Related words すみません is the standard, more polite form, while すいません is a casual contraction used in everyday speech.
ごめんなさい is a direct, personal apology, whereas すいません can also be used to get attention or express thanks, not just to apologize.
悪い used alone as an apology (「悪い、悪い」 ) is even more casual and blunt than すいません , common among close friends.
すいません is the standard casual apology, while サーセン is an even more slangy, abbreviated version used mainly in texting or among close friends.
Written forms すんません
Further contracted casual form, often heard in informal Kansai speech.
スイマセン
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
スンマセン
Katakana spelling of the contracted form.
Etymology Colloquial contraction of すみません , which itself is the polite negative form of 済む (to finish, to be settled). The sound change from /mi/ to /i/ is common in casual speech.
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