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Apologising in Spanish (Disculpas y Excusas)

Lo siento vs perdona vs disculpe - choose the right apology for every situation

What You'll Learn

  • Choose the right apology - lo siento vs perdona vs disculpe
  • Use "excuse me" correctly (permiso vs perdone vs oiga)
  • Make excuses with es que... and lo que pasa es que...
  • Express regret about past actions (lamento, siento mucho)
  • Accept apologies naturally (no pasa nada, no te preocupes)
  • Understand cultural differences in apologising across the Spanish-speaking world

Overview

You accidentally step on someone's foot on the Madrid metro. You arrive 20 minutes late to dinner with friends. You need to squeeze past someone in a narrow aisle. Each of these situations calls for a different kind of apology in Spanish - and getting it wrong can make you sound either too formal or too casual.

The Three Core Apologies

Lo siento

I'm sorry (emotional)
Used when you genuinely feel bad - real empathy or regret

Perdona / Perdone

Sorry / Excuse me (requesting forgiveness)
Minor mishaps, getting attention, or asking for forgiveness

Disculpa / Disculpe

Excuse me / I apologise (polite)
Polite contexts, interrupting, more formal than perdona

English speakers tend to overuse "sorry" for everything. In Spanish, each apology word carries a different weight. Lo siento is deeper and more emotional. Perdona is the everyday "sorry" for small things. Disculpe is the polished, formal version. Learning which one to use and when is essential for sounding natural.

Structure & Formation

1. Lo Siento - Genuine Apologies

Lo siento literally means "I feel it" - it expresses genuine emotion, empathy, or regret. Use it for serious situations or when you truly feel sorry about something.

SpanishEnglishWhen to use
Lo sientoI'm sorryGeneral genuine apology
Lo siento muchoI'm very sorryStronger emphasis
Lo siento muchísimoI'm so sorryVery strong regret
Siento haber llegado tardeI'm sorry for having arrived lateSiento + haber + past participle (for already-completed actions)
Siento que no puedas venirI'm sorry you can't comeSiento que + subjunctive (empathy)
Cuánto lo sientoI'm so sorry (how sorry I am)Deep sympathy, e.g. after bad news

Key difference from English: Don't use lo siento for bumping into someone on the street - that's too heavy. English speakers say "sorry" constantly for minor things; in Spanish, lo siento is reserved for when you genuinely feel bad. For small accidents, use perdona instead.

2. Perdona / Perdone - Everyday Apologies

Perdona (informal, tú) and perdone (formal, usted) come from the verb perdonar (to forgive). This is your go-to apology for everyday situations.

Informal (tú) - Perdona

Perdona, ¿tienes hora?Sorry, do you have the time?
Perdona por el retrasoSorry for the delay
Perdona, no te viSorry, I didn't see you
PerdónameForgive me

Formal (usted) - Perdone

Perdone, ¿sabe dónde está el museo?Excuse me, do you know where the museum is?
Perdone la molestiaSorry for the bother
Perdone, ¿puedo pasar?Excuse me, may I get through?
PerdónemeForgive me (formal)

3. Disculpa / Disculpe - Polite Apologies

Disculpa (informal) and disculpe (formal) come from disculpar (to excuse). Slightly more polished than perdona, it's common in professional settings and formal situations.

SpanishEnglishContext
Disculpe, ¿me permite un momento?Excuse me, may I have a moment?Professional / polite interruption
Disculpe la demoraI apologise for the delayCustomer service / business
Disculpa, ¿puedo hacerte una pregunta?Excuse me, can I ask you a question?Polite approach to someone
Le pido disculpasI apologise to you (formal)Formal written or spoken apology
Disculpen las molestiasWe apologise for the inconveniencePublic announcements, signage

4. "Excuse Me" - Permiso vs Perdone vs Oiga

English uses "excuse me" in many different situations. Spanish has different words depending on what you actually mean.

Con permiso / Permiso

Physically moving past someone

Con permiso, necesito pasar
Excuse me, I need to get through

Perdone / Disculpe

Getting someone's attention politely

Perdone, ¿sabe dónde está la estación?
Excuse me, do you know where the station is?

Oiga / Oye

Getting attention more urgently (hey!)

¡Oiga! Se le ha caído la cartera
Hey! You dropped your wallet

5. Making Excuses - Es que...

Spanish speakers love es que... to explain why something happened. It's the most natural way to give an excuse or reason. Think of it as "the thing is..." or "it's just that..."

StructureExampleTranslation
Es que...Es que había mucho tráficoIt's just that there was a lot of traffic
Lo que pasa es que...Lo que pasa es que se me olvidóThe thing is, I forgot
Es que no sabía que...Es que no sabía que era hoyIt's just that I didn't know it was today
Perdona, es que...Perdona, es que me quedé dormidoSorry, it's just that I overslept
Lo siento, es que...Lo siento, es que no me avisaronI'm sorry, it's just that they didn't tell me
No pude porque...No pude porque estaba enfermoI couldn't because I was ill

Pro tip: Es que is so common in spoken Spanish that you'll hear it constantly. It can sound like an excuse, but it's also just the natural way to explain a reason. Don't overuse it in formal writing though - it's mainly a spoken construction.

6. Expressing Regret

When you need to express deeper regret - perhaps about a decision you made or something you failed to do - Spanish has several options beyond lo siento.

Lamento mucho lo ocurrido
I deeply regret what happened
Formal, written or serious
Me arrepiento de haberlo dicho
I regret having said it
Personal regret about a past action
Ojalá no hubiera hecho eso
I wish I hadn't done that
Wishing you could change the past
No debería haber dicho eso
I shouldn't have said that
Acknowledging a mistake
Fue culpa mía
It was my fault
Taking responsibility
No volverá a pasar
It won't happen again
Promising to do better

7. Accepting Apologies

Knowing how to respond when someone apologises to you is just as important. Here are the most common responses, from casual to formal.

Casual

No pasa nadaIt's nothing / Don't worry about it
No te preocupesDon't worry
Tranquilo/aIt's fine / Relax
No es nadaIt's nothing
No hay problemaNo problem

Formal

No se preocupeDon't worry (usted)
No tiene importanciaIt's not important
Está disculpado/aYou're forgiven
No hay de quéDon't mention it
DescuideDon't worry about it (formal)

8. Cultural Differences

Apologising works differently across the Spanish-speaking world. Understanding these differences will help you navigate social situations more naturally.

Spain

Spaniards don't apologise as much as English speakers. Bumping into someone lightly might not require an apology at all. Perdona is the most common casual apology. Punctuality is more relaxed socially (though not professionally), so being a few minutes late may not need an apology.

Latin America

Generally more formal. Disculpe is widely used and sounds natural even in casual settings. In Mexico, mande (literally "command me") is used instead of "what?" or "pardon?" - it's not an apology but shows politeness. Colombia uses con mucho gusto more than de nada.

Key Insight

English speakers often over-apologise in Spanish. Saying lo siento for every minor thing (stepping aside, asking a question) sounds overly dramatic. Match your apology level to the situation - most daily interactions only need perdona or no apology at all.

Examples

On the Street

Bumping into someone
¡Perdona! No te vi.
Sorry! I didn't see you.
Squeezing past
Con permiso, necesito pasar.
Excuse me, I need to get through.
Asking for help
Perdone, ¿sabe dónde está la calle Mayor?
Excuse me, do you know where Calle Mayor is?
Alerting a stranger
¡Oiga! Se le ha caído algo.
Hey! You dropped something.

At Work

Late delivery
Disculpe la demora, es que había un problema técnico.
Sorry for the delay, there was a technical issue.
Formal apology
Le pido disculpas por el error.
I apologise for the mistake.
Interrupting
Perdone que le interrumpa, pero es urgente.
Sorry to interrupt, but it's urgent.
Late reply
Lamento no haber respondido antes.
I'm sorry for not responding sooner.

With Friends

Running late
Perdona por llegar tarde, es que había un atasco.
Sorry for being late, there was a traffic jam.
Genuine apology
Lo siento, se me olvidó tu cumpleaños.
I'm sorry, I forgot your birthday.
Missing information
Perdona, es que no me enteré.
Sorry, I just didn't hear about it.
After an argument
Lo siento mucho, no debería haber dicho eso.
I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

In a Shop or Restaurant

Getting attention
Perdone, ¿me puede traer la cuenta?
Excuse me, can you bring me the bill?
Polite complaint
Disculpe, creo que esto no es lo que pedí.
Excuse me, I think this isn't what I ordered.
Asking for help
Perdone, ¿tiene esto en otra talla?
Excuse me, do you have this in another size?
Cancelling an order
Lo siento, he cambiado de opinión.
I'm sorry, I've changed my mind.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes with Apologies

Avoid: Lo siento (when bumping into someone lightly)
Better: Perdona / Perdone

"Lo siento" is too heavy for minor physical contact. Use "perdona" for small accidents.

Avoid: Excusa me (literally translating from English)
Better: Perdone / Disculpe / Con permiso

"Excusa me" is not Spanish. Use perdone/disculpe to get attention, or con permiso to move past someone.

Avoid: Estoy sorry (mixing languages)
Better: Lo siento / Perdona

Avoid Spanglish - use the correct Spanish phrase for the level of apology needed.

Avoid: Soy lo siento
Better: Lo siento

"Lo siento" already means "I'm sorry." Don't add "soy" (I am) in front of it.

Avoid: Perdona por llegar tarde (to your boss)
Better: Disculpe el retraso / Lamento haber llegado tarde

With superiors or in formal settings, use disculpe or lamento instead of the informal perdona. For an already-completed action, use "haber + past participle" (haber llegado).

Quick Decision Guide

Moving past someone?

Con permiso

Getting someone's attention?

Perdone / Disculpe

Small accident?

Perdona

Genuinely regretful?

Lo siento

Professional context?

Disculpe / Lamento

Making an excuse?

Es que...

Quick Test

Test your knowledge of Spanish apologies and excuses - choose the right phrase for each situation!

1. You bump into someone lightly on the metro. What do you say?

2. You need to squeeze past people in a narrow aisle. What do you say?

3. Your friend asks why you're late. How do you explain naturally?

4. You forgot your friend's birthday. Which apology fits?

5. How would a company apologise on a sign for inconvenience during construction?

6. Someone apologises to you for a minor thing. What's a natural casual response?

7. You want to interrupt your boss to deliver urgent news. What do you say?

8. What does 'mande' mean in Mexican Spanish?

9. Which phrase expresses deep personal regret about a past action?

Useful Resources

Coming soon...