atsiprašau
Sorry and Excuse Me
Atsiprašau! means Sorry! and Excuse me! Use it to apologize, to get someone’s attention or to squeeze past.
How It Works
Two jobs, one word.
- Getting attention: Atsiprašau, kur yra stotis? Excuse me, where is the station?
- Apologizing: Atsiprašau, aš nesuprantu. Sorry, I don’t understand.
How the word is built. At-si-prašau is prašau (I ask) with the prefix at- and the reflexive -si- inside it. The reflexive sits right after the prefix. See -si- after a prefix.
Saying what for. Add už with the accusative: Atsiprašau už vėlavimą (Sorry for being late). Shops and stations say Atsiprašome už nepatogumus (We apologize for the inconvenience).
Saying who to. The person is in the genitive: Atsiprašau tavęs (I apologize to you), Atsiprašau jūsų. See pronoun case forms.
Forgive me. Atleiskite! (to someone you call jūs) and Atleisk! (to a friend) literally mean forgive! They work as a polite Excuse me or I am sorry. Match the form to tu or jūs.
Answering an apology. Say Nieko tokio (That’s all right) or Nieko baisaus (No problem).
Examples (6)
- Atsiprašau, kur yra stotis?
Excuse me, where is the station?
Word by Word: I-apologize, where is station?
Atsiprašau opens a question to a stranger.
- Atsiprašau, aš nesuprantu.
Sorry, I don’t understand.
Word by Word: I-apologize, I not-understand.
- Atsiprašau už vėlavimą.
Sorry I’m late.
Word by Word: I-apologize for lateness.
Už takes the accusative: vėlavimas becomes vėlavimą.
- Atleiskite, ar čia laisva?
Excuse me, is this seat free?
Word by Word: Forgive, question here free?
Atleiskite is polite, for someone you call jūs.
- Atsiprašau! — Nieko tokio.
Sorry! — That’s all right.
Word by Word: I-apologize! — Nothing such.
A common reply to an apology.
- Atsiprašau tavęs, Rūta.
I’m sorry, Rūta.
Word by Word: I-apologize of-you, Rūta.
The person you apologize to is in the genitive: tavęs.
Common Mistakes
Putting the person you apologize to in the dative.
Atsiprašau tau.Atsiprašau tavęs.Atsiprašyti takes the person in the genitive: tavęs, jūsų, mamos.
Mixing the tu and jūs forms for one person.
Atleisk, ar jūs žinote, kur yra stotis?Atleiskite, ar jūs žinote, kur yra stotis?Atleisk is for tu. When you call a stranger jūs, use atleiskite so both forms match.
Related Patterns
- prašau / prašomPlease and You Are Welcome
Atsiprašau is built on prašau.
Level 1 - ačiūThanking
The other key polite word.
Level 1 - tu / jūsInformal Tu and Polite Jūs
Choosing between atleisk and atleiskite.
Level 1 - Reflexive -si- After a Prefix
Why -si- sits after at- in atsiprašau.
Level 3 - už + accusativeFor and in Exchange for with Už
Atsiprašau už vėlavimą: už takes the accusative.
Level 2 - Commands: -k, -kiteCommands with -k and -kite
Atleisk and atleiskite are imperatives.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice atsiprašau in Bubblegum
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