A1 Expression Informel

scusa

sorry

Phrase in 30 Seconds

'Scusa' is the essential Italian way to say 'sorry' or 'excuse me' when talking to friends, family, or peers.

  • Means: 'Sorry' or 'Excuse me' in informal settings.
  • Used in: Bumping into someone, interrupting a friend, or apologizing for a small mistake.
  • Don't confuse: Use 'scusa' for friends, but 'scusi' for strangers or elders.
Small mistake + friendly smile = 'Scusa!'

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'scusa' is your basic tool for being polite. Use it like 'sorry' or 'excuse me' with friends. It is very easy to remember because it sounds like 'excuse'. Just remember: use 'scusa' for one friend and 'scusate' for a group of friends.
You can now use 'scusa' in more specific sentences. You might say 'Scusa per il ritardo' (Sorry for the delay) or 'Scusa, mi aiuti?' (Excuse me, can you help me?). You are starting to understand that 'scusa' is for people you know, while 'scusi' is for strangers.
At the intermediate level, you use 'scusa' to navigate social nuances. You can use it to interrupt a conversation politely or to introduce a differing opinion ('Scusa, ma non sono d'accordo'). You also understand the difference between 'scusa' (apology for an action) and 'mi dispiace' (feeling sad for someone).
You are now mastering the pragmatic uses of 'scusa'. You recognize when it's being used sarcastically or to express indignation. You can use 'chiedere scusa' in various tenses and understand how to attach pronouns correctly in complex sentences, such as 'Avrei dovuto chiederti scusa prima'.
Your usage of 'scusa' is near-native. You understand its role in 'face-saving' social strategies. You can analyze how 'scusa' functions as a discourse marker to manage turn-taking in rapid-fire Italian conversation. You also recognize literary or archaic variations like 'chiedo venia' and use them for stylistic effect.
At this level, you possess a deep cognitive understanding of 'scusa' as an imperative-based speech act. You can navigate the subtle sociolinguistic boundaries between informal apology and formal deference. You understand the diachronic evolution from Latin legalism to modern phatic communication and can employ the term with perfect prosody to convey everything from genuine contrition to biting irony.

Signification

Apology.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Italians use 'scusa' frequently but expect it to be accompanied by eye contact. Avoiding eye contact while apologizing can seem insincere. In cities like Milan, 'scusa' is often used very quickly and efficiently in the hustle of the commute. Apologies in the south can be more expansive and may involve more physical touch, like a light tap on the shoulder. Young people often use 'scusa' sarcastically to point out someone else's rudeness.

💡

The 'S' Sound

The 's' in 'scusa' is followed by a hard 'c', making a 'sk' sound. Don't pronounce it like 'sh'!

⚠️

The Formal Trap

When in doubt, use 'Scusi'. It's better to be too formal than too rude.

Signification

Apology.

💡

The 'S' Sound

The 's' in 'scusa' is followed by a hard 'c', making a 'sk' sound. Don't pronounce it like 'sh'!

⚠️

The Formal Trap

When in doubt, use 'Scusi'. It's better to be too formal than too rude.

🎯

Add 'Tanto'

Saying 'Scusa tanto' makes you sound much more sincere and native.

💬

Hand Gestures

A slight tilt of the head and a small hand-raise often accompany a sincere 'scusa'.

Teste-toi

You bump into your best friend. What do you say?

Oh, ____! Non ti avevo visto.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Scusa

Since it's your best friend, the informal 'scusa' is correct.

Fill in the plural form to apologize to a group of friends.

____ ragazzi, sono in ritardo!

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Scusate

Addressing a group ('ragazzi') requires the plural imperative 'scusate'.

Match the phrase to the situation.

1. Scusa, sai l'ora? | 2. Mi dispiace per il tuo gatto. | 3. Scusi, dov'è l'ufficio?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

Scusa is informal, Mi dispiace is sympathy, Scusi is formal.

Complete the dialogue with the most natural form.

A: 'Ehi, mi stai ascoltando?' | B: '____, ero distratto.'

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Scusa

The use of 'Ehi' and 'mi stai' indicates an informal conversation.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

12 questions

Only if used with someone you should be formal with (like a boss). With friends, it's perfectly polite.

'Scusami' literally means 'excuse me'. They are 99% interchangeable in casual speech.

It's better to say 'Scusi' unless you are at a very casual place where you know the waiter well.

The most common replies are 'Di nulla', 'Figurati', or 'Non ti preoccupare'.

Yes, it is standard Italian used from Milan to Sicily.

No. Unlike Japanese 'sumimasen', 'scusa' is only for apologies or attention.

It means 'Excuse me?!' and expresses shock or disbelief at something said.

Young people might say 'scu'', but it's very informal and regional.

Yes, 'scusa per il ritardo' is the perfect way to start.

You must use the plural: 'Scusate'.

It's both! As a verb, it means 'excuse'. As a noun, it means 'an excuse'.

Only if the email is to a friend. For business, use 'Mi scuso' or 'Chiedo scusa'.

Expressions liées

🔗

scusami

similar

Excuse me (personal)

🔗

scusi

specialized form

Excuse me (formal)

🔗

mi dispiace

contrast

I'm sorry / I feel bad

🔗

permesso

similar

May I?

🔗

perdonami

builds on

Forgive me

🔗

chiedere scusa

builds on

To apologize

Où l'utiliser

🚶‍♂️

Bumping into a friend

Marco: Ouch! Mi hai pestato il piede!

Sofia: Oh, scusa! Non l'ho fatto apposta.

informal
⌚

Asking for the time

Luca: Scusa, sai che ore sono?

Paola: Sì, sono le tre e mezza.

informal
☕

Late for coffee

Giulia: Sei in ritardo di dieci minuti!

Matteo: Scusa tanto, c'era molto traffico.

informal
🗣️

Interrupting a sibling

Fratello: ...e quindi ho deciso di...

Sorella: Scusa se ti interrompo, ma mamma ti chiama.

informal
📱

Texting a mistake

User1: Ci vediamo alle 8?

User2: Scusa, volevo scrivere alle 9! 😅

informal
🍻

At a crowded bar

Cliente: Scusa, posso passare?

Amico: Certo, prego!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Excuse a...' -> 'Scusa'. It sounds like the start of 'Excuse me'.

Visual Association

Imagine a friendly Italian person accidentally bumping into you at a gelato stand and saying 'Scusa!' with a shrug and a smile.

Rhyme

Se un errore farai, 'Scusa' dirai!

Story

You are in Rome. You accidentally step on a pigeon's toe. The pigeon looks at you. You say 'Scusa!'. The pigeon nods and flies away. You've just used the most important word in Italy.

Word Web

scusarescusamiscusatescusiscusabilescusantescusarsi

Défi

Try to say 'Scusa' at least three times today—even if you're just apologizing to your cat or a chair you bumped into.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Disculpa / Perdona

Italian 'scusa' is more commonly used as an attention-getter than 'perdona' in some regions.

French high

Excuse-moi / Pardon

French uses 'Pardon' much more frequently for minor physical bumps than Italian uses 'Scusa'.

German moderate

Entschuldigung

German doesn't have a short, verb-based informal imperative as common as 'scusa'; 'Entschuldigung' is a noun used as an interjection.

Japanese partial

すみません (Sumimasen)

Italian 'scusa' is never used to say 'thank you', whereas 'sumimasen' is.

Arabic moderate

عفواً (Afwan) / آسف (Asif)

Italian 'scusa' covers both 'Afwan' and 'Asif' in informal contexts.

Chinese partial

对不起 (Duìbuqǐ) / 不好意思 (Bù hǎoyìsi)

Italian 'scusa' is used for both, depending on tone, but 'scusa' is closer to 'Bù hǎoyìsi'.

Korean partial

미안해 (Mianhae) / 저기요 (Jeogiyo)

Italian 'scusa' combines these two distinct Korean functions into one word.

Portuguese high

Desculpa

In Brazil, 'Licença' is much more common for 'excuse me' than 'scusa' is in Italy.

Easily Confused

scusa vs Mi dispiace

Learners use 'scusa' to express sympathy for bad news.

Use 'scusa' if you stepped on their foot; use 'mi dispiace' if their foot hurts for some other reason.

scusa vs Permesso

Learners use 'scusa' to ask to enter a room.

Think of 'permesso' as 'permission'. Use it when crossing a threshold.

FAQ (12)

Only if used with someone you should be formal with (like a boss). With friends, it's perfectly polite.

'Scusami' literally means 'excuse me'. They are 99% interchangeable in casual speech.

It's better to say 'Scusi' unless you are at a very casual place where you know the waiter well.

The most common replies are 'Di nulla', 'Figurati', or 'Non ti preoccupare'.

Yes, it is standard Italian used from Milan to Sicily.

No. Unlike Japanese 'sumimasen', 'scusa' is only for apologies or attention.

It means 'Excuse me?!' and expresses shock or disbelief at something said.

Young people might say 'scu'', but it's very informal and regional.

Yes, 'scusa per il ritardo' is the perfect way to start.

You must use the plural: 'Scusate'.

It's both! As a verb, it means 'excuse'. As a noun, it means 'an excuse'.

Only if the email is to a friend. For business, use 'Mi scuso' or 'Chiedo scusa'.

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !