
Fyrirgefðu and afsakið are command forms of fyrirgefa and afsaka.
Level 2 - ertu / viltu / talarðuJoined Forms (Ertu, Viltu, Talarðu)
Fyrirgefðu has þú joined to the verb, like ertu and viltu.
Level 1 - hvar / hvert / hvaðanWhere, Where to and Where from
Afsakið often comes before a question with hvar, such as Afsakið, hvar er ...?
Level 1 - takkThanks (Takk)
Takk and afsakið are the two polite words you will use most with strangers.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice afsakið / fyrirgefðu in Bubblegum
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