Désoler vs. S'excuser

Question

Bonjour! Could you please explain further about Désoler vs. S'excuser ? I am not sure which one to use and when. Merci.

Accepted Answer

I did think of 'Pardon!' which is often used instead of 'Excusez-moi'  .
You could say -
"Pardon, pourriez-vous répéter svp?"

Answer

Hi Emma,
‘S’excuser’ is a verb , so you will say - 
“Excusez-moi!”
‘Être désolé’ is a verb, so you will say - “Je suis désolé/e”, which has been shortened to plain,
’Désolé!’
 Hope this helps!

Answer

Hi Cécile,Thanks for your feedback. I know about the grammatical explanation that you gave. What I'd like to know further is the usage. I meant, are both interchangeble in every situation?Merci d'avance!

Answer

Hi Emma,
You would use, 'Excusez-moi' in formal situations, like bumping into someone in the street and 'désolé' in familiar settings, although 'désolé' has become as meaningless as 'sorry' is these days, in my opinion!

Answer

Hi Cécile,Thanks for giving me some lights for my question

Answer

Hi Cécile,Thanks for giving me some lights for my question :)One more thing, can I use "Excusez-moi" instead of "Pardon" if for example I need to ask the interlocutor to repeat what he/she has said?Thanks again!