Sorry in Spanish (2026): Lo Siento, Perdón, Disculpa

TL;DR

The most common translation for sorry in Spanish is “lo siento,” but using it for everything is the single biggest mistake English speakers make. Spanish has three core apology words: “lo siento” for serious regret, “perdón” for everyday slip-ups, and “disculpa/disculpe” for polite interruptions. Knowing which one to use, and when, is what separates a textbook speaker from someone who sounds natural.

The Quick Answer (And Why It’s Not Enough)

If you just need to say sorry in Spanish right now, say “lo siento” (loh SYEHN-toh). It’s the phrase every textbook teaches, and native speakers will understand you perfectly.

But here’s the problem. “Lo siento” carries real emotional weight. It literally means “I feel it,” as in “I feel your pain.” Using it when you accidentally bump into someone on the subway is like saying “I am deeply, profoundly sorry” for a minor inconvenience. Practitioners on language forums report that Spanish speakers may look at you like you’ve committed a serious crime if you drop a heavy “lo siento” for something trivial.

Spanish actually has a whole system of apology words, each calibrated to a different level of seriousness. Once you learn that system, you’ll sound far more natural than someone who memorized a single phrase. If you’re building your Spanish greetings vocabulary alongside apologies, these phrases pair perfectly together.

Ready to practice these phrases through actual gameplay?Lingo Legend teaches Spanish through RPG card battles and farm-sim gameplay, covering 3,500+ words and phrases with built-in spaced repetition.

The Three Core Ways to Say Sorry in Spanish

Spanish has three main apology words, and they are not interchangeable. Think of them as three tools in a toolbox: a hammer, a screwdriver, and a wrench all “fix things,” but you wouldn’t use a hammer to turn a screw.

Lo Siento (loh SYEHN-toh)

Literal meaning: “I feel it”Formality: Neutral (works in both formal and informal contexts)When to use it: Serious situations, deep regret, condolences, genuine remorse

“Lo siento” comes from the verb sentir, meaning “to feel” or “to regret.” Because it expresses genuine emotional weight, this is the phrase you reach for when something truly matters. Your friend’s grandmother passed away? Lo siento. You forgot your partner’s birthday? Lo siento. You broke someone’s trust? Lo siento.

Example sentences:

• Lo siento, no debí haber dicho eso. — I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.

• Lo siento mucho por tu pérdida. — I’m very sorry for your loss.

Perdón (pehr-DOHN)

Literal meaning: “Pardon” / “Forgiveness”Formality: Casual to neutralWhen to use it: Everyday mistakes, minor accidents, getting someone’s attention, asking “what?”

“Perdón” comes from the verb perdonar (to forgive). It directly asks for forgiveness for a specific wrongdoing, but in practice it’s your Swiss Army knife apology. Stepped on someone’s foot? Perdón. Need to squeeze past someone? Perdón. Didn’t catch what somebody said? Perdón.

This is the word most Spanish speakers actually reach for dozens of times a day.

Example sentences:

• Perdón, ¿me puedes repetir eso? — Sorry, can you repeat that?

• Perdón, no te vi. — Sorry, I didn’t see you.

Related forms:

• Perdona (pehr-DOH-nah) — informal command (“forgive me”), common in Spain

• Perdone (pehr-DOH-neh) — formal command, used with strangers or elders

• Perdóname (pehr-DOH-nah-meh) — “forgive me,” slightly more personal

Disculpa / Disculpe (dees-KOOL-pah / dees-KOOL-peh)

Literal meaning: “Excuse (me)”Formality: Disculpa = informal (tú); Disculpe = formal (usted)When to use it: Polite interruptions, getting attention, preemptive apologies before inconveniencing someone

The key distinction here is that “disculpa” is slightly more proactive than “perdón.” You tend to use it before you inconvenience someone, while “perdón” works both before and after. Want to interrupt a conversation? Disculpa. About to ask a stranger for directions? Disculpe.

The tú/usted split is important. Use disculpa with friends, family, and peers. Switch to disculpe for older people, authority figures, and formal settings.

Example sentences:

• Disculpa, ¿sabes dónde está el baño? — Excuse me, do you know where the bathroom is?

• Disculpe la molestia. — Excuse the inconvenience. (formal)

Quick-Reference Comparison Table

Don’t Just Say “Lo Siento” for Everything

This deserves its own section because it’s the number one mistake English speakers make when saying sorry in Spanish.

English collapses dozens of social situations into the single word “sorry.” You say sorry when you’re late. Sorry when you bump someone. Sorry when you mishear something. Sorry when someone tells you bad news. Sorry when you need to get past someone on a crowded bus.

Spanish doesn’t work that way. Each apology word carries different weight, and using the wrong one in the wrong situation sounds off. A Buenos Aires-based Spanish teacher explained the distinction clearly in an italki discussion: “Lo siento” expresses regret, remorse, or empathy for someone else’s pain. “Perdón” works like a general-purpose apology, even functioning like “excuse me.” But “lo siento” is not used when you’ve done nothing wrong and simply want to show empathy casually.

Here’s a practical cheat sheet for English speakers:

The pattern becomes obvious: reserve “lo siento” for situations that genuinely call for emotional weight. Everything else gets “perdón” or “disculpa.” Understanding these differences is similar to understanding why por qué and porque aren’t interchangeable. Small structural differences change meaning dramatically.

Intensifiers: When Sorry Isn’t Strong Enough

Sometimes a basic apology isn’t enough. Spanish has several ways to amplify your regret.

Lo siento mucho (loh SYEHN-toh MOO-choh)

“I’m very sorry.” This adds genuine weight to your apology. Use it when you’ve messed up something important or you’re expressing sympathy for someone’s loss or bad news.

Lo siento mucho, fue mi culpa. — I’m very sorry, it was my fault.

Lo siento muchísimo / De verdad lo siento

Stacked intensifiers for maximum sincerity. “De verdad lo siento” means “I’m truly sorry” and signals you’re not just going through the motions.

Lo lamento (loh lah-MEHN-toh)

More formal and serious than “lo siento.” This is the phrase for condolences or really significant apologies. If someone tells you their grandmother passed away, “lo lamento mucho” carries the appropriate gravity.

Te pido perdón / Le pido perdón

“I ask for your forgiveness.” The informal te version is for people you’re close to. The formal le version is for professional or respectful contexts. This phrase shows you’re actively requesting forgiveness rather than simply stating you’re sorry.

Le pido disculpas / Mis disculpas

“I ask for your forgiveness” (formal) or “My apologies.” These sound polished and carry weight in professional settings, business emails, or formal conversations.

These emotional phrases sit alongside other expressive Spanish constructions, like the different ways to say I miss you in Spanish, where the verb choice also signals intensity.

Fun Fact: “Te Pido” vs. “Te Ofrezco” una Disculpa

A Spring Spanish teacher shared an interesting nuance: it’s extremely common for people to say te pido una disculpa (“I ask for an apology”). But technically, the “correct” construction is te ofrezco una disculpa (“I offer an apology to you”). After all, you’re the one who should be offering the apology, not asking for one. Most native speakers use the “wrong” version without thinking, which makes it a fun piece of trivia but not something to correct people on.

Situational Apology Phrases

Beyond the core three, Spanish has several phrases that handle specific scenarios.

Con permiso (kohn pehr-MEE-soh)

“With your permission.” Not technically an apology at all. English speakers often say “sorry” preemptively before brushing past someone, but in Spanish, “con permiso” is the natural choice. Use it when passing through a crowd, leaving a table, or entering someone’s space.

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

Fue sin querer

“It wasn’t on purpose.” The accident disclaimer. Pair it with “perdón” for maximum effect: Perdón, fue sin querer.

No fue mi intención

“It wasn’t my intention.” Slightly more formal than “fue sin querer” and useful in professional contexts.

Me equivoqué

“I was wrong.” This construction is quite different from its English counterpart, so don’t try to break it down grammatically. Treat it as a ready-made chunk that native speakers use constantly when admitting a mistake.

¡Qué pena!

This one is tricky. In most Spanish-speaking countries, “qué pena” means “what a pity.” But in Colombia (and parts of Guatemala), it means “sorry” or “excuse me.” More on this in the regional section below.

The “Es que…” Companion

When apologizing in Spanish, you’ll almost certainly want to explain yourself. The phrase es que… (“the thing is…” or “it’s just that…”) is the most natural way to attach a reason to your apology. Spanish speakers use it constantly in conversation.

Perdón por llegar tarde, es que había mucho tráfico. — Sorry for being late, it’s just that there was a lot of traffic.

If you find yourself apologizing and explaining simultaneously, “es que” will make you sound significantly more natural than launching straight into your excuse.

How Sorry in Spanish Changes by Region

This is where things get genuinely interesting. The way people apologize varies noticeably across Spanish-speaking countries. If you’re curious about where someone is from in Spanish, knowing these regional differences helps you understand more than just geography.

Mexico

Mexicans use “perdón” for practically everything. It covers “excuse me,” “sorry,” “what did you say?”, and more. “Disculpa” is also common in casual settings.

One distinctly Mexican usage worth knowing: mande (literally “command me”). Mexicans say this instead of “what?” or “pardon?” when they didn’t hear something. It’s not an apology, but it fills a space where English speakers might default to “sorry?” It reflects deep cultural politeness, and visitors sometimes confuse it for an apology.

Spain

Spaniards don’t apologize as frequently as English speakers, and that’s not rudeness. It’s just a different cultural calibration. Bumping into someone lightly might not require any words at all.

When Spaniards do apologize, perdona is the most common casual form. Perdone handles formal situations. Lo siento appears for genuinely serious matters. Social punctuality is also more relaxed (though not in professional settings), so being a few minutes late to a casual meetup may not need an apology either.

Argentina and Uruguay

These countries use vos instead of tú for the informal “you,” which changes verb conjugations. Instead of “disculpa,” you’ll hear disculpá. Instead of “perdona,” you’ll hear perdoname with slightly different stress patterns.

You’ll also frequently hear che, perdón or che, disculpá. The word che is a uniquely Argentine and Uruguayan interjection used to get attention or add emphasis. It’s not translatable, but think of it as a conversational marker that says “hey” without being rude.

Colombia

Colombia has a notably polite and formal culture. You’ll hear “disculpe” and “lo siento mucho” used generously, and many Colombians default to usted even in casual conversations.

The standout regional phrase is ¡Qué pena contigo! (literally “what shame/embarrassment for you”). Despite the literal translation, it’s used for those small “sorry for pushing, excuse me for interrupting, didn’t mean to be late” moments. Reserve it for minor social friction, not deep apologies. Visitors to Colombia encounter this phrase immediately and often, so recognizing it saves confusion.

Lingo Legend’s Spanish categories cover regional vocabulary across 150+ topics, which helps when you’re trying to internalize these country-specific phrases.

How to Respond When Someone Says Sorry in Spanish

Most guides teach you how to apologize but skip the other half of the conversation. Knowing how to accept an apology is just as important.

Casual Responses

• No pasa nada — “Nothing happened” / “No worries.” Extremely common and casual. Perfect for minor stuff.

• No te preocupes — “Don’t worry about it.” Warm and reassuring.

• No hay problema — “No problem.” Straightforward and universally understood.

• Está bien — “It’s okay.” Simple and gets the point across.

• Tranquilo / Tranquila — “Calm down” / “Don’t worry.” Informal and gendered (use tranquilo for masculine, tranquila for feminine).

Formal Responses

• No se preocupe — “Don’t worry about it” (usted form).

• No hace falta pedir disculpas — “There’s no need to apologize.”

For Serious Situations

• Te perdono — “I forgive you.” Only for situations where real forgiveness is being granted. Don’t use this for minor things, as it would sound heavy and odd.

When accepting apologies, you might also want to say thank you in Spanish, since “gracias” often follows a resolved misunderstanding.

Why “Lo Siento” Needs the “Lo” (Grammar Explainer)

This is a question that comes up constantly on SpanishDict forums and italki discussions, and almost no guide explains it well.

Sentir, the verb behind siento, means “to feel” or “to regret.” It’s a transitive verb, which means it needs an object. It needs something to act on, something to be sorry about. That “something” is what the “lo” provides. It acts as the direct object pronoun, meaning “it.”

So “lo siento” literally means “I regret it” or “I am sorry about it.” In English, you can just say “I’m sorry” and it makes complete sense standing alone. In Spanish, saying just siento without the lo doesn’t work. It would sound incomplete, like saying “I regret” and then trailing off.

This is a small grammatical detail, but it helps you understand why the phrase is constructed the way it is, and it prevents you from accidentally dropping the “lo” when you speak. These small structural differences matter a lot, much like the difference between por qué and porque.

Complete Pronunciation Guide

Getting the pronunciation right matters. Here’s every key phrase with its phonetic breakdown:

Stress patterns matter in Spanish. Notice how “perdón” stresses the final syllable while “perdona” shifts the stress. Misplacing the stress can change the meaning or simply make you harder to understand.

Practice These Phrases

Reading about how to say sorry in Spanish is one thing. Actually remembering these phrases when you need them is another. The gap between knowing and recalling under pressure is where most learners struggle.

Spaced repetition is the most evidence-backed method for moving vocabulary from short-term recognition into long-term, automatic recall. It schedules reviews at optimal intervals so you see each phrase right before you’d forget it.

Lingo Legend builds spaced repetition directly into RPG card battles and farm-sim gameplay, covering 3,500+ Spanish words and phrases across 150+ categories. Instead of grinding through flashcards, you practice vocabulary by playing an actual game, which keeps you coming back day after day.

FAQ

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

“Lo siento” is the most widely recognized translation, but “perdón” is actually used more frequently in daily conversation. For minor incidents like bumping into someone or needing to get past, “perdón” is the standard choice. Save “lo siento” for serious regret or condolences.

What’s the difference between “lo siento” and “perdón”?

“Lo siento” (literally “I feel it”) expresses deep regret or empathy. “Perdón” (from perdonar, to forgive) is a lighter, everyday apology that directly asks for forgiveness over a specific small thing. Using “lo siento” when you should use “perdón” can sound overly dramatic.

When should I use “disculpa” vs. “disculpe”?

“Disculpa” is the informal (tú) form, used with friends, family, and peers. “Disculpe” is the formal (usted) form, used with strangers, elders, or anyone you want to show extra respect to. Both mean “excuse me.”

How do you say “I’m very sorry” in Spanish?

“Lo siento mucho” is the standard way to add weight to your apology. For even stronger emphasis, use “lo siento muchísimo” or “de verdad lo siento” (I’m truly sorry). In very formal or solemn contexts, “lo lamento mucho” carries the most gravity.

Is saying sorry in Spanish different across countries?

Yes, significantly. Mexicans use “perdón” for almost everything. Spaniards favor “perdona” casually and apologize less frequently overall. Argentines say “disculpá” (reflecting voseo conjugation). Colombians have the unique expression “¡qué pena contigo!” for minor social apologies.

What does “qué pena” mean in Colombia?

In Colombia, “qué pena” means “sorry” or “excuse me” for minor inconveniences, even though in most other Spanish-speaking countries it means “what a pity.” The full expression “qué pena contigo” is used constantly for small social friction like interrupting, being late, or squeezing past someone.

How do you respond to an apology in Spanish?

The most common casual responses are “no pasa nada” (no worries), “no te preocupes” (don’t worry about it), and “está bien” (it’s okay). For formal situations, use “no se preocupe.” Reserve “te perdono” (I forgive you) only for serious situations where real forgiveness is being extended.

Why can’t you just say “siento” without the “lo”?

Because sentir is a transitive verb that requires a direct object. The “lo” means “it,” giving the verb something to act on. Saying “siento” alone sounds incomplete in Spanish, like saying “I regret” without finishing the sentence in English. You always need that “lo.”