Sorry in Spanish
Sorry in Spanish is lo siento (loh SYEHN-toh).
Lo siento loh SYEHN-toh It is the general apology, and how you show sympathy. For small slips, like bumping into someone, say perdón (pehr-DOHN).
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Scan with your phone camera All the ways to say sorry in Spanish
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| Phrase | Listen | Meaning | When to use it | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lo siento loh SYEHN-toh | I'm sorry | The general "I'm sorry": a real apology, bad news, or "sorry, but…" | Neutral | |
| Lo siento mucho loh SYEHN-toh MOO-choh | I'm so sorry | A serious apology, or condolences | Neutral | |
| Perdón pehr-DOHN | Sorry (for a small slip) | Bumping into someone, interrupting, not hearing what was said | Neutral | |
| Perdona pehr-DOH-nah | Sorry (for a small slip) | The same, to someone you call tú; also "excuse me" to get attention | Informal | |
| Perdone pehr-DOH-neh | Sorry (for a small slip) | The same, politely, to someone you call usted; also "excuse me" to get attention | Formal | |
| Disculpa dees-KOOL-pah | Excuse me | Getting someone's attention, or a small apology, with tú | Informal | |
 Disculpe dees-KOOL-peh | Excuse me | Getting a stranger's or a waiter's attention politely (usted) | Formal | |
| Con permiso kohn pehr-MEE-soh | Excuse me (may I?) | Squeezing past someone (especially in Latin America), or leaving a table or a room | Neutral | |
| Perdóname pehr-DOH-nah-meh | Forgive me | A heartfelt apology to someone close to you | Informal | |
| Mi más sentido pésame mee mahs sehn-TEE-doh PEH-sah-meh | My deepest condolences | At a funeral or in a condolence message | Formal |
Lo siento, perdón or disculpa?
English uses "sorry" for almost everything. Spanish splits it up:
- Lo siento (literally "I feel it") is the general apology: you broke something, you can't come, someone has had bad news.
- Perdón is the quick, everyday "sorry!": a small bump, interrupting, or not catching what someone said (¿perdón? = "sorry, what?").
- Disculpa / disculpe is "excuse me" before you ask something: in a shop, on the street, calling a waiter. It is also a polite small apology.
Perdona or perdone, disculpa or disculpe?
Perdona and disculpa are for tú (friends, people your age); perdone and disculpe are for usted (strangers, older people, anyone you want to be polite to). With people you don't know, the usted forms are the safe choice. Perdón and lo siento don't change.
How to answer when someone says sorry
| Phrase | Listen | Meaning | When to use it | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No pasa nada noh PAH-sah NAH-dah | It's fine / no worries | Very common and friendly; literally "nothing happens" | Neutral | |
| No te preocupes noh teh preh-oh-KOO-pehs | Don't worry | To someone you call tú | Informal | |
| No hay problema noh eye proh-BLEH-mah | No problem | Friendly, fine with anyone | Neutral |
"I'm sorry for your loss"
Lo siento mucho ("I'm so sorry") is the simplest and most natural thing to say to someone who has lost a loved one. In a card, or in a more formal setting, say or write mi más sentido pésame ("my deepest condolences").
Common mistakes
- Saying lo siento for every small bump. Perdón is the natural word there.
- Siento alone means "I feel". Apologize with lo siento, or with siento + a verb: siento llegar tarde ("sorry I'm late").
- Using perdona with a stranger who is much older than you. Perdone or disculpe sound more respectful.
Example sentences with audio
Course sentences come first, then a few more for real life.
- No puedo, lo siento. Algo pasó. I can't, sorry. Something happened.
- Ya tengo planes, lo siento. I already have plans, sorry.
- Disculpe, necesito ayuda. Excuse me, I need help.
- Lo siento, no hablo bien español. Sorry, I don't speak Spanish well.
- Perdón, ¿puede repetir? Sorry, could you repeat that?
- Siento llegar tarde. Sorry I'm late.
- Perdone, ¿dónde está la estación? Excuse me, where is the station?
- Siento molestarlo. Sorry to bother you. (Polite, to a man; to a woman: molestarla.)
- Con permiso, ¿puedo pasar? Excuse me, can I get past?
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Questions people ask
What is the difference between lo siento and perdón?
Lo siento is a real apology or sympathy; perdón is a quick "sorry!" for small things, like bumping into someone.
How do you say "excuse me" in Spanish?
To get someone's attention: disculpe (polite) or disculpa (informal). To get past someone: con permiso in Latin America; in Spain people often just say perdón.
How do you say "sorry, I don't speak Spanish"?
Lo siento, no hablo español. If you speak a little: lo siento, no hablo bien español.
Is perdón formal or informal?
Neither: perdón fits any situation. The verb it comes from, perdonar, does change: perdona (informal), perdone (formal).
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