How do you say sorry in Spanish?
Say perdón for small things, lo siento to apologize or sympathize, and disculpe to a stranger or anyone you call usted.
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perdónUnit 2
sorry; excuse me (after bumping into someone, or to get attention)
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Lo siento, no puedo.Unit 11
I'm sorry, I can't.
Turning down an invitation.
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Lo siento mucho.Unit 18
I'm very sorry.
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Disculpe.Unit 4
Excuse me. (polite, to get someone's attention)
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disculpe / disculpaUnit 18
excuse me, I'm sorry (usted / tú)
What is the difference between perdón, lo siento and disculpe?
Perdón is the quick "sorry!"; lo siento means you feel sorry ("I'm sorry", "I regret it"); disculpe is "excuse me" or "sorry" said politely to someone you call usted.
| Phrase | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| perdón | Bumping into someone, interrupting, "pardon?" | ¡Perdón! on a crowded Metro |
| lo siento | Real apologies, bad news, saying you can't | Lo siento, no puedo. |
| disculpe / disculpa | Politely getting attention or apologizing (usted / tú) | Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño? |
| una disculpa | Staff apologizing to customers (Mexico) | Una disculpa, ahorita lo arreglo. |
How do you apologize politely in Mexico?
In Mexico, polite apologies often use una disculpa ("my apologies") or disculpe la molestia ("sorry for the trouble"); you hear them from staff in CiaoSpeak's Unit 18 and its Speak scenes.
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Una disculpa.Unit 18
Our apologies. / My apologies. (very common in Mexico: from staff, and in polite messages)
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Disculpe la molestia.Unit 18
Sorry for the trouble.
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Ay, una disculpa. Ahorita lo revisamos.Speak
Oh, our apologies. We'll look at it right away.
How do you say "I'm sorry for your loss" in Spanish?
Say Mi más sentido pésame ("my deepest condolences"), or simply Lo siento mucho ("I'm so sorry"). If you don't know what else to say, that is enough.
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Mi más sentido pésame.
My deepest condolences.
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Lo siento mucho. Mi más sentido pésame.
I'm so sorry. My deepest condolences.
What mistakes do English speakers make when saying sorry?
The common mistake is using lo siento for everything, which sounds heavy for a small bump.
- Lo siento after bumping into someone. A quick ¡Perdón! fits better.
- Disculpa to a stranger. With someone you call usted, it's disculpe.
- Lo siento to stop a stranger and ask something. To get someone's attention, it's Disculpe, … or Perdón, …
How can you practice saying it out loud?
Say it to someone who answers. In CiaoSpeak's Spanish course, set in Mexico City, the lessons teach perdón, lo siento and disculpe with a recording and a note on when to use it, and in the Speak tab a character in a real scene (a barista, a taxi driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) talks to you and you answer out loud. The app tells you whether a person would understand you, with one gentle fix if not. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More phrases: how to say everyday things in Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lo siento and perdón?
Perdón is a quick "sorry" or "pardon", for small things like bumping into someone. Lo siento means "I'm sorry" in the sense of feeling bad: real apologies, bad news, or saying you can't do something.
How do you say I'm sorry for your loss in Spanish?
Say Mi más sentido pésame ("my deepest condolences"), or simply Lo siento mucho ("I'm so sorry").
What does una disculpa mean in Mexico?
Una disculpa means "my apologies" or "our apologies". In Mexico, staff use it all the time: Una disculpa, ahorita lo arreglo (Our apologies, I'll fix it right away).