Ever feel like ‘Sorry to disturb you’ is overused? You’re not alone! In this post, we’ll share 26 fresh and friendly ways to apologize without sounding boring. Whether you’re texting a friend, emailing a coworker, or talking to your boss, we’ve got you covered. Let’s shake things up and make saying sorry a bit more fun and creative. Ready to learn some new phrases? Let’s dive in!
26 Other Ways to Say “Sorry to Disturb You”
Here are 26 alternatives to “Sorry to disturb you”:
- Excuse me.
- Pardon me.
- I hope I’m not interrupting.
- May I have a moment of your time?
- I don’t mean to bother you.
- If I could have a second.
- Sorry for the inconvenience.
- Sorry to interrupt.
- May I disturb you for a moment?
- Excuse the interruption.
- May I trouble you for a minute?
- I apologize for the interruption.
- Is this a good time?
- Do you have a moment?
- Can I ask you something quickly?
- I hate to bother you.
- May I have your attention for a second?
- Just a quick question.
- Sorry to intrude.
- If I could just have a minute of your time.
- I don’t want to disturb you, but…
- Sorry to bother you, but…
- Would it be alright if I interrupted?
- If I could interrupt for a moment.
- I know you’re busy, but…
- I hope this isn’t a bad time.
1. Excuse me.
“Excuse me” is a polite way to get someone’s attention. You might say this when you need to ask a question or if you need help. It shows that you are being considerate and respectful of their time. For example, if you are in a store and need to find something, you can say “Excuse me” to a staff member before asking your question. It is a simple phrase that helps you start a conversation without being rude. People often respond positively when you use “Excuse me,” as it is seen as good manners.
2. Pardon me.
“Pardon me” is another polite way to ask for someone’s attention or to move past them. It is similar to “Excuse me.” You might say this if you accidentally bump into someone or need to get by in a crowded place. For instance, if you are on a busy train and need to reach the door, you can say “Pardon me” as you move through the crowd. This phrase shows that you respect others’ space and time. Using “Pardon me” helps keep interactions friendly and courteous.
3. I hope I’m not interrupting.
When you say, “I hope I’m not interrupting,” it shows you are aware that the person might be busy. It is a gentle way to start a conversation, especially if you are unsure if it is a good time. For example, if you need to ask your teacher a question during their free time, you can start with, “I hope I’m not interrupting.” This way, you show respect for their time and give them a chance to let you know if they are available. It helps make your request seem less intrusive.
4. May I have a moment of your time?
“May I have a moment of your time?” is a polite request to speak with someone briefly. It suggests that you only need a short amount of their time. For example, if you need to talk to your boss about a small issue, you can ask, “May I have a moment of your time?” This way, they know it won’t take long. It shows you value their time and are considerate of their schedule. People are often more willing to help when they know it won’t take much time.
5. I don’t mean to bother you.
Saying “I don’t mean to bother you” is a way to show you are aware that the person might be busy. It lets them know you understand they might be doing something important. For instance, if you need to ask your friend for a favor while they are working, you can start with, “I don’t mean to bother you.” This phrase shows you respect their time and effort, making them more likely to listen to you. It helps keep the conversation polite and considerate.
6. If I could have a second.
“If I could have a second” is a quick and polite way to ask for someone’s attention. It suggests that you need very little time. For example, if you see a coworker who looks busy but you need to ask a quick question, you can say, “If I could have a second.” This lets them know your request is brief. It shows you respect their time and makes them more willing to help. Using this phrase helps keep interactions short and to the point.
7. Sorry for the inconvenience.
“Sorry for the inconvenience” is a way to apologize for causing any trouble or extra work. You might use this phrase if you have to ask someone to do something that might be a bit of a hassle. For instance, if you need to change an appointment at the last minute, you can say, “Sorry for the inconvenience.” This shows you understand it might be troublesome for them and that you appreciate their help. It helps keep the conversation polite and respectful.
8. Sorry to interrupt.
“Sorry to interrupt” is a polite way to acknowledge that you might be disturbing someone. It shows you are aware they might be busy and you do not want to be rude. For example, if you need to ask a question during a meeting, you can start with, “Sorry to interrupt.” This phrase shows respect for the ongoing activity and lets others know you do not intend to disrupt. It helps keep interactions smooth and considerate, making people more likely to respond positively.
9. May I disturb you for a moment?
“May I disturb you for a moment?” is a polite way to ask for someone’s attention. It shows you understand they might be busy and that you only need a short amount of their time. For example, if you need to ask your teacher a quick question during their break, you can say, “May I disturb you for a moment?” This lets them know you respect their time and are mindful of not taking too long. It helps keep the conversation courteous and brief.
10. Excuse the interruption.
“Excuse the interruption” is a way to apologize for breaking into someone’s activity. It shows you understand they were busy and you are sorry for disturbing them. For instance, if you need to join a conversation to give important information, you can start with, “Excuse the interruption.” This phrase helps you acknowledge the disruption and shows respect for the people you are speaking to. It makes the interaction more polite and helps smooth over any annoyance.
11. May I trouble you for a minute?
“May I trouble you for a minute?” is a polite way to ask for someone’s time. It suggests that you need just a short moment of their attention. For example, if you need to ask a coworker for help with something small, you can say, “May I trouble you for a minute?” This phrase shows you are being considerate of their time and that your request is brief. It helps make the conversation polite and ensures the person knows you value their time.
12. I apologize for the interruption.
“I apologize for the interruption” is a formal way to say sorry for disturbing someone. It shows you are aware that they were busy and that you are sorry for breaking their focus. For example, if you need to speak to your boss during a meeting, you can say, “I apologize for the interruption.” This phrase shows respect for their time and the importance of what they were doing. It helps keep the conversation respectful and professional.
13. Is this a good time?
“Is this a good time?” is a way to check if someone is available to talk. It shows you are considerate of their schedule and do not want to disturb them if they are busy. For example, if you need to ask your friend for advice, you can start with, “Is this a good time?” This question lets them tell you if they are free to talk or if you should come back later. It helps ensure your conversation happens at a convenient time for both of you.
14. Do you have a moment?
“Do you have a moment?” is a polite way to ask if someone is free to talk for a short time. It suggests that your request will not take long. For example, if you need to ask your teacher a quick question after class, you can say, “Do you have a moment?” This phrase shows you are being respectful of their time and that you only need a little bit of it. It helps make the conversation brief and considerate.
15. Can I ask you something quickly?
“Can I ask you something quickly?” is a straightforward way to request someone’s attention for a brief question. It shows that you respect their time and do not want to take up too much of it. For example, if you need to ask your boss a short question while they are working, you can say, “Can I ask you something quickly?” This phrase makes it clear that your request will be quick and helps ensure they are more willing to help you.
16. I hate to bother you.
“I hate to bother you” is a way to show that you are aware you might be interrupting someone. It suggests that you do not want to disturb them but need to ask something important. For example, if you need help from a busy coworker, you can start with, “I hate to bother you.” This phrase shows you are being considerate of their time and efforts. It helps make your request seem more thoughtful and less intrusive.
17. May I have your attention for a second?
“May I have your attention for a second?” is a polite way to ask someone to focus on you briefly. It suggests that you need very little of their time. For example, if you need to make an announcement in a meeting, you can say, “May I have your attention for a second?” This phrase shows you are being respectful of their time and that your message is quick. It helps ensure people listen to you without feeling their time is being wasted.
18. Just a quick question.
“Just a quick question” is a way to let someone know you need their help briefly. It suggests that your question will not take much time to answer. For example, if you need to ask your friend something while they are busy, you can say, “Just a quick question.” This phrase shows you are being mindful of their time and that you do not intend to take long. It helps make your request seem simple and easy to address.
19. Sorry to intrude.
“Sorry to intrude” is a polite way to apologize for disturbing someone. It shows you understand they might be busy and that you are sorry for interrupting them. For example, if you need to speak to a coworker who is in the middle of a task, you can start with, “Sorry to intrude.” This phrase shows respect for their work and time, making them more likely to listen to you. It helps keep the conversation polite and considerate.
20. If I could just have a minute of your time.
“If I could just have a minute of your time” is a polite way to ask for a brief moment of someone’s attention. It suggests that your request will be quick. For example, if you need to ask your teacher a quick question after class, you can say, “If I could just have a minute of your time.” This phrase shows you value their time and are being considerate. It helps make your request seem brief and respectful.
21. I don’t want to disturb you, but…
“I don’t want to disturb you, but…” is a way to show that you are aware you might be interrupting someone. It suggests that you have something important to ask or say. For example, if you need to talk to your boss while they are working, you can start with, “I don’t want to disturb you, but…” This phrase shows you are being considerate of their time and that your request is important. It helps make your interruption seem more justified and respectful.
22. Sorry to bother you, but…
“Sorry to bother you, but…” is a polite way to acknowledge that you might be interrupting someone. It shows you understand they might be busy and that you are sorry for disturbing them. For example, if you need to ask a coworker for help while they are working, you can start with, “Sorry to bother you, but…” This phrase shows respect for their time and effort, making them more likely to help you. It helps keep the conversation polite and considerate.
23. Would it be alright if I interrupted?
“Would it be alright if I interrupted?” is a polite way to ask for permission to disturb someone. It shows you are being considerate of their time and activities. For example, if you need to speak to your teacher during their free time, you can ask, “Would it be alright if I interrupted?” This phrase lets them decide if it is a good time to talk. It shows respect for their schedule and helps make the conversation more polite.
24. If I could interrupt for a moment.
“If I could interrupt for a moment” is a polite way to ask for a brief moment of someone’s attention. It suggests that your request will not take long. For example, if you need to give your boss important information during a meeting, you can say, “If I could interrupt for a moment.” This phrase shows you value their time and are being considerate. It helps make your interruption seem quick and necessary.
25. I know you’re busy, but…
“I know you’re busy, but…” is a way to show that you understand someone is occupied but you need to ask something important. For example, if you need to talk to your coworker while they are working, you can start with, “I know you’re busy, but…” This phrase shows you respect their time and efforts. It helps make your request seem more thoughtful and less intrusive, making them more likely to listen to you.
26. I hope this isn’t a bad time.
“I hope this isn’t a bad time” is a way to check if it is okay to talk to someone. It shows you are being considerate of their schedule. For example, if you need to ask your friend for advice, you can start with, “I hope this isn’t a bad time.” This phrase lets them tell you if they are free to talk or if you should come back later. It helps ensure your conversation happens at a convenient time for both of you, making the interaction more respectful.
I hope these phrases help you speak to others politely and with respect. Each phrase shows that you care about their time and feelings. Using these polite ways to get someone’s attention can make conversations better and more friendly. Remember, being considerate and kind when you talk to others makes a big difference. People are more likely to help and respond positively when you show respect for their time and efforts.
