I beg your pardon?

FORMAL
This page is about the conversational phrase I beg your pardon?

Meaning

You can use this to ask someone to repeat what they've just said.

For example

  • I couldn't hear him, so I said, "I beg your pardon?"

  • It was too noisy to talk. When I said, "I beg your pardon?" she said, "Sorry? What was that?"

Note:
Also "Pardon me?", "Pardon?", "Again, please?", "Sorry?", "What was that?", "Say again?", What?" and "Huh?" (the first is the most formal and the last is the least formal).

Quick Quiz

You can say "I beg your pardon?" if you haven't

a. been heard by someone

b. heard what someone's said

c. heard from someone recently
a) been heard by someone b) heard what someone's said c) heard from someone recently

Contributor: Matt Errey