pardon

/paʁ.dɔ̃/

nouninterjection★Beginner

formal

Forgiveness or excuse for an offense or mistake.

Je vous demande pardon pour mon retard.

I ask your pardon for my lateness.

informal

An interjection used to politely ask someone to repeat what they said or to get their attention.

Pardon ? Je n'ai pas bien entendu.

Pardon? I didn't hear that well.

Collocations

demander pardonto ask for forgivenessaccorder un pardonto grant a pardon

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

sans pardonphrase

without mercy

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Use

Use 'pardon' as a noun in formal apologies, but as an interjection in casual conversation to ask for repetition.

⚡Gold Rule

Politeness

'Pardon' is a polite way to acknowledge a mistake or seek clarification.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'pardoun', from Latin 'perdonare' (to forgive).

📝Usage Notes

In formal contexts, 'pardon' is often used to apologize or seek forgiveness. As an interjection, it is more casual and used to request repetition or attention.

Word Breakdown

par-

through

prefix

-don

gift

root

✎ Noted on May 2, 2026FR → EN