вибачте/перепрошую
Apology Formulas
Ukrainian uses two main words for 'excuse me' or 'sorry': вибачте (universal) and перепрошую (polite/regional). Use them to apologize for mistakes or to get someone's attention.
How It Works
In Ukrainian, navigating social situations requires knowing when to use these two formulas:
- Вибачте: This is the most common way to say 'sorry.' It is the polite imperative form of the verb вибачити. Use it when you make a mistake, arrive late, or need to ask a stranger a question.
- Перепрошую: Literally meaning 'I apologize,' this is a very polite, slightly more elegant formula. It is especially common in Western Ukraine. It is perfect for minor social 'bumps,' like squeezing past someone in a crowd or asking someone to repeat something you didn't hear.
Key Differences:
1. Grammar: Вибачте changes based on who you talk to (use вибач for friends, вибачте for strangers). Перепрошую is a fixed form and never changes.
2. Sympathy: Neither word is used for sympathy (e.g., 'I'm sorry for your loss'). For that, use мені шкода.
3. Regionality: You will hear перепрошую much more frequently in cities like Lviv, while вибачте is the standard across the entire country.
Examples (5)
- Вибачте, ви не підкажете, де тут аптека?
Excuse me, could you tell me where the pharmacy is here?
Word by Word: Excuse, you not will-prompt, where here pharmacy?
Using 'вибачте' to politely get a stranger's attention before asking a question.
- Перепрошую, можна пройти?
Excuse me, may I pass?
Word by Word: I-apologize, possible to-pass?
'Перепрошую' is the perfect choice for minor social inconveniences like moving through a crowd.
- Вибачте за запізнення, були затори.
Sorry for being late, there were traffic jams.
Word by Word: Excuse for lateness, were traffic-jams.
When apologizing for a specific action, use 'за' followed by the noun in the accusative case.
- Вибач мені, будь ласка.
Forgive me, please.
Word by Word: Forgive to-me, please.
The informal singular form 'вибач' is used with friends or family.
- Перепрошую? Я не почув.
Pardon? I didn't hear.
Word by Word: I-apologize? I not heard.
'Перепрошую' functions as 'pardon' when you need someone to repeat themselves.
Common Mistakes
Using the reflexive 'вибачаюсь'.
Я вибачаюсь за це.Вибачте за це.The suffix '-ся' can mean 'self', so 'вибачаюсь' reads literally as 'I excuse myself'. Style guides also treat it as a calque of Russian 'извиняюсь', so careful Ukrainian prefers 'вибачте' or 'перепрошую'.
Using 'вибачте' to express sympathy.
Вибачте, що ваш собака захворів.Мені шкода, що ваш собака захворів.'Вибачте' is for admitting fault. If you didn't cause the problem, use 'мені шкода' (I feel sorry/sad) to show sympathy.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use these apology formulas correctly, learners should understand the concept of polite address (using 'ви') and the corresponding verb endings for polite or plural commands.
Related Patterns
- будь ласкаPlease and You Are Welcome
Often paired with apologies to increase politeness (e.g., 'Вибачте, будь ласка').
Level 1 - виPolite or Plural You
'Вибачте' is the formal/plural form used when addressing someone as 'ви'.
Level 1 - тиInformal Singular You
'Вибач' is the informal form used when addressing someone as 'ти'.
Level 1 - Polite Imperative with ви
'Вибачте' is a specific application of the polite imperative mood.
Level 2 - Accusative direct object
When apologizing 'for' something, the object following 'за' is in the accusative case.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice вибачте/перепрошую in Bubblegum
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