How do you say “sorry” in Spanish? There are three main options — lo siento, perdón, and disculpa — and choosing the right one depends on what you are apologising for. Lo siento expresses genuine regret. Perdón asks for forgiveness or gets someone’s attention. Disculpa is a lighter excuse-me. Using lo siento for a minor bump in the street, or perdón for a serious apology, signals that you are still learning the difference — this guide explains exactly when each word fits.
Quick Reference
| Spanish | When to use it | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Lo siento | Genuine regret, emotional apology | I’m sorry / I’m sorry for your loss |
| Perdón | Excuse me (getting past), asking forgiveness | Sorry / Pardon / Forgive me |
| Disculpa / Disculpe | Light excuse-me, interrupting politely | Excuse me / Sorry to bother you |
| Lo siento mucho | Deeper, more sincere apology | I’m very sorry |
| Mil perdones | Emphatic, slightly formal apology | A thousand apologies |
| Me disculpo | Formal written apology | I apologise |
Lo Siento — Genuine Regret
Lo siento literally means “I feel it” — from the verb sentir (to feel). This is the phrase for genuine emotional apology: when you have done something wrong, caused inconvenience or pain, or want to express sympathy for someone’s situation.
Use it for:
- Apologising for a mistake you made
- Expressing condolences
- Genuine regret about a situation
Lo siento, no sabía que te iba a molestar. — I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would bother you. Lo siento mucho por tu pérdida. — I’m very sorry for your loss. Lo siento, llegué tarde. — I’m sorry I was late.
Lo siento is not what you say when you bump into someone on the street or interrupt a conversation — that is perdón or disculpa. Using lo siento for a minor physical moment makes it sound heavier than the situation warrants, as if you are devastated about bumping into a stranger.
To make it stronger:
Lo siento muchísimo. — I’m extremely sorry. Lo siento de verdad. — I’m genuinely sorry. De verdad que lo siento. — I really am sorry.
Perdón — Forgiveness and Excuse Me
Perdón comes from perdonar (to forgive) and covers two distinct situations:
1. Physical excuse-me: getting past someone in a crowd, sneezing, interrupting a moment.
Perdón. — Excuse me. / Sorry. (bumping into someone) Perdón, ¿me dejas pasar? — Excuse me, can I get through? Perdón por interrumpir. — Sorry to interrupt.
2. Asking for forgiveness: more emotionally weighted than disculpa, used when you want to acknowledge you did something wrong and ask to be pardoned.
Perdón, no quería decir eso. — Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. Te pido perdón por lo que hice. — I ask your forgiveness for what I did.
The second construction — te pido perdón — is more formal and carries real emotional weight. You would say this in a genuine reconciliation, not for a minor mistake.
Disculpa / Disculpe — Polite Excuse Me
Disculpa (informal, tú) and disculpe (formal, usted) are the lightest of the three. They are ideal for politely interrupting, getting a waiter’s attention, or asking a stranger a question.
Disculpa, ¿sabes dónde está la estación de metro? — Excuse me, do you know where the metro station is? Disculpe, ¿tiene la carta? — Excuse me, do you have the menu? Disculpa la molestia. — Sorry to bother you. / Excuse the inconvenience.
Disculpe on its own — said to a waiter or a shop assistant — is a completely natural way to get someone’s attention. It is more polished than oye (hey) and more appropriate than perdón in a service context.
The -a / -e ending follows the same tú / usted rule that applies across polite phrases in Spanish. The Tú vs Usted guide explains when each register applies — and why the verb form changes with it.
Formal Written Apologies
In professional or written contexts, Spanish uses more elaborate constructions:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Le pido disculpas por las molestias. | I apologise for the inconvenience. |
| Lamentamos el error cometido. | We regret the error made. |
| Sentimos profundamente lo ocurrido. | We deeply regret what happened. |
| Le ofrecemos nuestras más sinceras disculpas. | We offer you our sincerest apologies. |
| En nombre de la empresa, me disculpo por… | On behalf of the company, I apologise for… |
Lamentar (to regret/lament) appears frequently in formal apologies — in company communications, customer service, and official statements. It carries the same weight as lo siento but sounds more institutional.
How to Respond to an Apology
Knowing what to say when you receive an apology is just as useful as knowing how to give one:
| Response | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| No pasa nada. | It’s fine. / No problem. | Most common — dismissive in a reassuring way |
| No te preocupes. | Don’t worry about it. | Warm, genuinely forgiving |
| Tranquilo/a. | Relax. / It’s okay. | Casual, calming |
| No hay problema. | No problem. | Neutral, slightly more formal |
| Está bien. | It’s okay. | Simple acceptance |
| Te perdono. | I forgive you. | Genuine, emotional — reserve for real situations |
No pasa nada — literally “nothing is happening” — is the most natural, all-purpose response to a minor apology in Spain. You will hear it constantly. It is warmer and more natural than no hay problema in most conversational contexts.
Common Mistakes
Using lo siento for minor interruptions
✗ Lo siento, ¿tiene la carta? — Sounds as if you are deeply troubled about asking for the menu. ✓ Disculpe, ¿tiene la carta? — The right register for a light interruption.
Using disculpa for a serious apology
✗ Disculpa por lo que te hice. — Too light for something that genuinely hurt someone. ✓ Lo siento mucho por lo que te hice. / Te pido perdón. — The weight matches the situation.
Forgetting the tú / usted distinction with disculpa
✗ Disculpa, señor. (informal to a stranger who expects formality) ✓ Disculpe, señor. — Matches usted register.
Practise in Context
Apologies appear in almost every Learning Journey scenario — from miscommunications at a hotel to misunderstandings at a market. The Learning Journey puts these phrases into realistic dialogues where the right register actually matters, which is the fastest way to build the instinct for when perdón, lo siento, and disculpa each belong.
For the broader vocabulary of Spanish politeness — por favor, gracias, and de nada — the Please and Thank You guide covers the same register awareness across the full range of polite expressions.
Lo siento, perdón, disculpa — three words, three distinct functions. Once the difference clicks, you will notice native speakers using them precisely, every time. And you will stop reaching for lo siento every time you nudge someone on the metro.