---
title: "How to Say \"Sorry\" in Russian: Извините vs Прости (Audio)"
description: "\"Sorry\" in Russian: извините (izviníte) is formal, прости (prostí) is informal. When to use each, how to get attention, with pronunciation and audio."
canonical: "https://dailycyrillic.com/learn/how-to-say/sorry"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-06-13T18:41:48.000Z"
modified: "2026-11-02T10:04:45.000Z"
author: "Daily Cyrillic"
---

# How to Say "Sorry" in Russian

By [Daily Cyrillic](/about) · Updated 2 Nov 2026

“Sorry” in Russian is извините (izviníte). Use this expression as your starting point, then check the examples for tone, formality and context. Listen to the pronunciation, notice the stressed syllable and compare the common variants before choosing the wording that fits your conversation.

Reading time: about 2 min.

Russian

извините

Transliteration

izviníte

Meaning

sorry / excuse me (formal)

## Turn this guide into words you can use

Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.

In Russian

извините

izviníte - sorry / excuse me (formal)

## Variants & registers

-   простиprostí
    
    sorry / forgive me - to one friend (informal)
    
    informal
-   извиниizviní
    
    sorry - the informal singular of извините
    
    informal
-   проститеprostíte
    
    sorry / excuse me - formal, interchangeable with извините
    
    formal
-   мне очень жальmne óchen zhal
    
    I'm very sorry - sympathy, not an apology for a fault
    
    heartfelt

## Breakdown & pronunciation

### Pronunciation

извините has its stress on the third syllable: iz-vi-NEE-tye. прости is pra-STEE, stress on the last syllable. The о in прости is unstressed, so it sounds like "a".

## Example sentences

-   Извините, я опоздал.
    
    Izviníte, ya opozdál.
    
    Sorry, I'm late.
    
-   Извините, где метро?
    
    Izviníte, gde metró?
    
    Excuse me, where is the metro?
    
-   Прости, я не хотел.
    
    Prostí, ya ne khotél.
    
    Sorry, I didn't mean to.
    
-   Мне очень жаль.
    
    Mne óchen zhal.
    
    I'm very sorry.
    

## Usage & etiquette

извини / извините literally means "excuse me" and is the all-purpose apology and attention-getter - use it to apologize, to squeeze past someone, or to start a question to a stranger.

прости / простите means "forgive me" and is a little weightier - good for a real apology. For expressing sympathy about something that is not your fault (bad news, a loss), use мне жаль ("I'm sorry"), not извините.

## Practice

### Practice deck

1 / 5

## FAQ

### How do you say "sorry" in Russian?

Formally, "sorry" is извините (izviníte); informally it is прости (prostí). Both also serve as "excuse me" to get attention.

### What is the difference between извините and простите?

They overlap heavily. извините leans toward "excuse me" (minor things, getting attention); простите leans toward "forgive me" (a sincere apology). Both are formal/polite.

## Turn this guide into words you can use

Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.

[All Russian phrases](/learn/russian-phrases)

## More phrases to say

-   [
    
    How to Say "I Love You"
    
    я тебя люблю (ya tebyá lyublyú)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/i-love-you)
-   [
    
    How to Say "Goodbye"
    
    до свидания (do svidániya)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/goodbye)
-   [
    
    How to Say "Good Morning"
    
    доброе утро (dóbroye útro)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/good-morning)
-   [
    
    How to Say "How Are You"
    
    как дела? (kak delá?)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/how-are-you)
-   [
    
    How to Say "Good Night"
    
    спокойной ночи (spokóynoy nóchi)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/good-night)
-   [
    
    How to Say "What Is Your Name"
    
    как тебя зовут? (kak tebyá zovút?)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/what-is-your-name)
-   [
    
    Common Russian Phrases
    
    The phrases hub: greetings, courtesy, questions and more.
    
    ](/learn/russian-phrases)
-   [
    
    Russian Greetings
    
    Hello, times of day, goodbye and how are you - with audio.
    
    ](/learn/russian-greetings)

Source: https://dailycyrillic.com/learn/how-to-say/sorry