to say "pardon?"

[matildamatilda]

So I'm American and in the US it's not rude to say "What?" when someone calls you or when you didn't hear something.

It's informal, but not at all rude. Especially if you say it in a pleasant tone. So kids wouldn't be told off for answering "what?" the way they are here. It's just "what" as in "what did you say?"

Since I've lived here I've been training myself to say "Pardon?" but I just can't get the hang of it. It sounds kind of... supercilious maybe? Huffy? Am I just not pulling it off?

I usually end up saying, "Here I am, " or "Sorry did you say something?"

Do you say "pardon"?

Sockreturningpixie, my grandmother used to say "yes you can ride your bike, but whether you may or not is a different matter". Found myself parroting the same to DD yesterday.

No shit

Pardon is not rude but it is an indicator of lower-middle-classness. This bothers some people, though not all. I think I say 'sorry' rather than 'what', though.

I can't understand why anyone would think pardon was rude?! Regardless of where you stand on the 'class' argument, surely everyone knows what is meant when someone says pardon?

Isn't usually people aspiring to be a class above who worry about saying words that might e thought as common

Am in now way a snob but it should be "pardon", as in "Please pardon me for asking you to repeat yourself."

"What" is too curt and is considered rude when I was being brought up.

Haven't read whole thread, just a few replies and OP's highlighted bits.

'Pardon?' is absolutely unacceptable. My father's ghost will come and get you. 'I'm sorry I didn't quite hear what you said' is the acceptable version at least according to him

'Toilet' also not really the right word... 'Could I use your loo?' will work in most circumstances, 'I need to use your lavatory' works in all others - (makes it pretty damn clear).

Having said, as I said on another thread tonight... I have become my parent's child...

But surely, asking someone's pardon would be debasing oneself?

(particularly for some trifle such as not hearing someone speak!)

I say 'sorry?' after far too many years of teachers trying to correct me saying 'what?'

DD also got told off at school for not saying 'pardon?'

I think pardon is a desperately lower middle try hard give away

Look what you're meant to say is "Speak UP lad/lass" while tutting about all the mumbling yoof. Dunno wtf all this debate is about.

I think pardon is a desperately lower middle try hard give away - no, for most people it's just a word we've been taught is polite by our parents!

Pardon is rude. I would stop my children saying it. What, Sorry, Say again and sorry what are all acceptable in our house. I mostly say sorry what and the children say what.

Pardon is in the same mental bracket as lounge and settee.

I think pardon is a desperately lower middle try hard give away

...am intrigued!

I have moved to Newcastle from Edinburgh and now am very confused as to the correct name for the water closet, please advise.

We were always told "Don't say what, say pardon."

So I say pardon.

Pardon is in the same mental bracket as lounge and settee.

Have I entered an alternative reality? What on earth is wrong with lounge and settee?

Yes pardon, or sorry, I missed that, or even sorry, what did you say. Not just what by itself.

poisoned Loo. As in where is the loo? Just going to nip to the loo..

Pardon was what was drummed into me as a child (I think it's a northern thing). I try to break it as an adult but occasionally it slips out. I generally use, 'sorry?'

Same here, Hester (re "Don't say what..."). It's common, apparently

I do say loo though. DH always announces to the world he is going to the toilet. I feel like saying "Did we really want to know that dear?"

My mother raps out this kind of "Uh?" sound when she hasn't heard something. It makes me irrationally cross.

Poisoned - shitter, hth

I say, 'sorry?' if it's someone I need to think I am polite. I say, 'you what?' or 'what now?' to my friends and I am ashamed to say that with DH I make a horrible honking ENNHH? sound like an aged goose

A woman I used to work with skyways said 'pardon', or indeed, mostly snarled it, if in bad humour. In her case, I think it was a case of just trying to sound 'posh'. I would have preferred 'what' or even 'sorry' said in a civil tone...