noun
excuse me
B1
Noun meaning 'excuse me', 'pardon' or 'forgiveness'. Feminine (die Verzeihung) with plural Verzeihungen. Used as a polite exclamation ('Verzeihung!') or in phrases like 'um Verzeihung bitten' (to ask for forgiveness) — note the preposition 'um'. Formal register, common in apologies.
Examples
Ich bitte um Verzeihung.
I apologize.
Die Frau bat um Verzeihung, als sie die Vase aus Versehen zerbrach.
The woman asked for forgiveness when she accidentally broke the vase.
Verzeihung, wo ist die Post?
Excuse me, where is the post office?
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine someone raising a hand and saying 'Verzeihung!' to get attention in a polite way
ver-ZEI-hung — think 'very sigh' (a polite 'excuse me' with a small sigh)
Ends in -ung → almost always feminine → die Verzeihung
Notes
A polite interjection/noun used to get attention or apologize briefly. It is a noun formed from the verb verzeihen and is feminine (die Verzeihung).