The most common way to say “I’m sorry” in Spanish is “Perdón”. However, depending on the context and the seriousness of the situation, other expressions like “Lo siento", "Perdón”, “Disculpa”, or “Lo lamento” may be more appropriate.
Apologising is an essential aspect of effective communication, and knowing how to express remorse in different languages can be particularly valuable.
Beyond the most basic way to say 'sorry': 'Perdón', there are numerous ways to express an apology in Spanish, with a variety of nuances. In this article, we will explore the nuances of saying "Sorry" in Spanish. Here's a quick overview of the most common apologies that we'll go through in more detail in the article:
| Spanish Expression | Audio Pronunciation | Meaning in English | When to Use It | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perdón | Sorry / Excuse me | For minor mistakes or getting attention | Perdón, no te vi. | |
| Lo siento | I'm sorry | To express genuine regret or sympathy | Lo siento por lo ocurrido. | |
| Disculpa / Disculpe | Excuse me / Pardon me | Polite apologies (Disculpa = informal, Disculpe = formal) | Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar? | |
| Lo lamento | I deeply regret it | For serious regrets or condolences | Lo lamento mucho por tu pérdida. |
🗣️ Common Expressions for Apologising in Spanish
Same as learning about Spanish greetings, understanding the appropriate situations to apologise is crucial. Whether you've accidentally bumped into someone on the street or made a more serious mistake, acknowledging your error is a sign of respect and empathy. In Spanish culture, apologising is not only about admitting fault but also about demonstrating sincerity and a genuine desire to make amends.
| Spanish Expression | Situation | Example Dialogue in Spanish | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disculpa (informal) | Getting someone’s attention politely | — Disculpa, ¿sabes qué hora es? — Sí, son las tres. | — “Excuse me, do you know what time it is?” — “Yes, it’s three o’clock.” |
| Disculpe (formal) | Speaking respectfully to a stranger or authority figure | — Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación? — Está a dos calles de aquí. | — “Excuse me, where is the station?” — “It’s two blocks from here.” |
| Perdón | Interrupting briefly or correcting oneself | — Perdón, no escuché bien. — Pensé que la reunión empezaba a las ocho. | — “Excuse me, I didn’t hear well.” — “I thought the meeting was starting at eight.” |
| Perdone (formal) | Politely interrupting in a formal context | — Perdone, ¿puedo pasar? — Claro, adelante. | — “Excuse me, may I pass?” — “Of course, go ahead.” |
| Disculpa / Perdón | Apologising for a minor social mistake | — Perdón, creo que este asiento es mío. — Oh, disculpa, tienes razón. | — “Excuse me, I think this seat is mine.” — “Oh, sorry/excuse me, you’re right.” |
Lo siento – Expressing Genuine Regret
The most straightforward way to apologise in Spanish is to say "Lo siento." This simple phrase conveys genuine regret and is suitable for various situations. However, the Spanish language offers several other expressions to communicate remorse, depending on the context and severity of the offence.
"Lo siento" is a versatile and widely used expression that conveys a broad range of apologies. Its prevalence is due to its simplicity, cultural appropriateness, and effectiveness in conveying genuine regret in various situations. While there are other ways to apologise in Spanish, "Lo siento" remains a go-to phrase for its ease of use and wide applicability.
Lo siento (loh SYEHN-toh) literally means “I feel it” and is used to express deeper regret or sorrow.
Example:
- Lo siento por llegar tarde. (I’m sorry for being late)
- Lo siento por no llamarte. (I’m sorry I didn’t call you)
- Lo siento, necesito tiempo. (I’m sorry, I need time)
- Lo siento, mejor la próxima vez. (I’m sorry, better next time)
- Lo siento, pero no lo/la soporto. (I’m sorry, but I can’t with him/her)
Learn more about Spanish greetings and phrases in this article...
Perdón – The Universal Apology
Perdón (pehr-DOHN) is one of the most common ways to say “sorry” in Spanish. It works in a variety of situations, including bumping into someone, asking someone to repeat themselves, or making a small mistake.
Example:
- Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso? (Sorry, can you repeat that?)
- Perdón, no te vi (Sorry, I didn’t see you)
- Perdón, ¿puedo pasar? (Sorry, can I come in?)
- Perdón, no era mi intención (Sorry, it was not my intention)
- Perdón, voy tarde (Sorry, I’m running late).
- Perdón, no esta vez (Sorry, not this time).
Disculpa / Disculpe – Seeking Forgiveness
These terms come from the verb disculpar (to excuse). Disculpa (informal) and Disculpe (formal) are polite ways to ask for forgiveness.
Example:
- Disculpe, señor, ¿podría decirme la hora? (Excuse me, sir, could you tell me the time?)
- Disculpa, ¿sabes dónde está el baño? (Excuse me, do you know where the loo is?)
- Disculpe, ¿cuántos años tiene? (Excuse me, how old are you?)
- Disculpa, ¿vas a pasar? (Excuse me, are you going in?)
- Disculpe, ¿qué ingredientes lleva? (Excuse me, what ingredients does it have?)
Disculpe/Disculpa (Excuse me/Pardon) is primarily used to request permission or politely ask for something. It can be said to address service personnel, security personnel, an older adult, or simply a stranger.
Lo lamento – When You Truly Regret Something
This phrase means "I deeply regret it" and is used in more serious situations, such as when expressing condolences or acknowledging a major mistake.
Example:
- Lamento mucho tu pérdida. (I deeply regret your loss)
- Lo lamento por ellos (I’m sorry for them)
- Lamento que no vengas al viaje (I’m sorry, you’re not coming to the trip).
- Lamento lo de tu casa (I’m sorry about your house)
- Lamento la situación (I’m sorry for the situation).
🙋🏻 Formal Vs Informal Apologies in Spanish
While "Perdón" and "Lo siento" are the most common and versatile ways to apologise in Spanish, the language offers several other expressions to cater to different contexts and levels of formality. Because, of course, it is not the same as saying "Perdón" for stepping on someone's foot than saying "Perdón" as you're having a break-up.
As with learning the difference between "thank you" and "please" in Spanish, understanding these variations allows speakers to convey their remorse more precisely and appropriately, depending on the nature of the situation and the relationship with the person to whom they are apologising.
This table summarises the different contexts, like the ones the video above talks about, and will help you to adjust your tone and know when to choose an informal or formal one depending on who you are speaking with:
| Situation | Formal Expression | Informal Expression | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumping into someone | Disculpe | Perdón | Perdón, no te vi. (Sorry, I didn't see you) |
| Asking someone to repeat something | Disculpe, ¿puede repetir eso? | Perdón, ¿qué dijiste? | Disculpe, no escuché bien. (Sorry, I didn't hear you). |
| Interrupting a conversation | Disculpe la interrupción | Perdón, un segundo | Disculpe, necesito hacer una pregunta (I'm sorry, I need to ask a question) |
| Being late to a meeting | Lo lamento mucho por la tardanza. | Lo siento por llegar tarde. | Lo siento, el tráfico era terrible. (I'm sorry, the traffic was terrible) |
| Apologizing to a teacher/boss | Le pido disculpas por mi error. | Perdón, me equivoqué. | Le pido disculpas, no volverá a pasar. (I offer my apologies, it won't happen again) |
| Making a mistake in public | Disculpe, fue un error de mi parte. | Ups, mi error. | Disculpe, cometí un error en la presentación. (Excuse me/I'm Sorry, I made a mistake in the presentation) |
| Expressing condolences | Lo lamento mucho por su pérdida. | Lo siento mucho. | Lo lamento, estoy aquí para lo que necesites. (I'm sorry, I'm here for whatever you need) |
| Forgetting an important event | Lo lamento mucho, no fue mi intención. | Lo siento, se me pasó. | Lo lamento, olvidé tu cumpleaños. (I'm sorry, I forgot your birthday) |
| Accidentally taking someone’s seat | Perdón, no me di cuenta. | Ups, perdón. | Perdón, pensé que este asiento estaba libre. (Sorry, I thought this seat was free) |
| Rejecting an invitation | Lamento no poder asistir. | Lo siento, no puedo ir. | Lamento no poder ir a la boda (I'm sorry I can't go to the wedding) |
🇲🇽 Apologising in Different Spanish-speaking Countries
While these phrases are widely understood, there are some regional differences:
- Spain 🇪🇸: Lo siento and Perdón are most common.
- Mexico 🇲🇽: Perdón is preferred for minor mistakes, while Disculpe is used for politeness.
- Argentina 🇦🇷: Disculpá (informal) and Disculpe (formal) are commonly used.
- Colombia 🇨🇴: Lo lamento is used more frequently for serious apologies.
The literal phrase "A thousand apologies" is used colloquially in Latin American countries. It's a very polite way to apologise; it can replace an "I'm so Sorry" in situations like being late, missing a message, or missing a deadline. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings, but only when there's a sense of trust among the participants.
🥹 Expressing Remorse in Spanish
The concern with explicitly presenting oneself as regretful requires a different linguistic formulation of remorse. Rather than simply using expressions such as “Perdón” or “Lo siento,” Spanish speakers instead use the verbs “arrepentirse” and “lamentar” (both mean "to regret", but in different degrees), the latter of which you already know from our use in “Lo lamento”. In these cases, the speaker may instead use direct expressions of regret, such as:
In this case, it is also important to consider that regret can refer to actions or opportunities we let pass, which cause regret, but not necessarily suffering, or to a mistake we have made. Expressing remorse requires much more nuance than simply learning the names of the weekdays in Spanish.
✍🏻 How To Respond To An Apology in Spanish
Knowing how to say "sorry" is important, but so is knowing how to accept an apology gracefully. Here are some common responses:
| Spanish Expression | Meaning in English | When to Use It | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| No pasa nada | It’s no big deal | Casual response, everyday mistakes | No pasa nada, fue un error pequeño. |
| Está bien | It’s okay | General response for minor errors | Está bien, no hay problema. |
| No te preocupes | Don’t worry about it | Reassuring someone who is worried | No te preocupes, todo está bien. |
| Te perdono | I forgive you | Used when truly forgiving someone | Te perdono, pero intenta no hacerlo otra vez. |
| No hay problema | No problem | For minor inconveniences | No hay problema, no fue nada grave. |
| Todo está bien | Everything is fine | To calm the situation and show everything is okay | Todo está bien, no te preocupes. |
| Olvídalo | Forget it | To dismiss a small mistake | Olvídalo, no tiene importancia. |
| No importa | It doesn’t matter | To indicate that the mistake was insignificant | No importa, lo entiendo. |
| No hay de qué | There’s nothing to apologize for | Polite way to say there’s no need for an apology | No hay de qué, no fue un gran problema. |
| No hace falta disculparse | No need to apologize | Used when an apology isn’t necessary at all | No hace falta disculparse, entiendo la situación. |
🔎 Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever heard the word “Permiso” instead of “Perdón”? That’s because it’s another way to ask for permission before doing something that might cause discomfort.
In Spanish, “Permiso” literally means “permit”; in its most literal sense, it expresses consent or permission to do or say something; however, saying just “Permiso” or “Con permiso” can be used precisely to indicate that we can pass through a certain space.
So you’ll find that instead of saying “Perdón” (Sorry) to pass between two people, you can say “Con permiso” (on the subway, in a restaurant, at a concert), basically whenever we want to make room for ourselves.
One of the most common questions when trying to say “I’m sorry” in Spanish is how to gauge the level of familiarity with the other person to decide whether to use “Perdón” or “Lo siento". Below, you can see when to use each, along with “Permiso” and “Perdona”; this will help you identify the “intensity” with which to express it:
| Expression | Typical Situation of Use | When to use it | Example in Spanish | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lo siento | Expressing sadness, empathy, or emotional regret | Used when the speaker feels sorrow or emotional responsibility | Lo siento mucho por tu pérdida. | I’m very sorry for your loss |
| Lo siento | Regretting a past action or mistake | Expresses remorse or lamentation | Lo siento, no haber llegado antes. | I’m sorry for not arriving earlier |
| Siento que | Expressing empathy for a situation that has a negative impact on the other person | When you want to offer comfort to someone | Siento que no te dieran el trabajo | I’m sorry you didn’t get the job |
| Perdón | Brief apology for a minor mistake | Used for accidental interruptions or small offenses | Perdón, pisé tu mochila. | Sorry, I stepped on your backpack |
| Perdona | Informal way to get someone’s attention or apologize directly | Softer and more personal than perdón | Perdona, ¿puedes echarme una mano? | Excuse me, can you give me a hand? |
| Permiso / Con permiso | Asking to pass through, enter, or interrupt politely | Requests physical or conversational space | Con permiso, necesito pasar. /Permiso, necesito pasar. | Excuse me, I need to get through |
What's the Difference Between 'Lo Siento' and 'Perdón'?
Simply put, “Lo siento” (“I’m sorry”) is used in situations that are more profound than “Perdón”, which can also be used as a way to ask for permission, as “Excuse me,” or as "Sorry", in a colloquial sense or in situations that are not as serious or severe.
“Lo siento” (“I’m sorry”) is used to convey regret and sorrow, and to express empathy or sympathy in the face of loss or difficult situations, particularly in moments of intense emotional depth. In a sad situation, such as a death, we might say “Lo siento mucho por tu pérdida”(“I’m so sorry for your loss”), just as we might say “Lamento tu pérdida” (“I mourn your loss”). As you can see, sorrow is present in both.
To illustrate how profound the feeling can be when you say "Lo siento", listen to one of the most well-known love songs in Spanish, "Lo siento, mi amor" (I'm sorry, my love). It tells the story of a couple who drift apart, and she apologises for the breakup.
“Perdón”, in the sense of a simple "Sorry", is more associated with one’s own mistake; it’s more practical: “Perdón, te pisé” ("Sorry, I stepped on your foot”), “Perdón, no tengo lo que buscabas” (“Sorry, I don’t have what you were looking for"), “Perdón, no te escuche” (“Sorry, I didn’t hear you”).
Although “Perdón” can also be used as “Excuse me”, it can also be used in a formal situation; for example, it’s used to interrupt someone while they’re speaking: “Perdón, ¿qué dijiste?” (“Excuse me, what did you say?”).
In Spanish, there are multiple ways to say "Sorry about that," depending on the level of formality and the situation. "Perdón por eso" is a neutral, everyday way to apologise, while "Lo siento por eso" expresses deeper regret. If you're in an informal setting, "Disculpa por eso" works well, whereas "Disculpe por eso" is more appropriate in formal situations, such as speaking to a teacher or stranger.
How Do You Say 'Excuse Me' in Spanish?
“Excuse me” in Spanish is “Disculpa”, “Perdona” or "Perdón". All are typically used when you need to get someone’s attention or ask a question, which is why the tone and the person you’re speaking to are important, as these terms are more commonly used in formal settings where there isn’t a close relationship of trust.
For example, let's say you want to approach someone you don't know and typically tap them on the shoulder to ask a question: that's exactly when "Disculpa" or "Perdona" ("Excuse me") can also be used. Here are some other tips to learn to use it properly:
Studying Spanish On Superprof
Learning the cultural aspects of a language is a vital component of language acquisition, and having a Spanish tutor through platforms like Superprof can offer numerous advantages. Beyond grammar and vocabulary, understanding the cultural nuances of Spanish can significantly enhance your language-learning journey.
One key benefit is the development of cultural sensitivity. A knowledgeable tutor can guide you in appropriate expressions, gestures, and behaviours, helping prevent unintentional misunderstandings or offences during your interactions with native speakers.
Moreover, a tutor with cultural expertise can provide real-life examples and context, offering insights into how expressions are used in various situations. This contextual learning not only deepens your understanding of the language but also equips you with the skills to navigate social interactions in a culturally appropriate manner.
References
- Diccionario de la lengua española - Arrepentirse (2024). Available at: https://dle.rae.es/arrepentirse (Accessed: May 2026).
- Diccionario de la lengua española - Permiso (2024). Available at: https://dle.rae.es/permiso (Accessed: May 2026).
- Easy Spanish Youtube Channel. Express your regrets in Spanish (20 -03 - 2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDEwvFUuugM (Accessed: May 2026).
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