How to Say Sorry in Spanish: Lo Siento, Perdón, Disculpa
Lo siento, perdón, disculpa or perdona? When to use each way to say sorry in Spanish, how to apologize sincerely and how to accept an apology.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Spanish has several ways to say "sorry", and they aren't fully interchangeable. Here's which one to use and when.
Quick guide
| Phrase | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perdón | small mistakes, bumping into someone, interrupting | ¡Perdón! No te vi. |
| Disculpe / Disculpa | getting attention, polite apologies | Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño? |
| Perdona / Perdone | informal / formal "excuse me" or "sorry" | Perdona, ¿tienes hora? |
| Lo siento | real regret, bad news, condolences | Lo siento mucho. |
| Con permiso | asking to pass | Con permiso, ¿puedo pasar? |
Lo siento
Lo siento literally means "I feel it". Use it when something actually went wrong or for sympathy:
- Lo siento, llegué tarde. — Sorry, I'm late.
- Lo siento mucho por lo de tu abuelo. — I'm so sorry about your grandfather.
- Siento la confusión. — Sorry for the confusion.
Perdón and perdona
For everyday slips:
- Perdón, me equivoqué. — Sorry, I made a mistake.
- Perdona, ¿me repites? — Sorry, can you repeat?
- Perdón por la demora. — Sorry for the delay.
Disculpe
The polite way to start a question with a stranger:
- Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar?
And for formal apologies:
- Disculpe las molestias. — Sorry for the inconvenience.
Sincere apologies
- Te pido perdón. — I ask for your forgiveness.
- Lo siento mucho, no fue mi intención. — I'm really sorry, I didn't mean it.
- Tienes razón, me equivoqué. — You're right, I was wrong.
- No volverá a pasar. — It won't happen again.
Accepting an apology
- No pasa nada. — It's fine.
- No te preocupes. — Don't worry.
- Está bien. — It's okay.
- No hay problema. — No problem.
- Tranquilo/a. — Relax, it's fine.
Apologizing for your Spanish
Many learners apologize too much: "Perdón, mi español es muy malo." Try a confident version instead: "Estoy aprendiendo, ¡ten paciencia conmigo!" (I'm learning, be patient with me!) See overcome the fear of speaking.
Practice: which one?
- You bump into someone → ¡Perdón!
- You need to ask a stranger a question → Disculpe…
- A friend tells you bad news → Lo siento mucho.
- You need to get past someone on the bus → Con permiso.
- You forgot a friend's birthday → Perdóname, se me olvidó.
Practice
Apologies need tone, not just words. Practice them in real situations with Lolo, like interrupting a stranger in Madrid to ask for directions with disculpe. See polite Spanish phrases.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between "lo siento" and "perdón"?
Lo siento expresses regret or sympathy; perdón is for small mistakes and interruptions.
How do I say "excuse me" to get attention?
Disculpe (formal) or perdona (informal).
How do you respond to "lo siento"?
No pasa nada or no te preocupes.
