5 Ways to Say Sorry in Spanish (With Examples & Tips)

Learning how to say sorry in Spanish is one of the most useful skills a beginner can pick up. Whether you are travelling through Spain or Latin America, working with Spanish-speaking colleagues, or simply trying to be polite at a dinner party, a well-placed apology goes a long way. English speakers are spoilt here: one word, “sorry”, covers everything from a spilt coffee to a broken promise. Spanish, on the other hand, divides the job between several phrases, and each one carries a different weight.

The good news is that Spanish apologies are easy to pronounce, because Spanish sounds are consistent: what you see is what you say. The trickier part is choosing the right phrase for the right moment. Saying “Lo siento” when you bump into someone on the metro sounds oddly dramatic, while a breezy “Perdón” after breaking someone’s phone will sound insincere. Register matters just as much: the apology you offer a close friend is not the one you offer your boss or a stranger, and Spanish makes that distinction explicit.

In this guide you will learn five natural ways to say sorry in Spanish, with example sentences, English translations and pronunciation tips for each one. You will also learn when to switch between the informal and formal forms, and the common mistakes English speakers should avoid. If you are building your Spanish phrasebook from scratch, it is worth starting with greetings too: our guide to ways to say hi in different languages will get you through the door, and this guide will get you out of trouble once you are inside.

Quick Answer

The most common way to say sorry in Spanish is “Lo siento”, which covers genuine apologies and expressions of sympathy alike. For small, everyday slips such as bumping into someone or mishearing a name, use “Perdón” or “Disculpa”. To ask someone’s forgiveness more personally, say “Perdóname” to a friend or “Perdóneme” to a stranger, and in formal settings reach for “Lo lamento”, “Pido perdón” or “Mil disculpas”.

1. Lo siento — The All-Rounder

“Lo siento” is the first apology most learners meet, and for good reason: it is the all-rounder. Literally it means “I feel it”, from the verb sentir (to feel). It expresses genuine regret about something that happened, and it is also the standard way to offer sympathy, much like “I’m sorry” in English. When someone shares bad news, “Lo siento mucho” is the natural response.

“Lo siento, llegué tarde a la reunión.” — I’m sorry, I arrived late to the meeting.

“Lo siento mucho, no fue mi intención.” — I’m really sorry, it wasn’t my intention.

“Lo siento por tu pérdida.” — I’m sorry for your loss.

It works in both directions: an apology for your own mistake and sympathy for someone else’s misfortune. Useful intensifiers include “Lo siento mucho” (I’m very sorry) and “Lo siento de verdad” (I’m truly sorry). Pronounce it loh SYEN-toh, with the stress on the middle syllable.

One small grammar note: “Lo siento” does not change with the person you are addressing, which makes it easy to use. Whether you are talking to a friend, a stranger or your manager, the phrase stays the same. That neutrality is exactly why it is the safest default when you are unsure which apology fits.

2. Perdón — The Quick, Everyday Excuse

When the mistake is small, “Perdón” is the phrase you will hear most often on Spanish streets. It means “pardon”, and it is the go-to for everyday slips: bumping into someone on the bus, mishearing a name, stepping on a toe in a queue. Think of it as the equivalent of “oops, sorry” in English — quick, light and instantly forgiven.

“Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso?” — Sorry, can you repeat that?

“Perdón, no te había visto.” — Sorry, I hadn’t seen you.

Notice that “Perdón” works as a standalone interjection; you do not need to build a full sentence around it. It is pronounced pair-DON, with the stress firmly on the final syllable — that written accent is not decoration, it tells you where the voice goes.

The one thing to remember is proportion. “Perdón” suits minor, accidental slips. If you have genuinely hurt someone or made a serious error, it will sound too casual — that is when “Lo siento” or “Perdóname” earns its place.

3. Perdóname — Asking for Forgiveness

“Perdóname” takes the apology one step deeper: it literally means “forgive me”. This is the phrase for real mistakes with people you know — a forgotten birthday, a harsh word said in anger, a promise you did not keep. While “Lo siento” expresses how you feel, “Perdóname” asks the other person for something, which makes it warmer and more personal.

This is also where Spanish register shows up clearly. “Perdón” is the noun used as a quick interjection. “Perdona” is the informal tú command (“forgive”, to a friend), “Perdone” is the formal usted command (to a stranger or superior), and adding “me” makes it personal: “Perdóname” (informal, forgive me) versus “Perdóneme” (formal, forgive me). Use the wrong one and you will sound either oddly distant to a friend or rudely familiar to a client.

“Perdóname, no debí decir eso.” — Forgive me, I shouldn’t have said that.

“Perdóneme, señor, fue un error.” — Forgive me, sir, it was a mistake.

“¿Me perdonas?” — Will you forgive me?

Pronounce it pair-DOH-nah-meh, stressing the “doh”. If that feels too heavy, the softer question form “¿Me perdonas?” (“Will you forgive me?”) asks the same thing with a lighter touch.

4. Disculpa and Disculpe — Excuse Me

From the verb disculpar (to excuse), “Disculpa” and “Disculpe” are the polite way to interrupt, attract attention or smooth over a tiny inconvenience. You use them before asking a stranger for directions, before squeezing past someone in a crowded carriage, or when you arrive two minutes late and want to acknowledge it without making a scene. They translate best as “excuse me” rather than “I’m sorry”.

The choice is simple: “Disculpa” is the informal tú form for friends and peers, while “Disculpe” is the formal usted form for strangers, elders and professional settings.

“Disculpa, ¿tienes un momento?” — Excuse me, do you have a moment?

“Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación?” — Excuse me, where is the station?

Spanish speakers also lean on the apology family when turning something down politely: “Lo siento, no puedo ayudarte esta vez” (“I’m sorry, I can’t help you this time”) softens a refusal far better than a blunt “no”. If that is a situation you meet often, our guide to polite ways to say no will give you more options. Pronounce the pair dees-KOOL-pah and dees-KOOL-peh.

5. Lo lamento, Pido perdón and Mil disculpas — The Formal Apologies

For formal situations — a business email, a customer complaint, an apology to someone older or in authority — Spanish offers heavier artillery. “Lo lamento” (from lamentar, to lament or regret) is the formal cousin of “Lo siento”: sincere, measured and appropriate in writing. “Pido perdón” (“I beg forgiveness”) goes further still, used when you want to show genuine contrition.

Then there is “Mil disculpas” — literally “a thousand apologies” — the phrase customer service teams reach for. “Mil disculpas por el retraso” means “My sincere apologies for the delay”, and it sounds natural in emails, announcements and formal speeches.

“Lamento lo ocurrido.” — I regret what happened.

“Le pido perdón por las molestias.” — I beg your forgiveness for the inconvenience.

Pronounce “Lo lamento” as loh lah-MEN-toh and “Mil disculpas” as meel dees-KOOL-pahs. A final tip: in formal writing, pair these phrases with the usted form throughout (“Le pido perdón”, “Disculpe las molestias”) so the register stays consistent from the greeting to the sign-off.

Common Mistakes

English speakers make the same handful of errors with Spanish apologies. Here are the five most common, each with the fix.

• Wrong: Saying “Lo siento” when you bump into someone on a crowded pavement. Right: Use “Perdón” or “Permiso”. “Lo siento” carries real emotional weight, so deploying it for a tiny collision sounds melodramatic to native ears.
• Wrong: Addressing your manager with “Perdóname” in a formal meeting. Right: Use “Perdóneme” or “Lo lamento”. “Perdóname” is the informal tú form, and using it with a superior can sound disrespectfully familiar.
• Wrong: Offering “Perdón por tu pérdida” as a condolence. Right: Say “Lo siento mucho” or “Lo lamento mucho”. “Perdón” asks for forgiveness; it cannot express sympathy for someone else’s loss.
• Wrong: Writing “perdon” without the accent in a formal email. Right: Write “Perdón”. The accent marks the stressed syllable, and dropping it in writing looks careless — the same care you would take with “café” or “adiós”.
• Wrong: Using “Disculpa” to apologise for something serious, like forgetting your partner’s birthday. Right: Use “Lo siento” or “Perdóname”. “Disculpa” is for light, everyday interruptions — it will sound dismissive next to a real mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions learners ask most about apologising in Spanish.

What is the most common way to say sorry in Spanish?

“Lo siento” is the most common and versatile option: it works for genuine apologies and for sympathy, and it suits every register. That said, in everyday street-level situations — a bump, a misheard word — native speakers actually reach for “Perdón” or “Disculpa” more often.

Is “Lo siento” formal or informal?

It is neutral, which is part of its appeal. You can say it to a close friend, a stranger or your boss without adjusting a thing. If you want to sound deliberately formal, choose “Lo lamento” or “Le pido perdón” instead; if you want warmth with a friend, “Perdóname” feels more personal.

What is the difference between “Perdón” and “Disculpa”?

Both handle small, everyday situations, but “Perdón” is for when something is your fault — a bump, a mistake, a misunderstanding. “Disculpa” is for interruptions and requests: attracting a waiter’s attention, squeezing past someone, or prefacing a question. In practice they overlap, and either will be understood.

How do you say “I am sorry for your loss” in Spanish?

The standard condolence is “Lo siento mucho por tu pérdida” to someone you know well, or “Lo siento mucho por su pérdida” in formal situations. In very formal condolences you may also hear “Le acompaño en el sentimiento” — “I share in your grief”. If you are writing a sympathy message, our guide to ways to say goodbye in Spanish may also help you find the right closing words.

Now that you can apologise with confidence, keep building your phrasebook: learn the many ways to say goodbye in Spanish, and stock up on polite ways to say no for the moments when an apology is not quite the answer.