verzeihen

to forgive; to pardon

verb fer-TSAY-en Rare

Also means

to excuse

Usage Note

Verzeihen is the more literary and formal verb for forgiving, used in polite requests (Verzeihen Sie bitte!) and genuine apologies. It takes a dative object for the person forgiven: Ich habe ihm verziehen ('I forgave him'). In polished speech and writing it is preferred over the colloquial entschuldigen.

Examples

"Verzeihen Sie bitte die Unterbrechung."

Natural Translation

Please forgive the interruption.

Literal Translation

Forgive you please the interruption.

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