Ursäkt

Ursäkt is a Swedish noun meaning an excuse or apology offered for an action or situation. It can denote a reason given to avoid blame or to apologize for an inconvenience. In everyday language, the term appears in phrases such as ursäkta mig (excuse me) and jag vill be om ursäkt för… (I would like to apologize for…). The word covers both brief apologies and longer explanations that justify one’s actions, and it is used in both spoken language and formal writing.

Ursäkt is closely related to the verb ursäkta, which means to excuse or to apologize. The noun is typically used when the speaker acknowledges some fault or inconvenience and seeks pardon or understanding. In contrast, the noun orsak refers more narrowly to a cause or reason without the ethical or social dimension of an apology. This distinction can affect tone: ursäkt carries a social or moral component, whereas orsak is more neutral.

Common usages include apologizing for a mistake or delay (Jag ber om ursäkt för förseningen), seeking pardon in public or professional contexts, and asking for permission or attention in a polite way (Ursäkta mig, får jag fråga…). Plural form ursäkter refers to multiple excuses. In practice, whether an utterance is perceived as a sincere ursäkt depends on context, tone, and accompanying actions.