To say sorry in Punjabi, use maaf karna (ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ), literally "forgive (me)", which also works as a polite "excuse me". Maaf karo (ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ) is just as polite and also works for a group, and maaf kar dio ji (ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ) to an elder. To get someone's attention, say suno ji (ਸੁਣੋ ਜੀ).
Sorry is a strangely loaded word to learn in any language, because so much of it is not the word at all but the tone, the moment, and who you are speaking to. In Punjabi there is one core phrase that does most of the work, and a handful of softer ways to ask forgiveness or get past someone politely. Here is what I actually use, and the texture around each.
How do you say sorry in Punjabi?
The central phrase for "sorry" and "excuse me" is built on the word maaf (ਮਾਫ਼), meaning forgiveness or pardon.
ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ: maaf karna: "forgive (me)"
This one phrase covers a lot: a proper apology, a polite "excuse me" to get someone's attention, an "I beg your pardon". It is the safe, all-purpose choice, and if you only remember one phrase from this post, make it this one.
The stronger, fuller version is:
ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ: maaf kar dio: "please forgive me" (more emphatic, respectful)
Karna, karo, kari: matching politeness
Like most Punjabi verbs, the ending shifts with how formal or respectful you are being:
| Phrase | Gurmukhi | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| maaf kar | ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ | very casual, a friend |
| maaf karna | ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ | neutral, everyday, safe |
| maaf karo | ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ | just as polite, also for a group |
| maaf kar dio / karo ji | ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ | respectful to an elder |
That little ji (ਜੀ) on the end is the politeness dial Punjabi runs on. Add ji and almost anything becomes respectful. I leaned on ji heavily when I started speaking, because it buys you warmth even when the rest of your sentence is shaky. It is the same move that makes thank you sound respectful in Punjabi.
How do you say excuse me in Punjabi?
"Excuse me" in English does three different jobs, and Punjabi splits them:
| Situation | Phrase | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Getting attention ("excuse me, sir") | suno ji | ਸੁਣੋ ਜੀ |
| Getting past someone | zara raah dena / pase ho jao | ਜ਼ਰਾ ਰਾਹ ਦੇਣਾ |
| Apologising for a small bump | maaf karna | ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ |
Suno ji literally means "listen, please", and it is how you flag someone down in a shop or on the street without sounding rude. Zara raah dena is "kindly give way". Both feel far more natural than translating "excuse me" word for word. Suno ji is also a good opener before bargaining at a Punjabi market.
A small cultural note
Punjabi, like a lot of South Asian languages, apologises less casually than English does. English speakers say sorry reflexively, for tiny things, sometimes for existing. In a close Punjabi family, over-apologising for small everyday things can feel a little distant, the same way over-thanking can. Save a heartfelt maaf karna for when it carries real weight, and use the lighter ji-softened phrases for the small daily friction.
That said, in a shop, with a stranger, or with someone older you want to honour, a clear maaf karna ji is never wrong and always lands well. It belongs on any list of basics to learn before visiting Punjab. If you want more of these everyday building blocks, I gathered a set in 5 everyday Punjabi phrases.
The word is easy. The judgement of when to reach for it is the part that takes living in the language, and that comes with time.
