neem me niet kwalijk
excuse me, don't hold it against me
Pronunciation
ˈneːm mə ˌnit ˈkʋaːlək
Cultural Note
This is one of the most formal apology phrases in Dutch. Literally meaning 'don't take it badly of me,' it's used in formal situations or when you want to be particularly polite. In everyday speech, 'sorry' or 'pardon' are more common.
📝 Example Sentences
Neem me niet kwalijk, kunt u dat herhalen?
Excuse me, could you repeat that?
Neem me niet kwalijk dat ik u stoor.
Excuse me for disturbing you.
Neem het me niet kwalijk, maar ik ben het daar niet mee eens.
Don't hold it against me, but I disagree with that.
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