SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/de-entschuldigung

How do you politely get a stranger's attention, like 'Excuse me'?

Entschuldigung means excuse me or sorry.

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Why: Entschuldigung covers both 'excuse me' to get attention and 'sorry' after bumping someone. It is the one polite word every traveler needs.

Huh, didn't know that: Wiktionary says people often shorten it to 'Tschuldigung' in casual speech.

The dad joke
What did the whale say when he bumped into the shark? Sorry! I didn't do it on porpoise.
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References

Answer: Entschuldigung. Entschuldigung covers both 'excuse me' to get attention and 'sorry' after bumping someone. It is the one polite word every traveler needs.

  1. Wiktionary: Entschuldigung en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Entschuldigung
    Entschuldigung! excuse me, pardon, sorry excuse me (request for someone's attention)
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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