How to Say Sorry in Spanish: Lo Siento, Perdón and Disculpa

How do you say sorry in Spanish?

There are three core ways to say sorry in Spanish: lo siento, perdón, and disculpa (or its formal form disculpe). They aren’t quite interchangeable, and the trick is matching the word to the situation.

Think of it like a scale: perdón and disculpa for small, everyday moments, and lo siento for something you genuinely regret.

Tip: if you learn just one for daily life, make it perdón. It’s the word Spanish speakers reach for most.

Lo siento: heartfelt regret

Lo siento literally means “I feel it,” and it’s the most sincere apology. Use it when you truly regret something, or to express sympathy.

• Lo siento mucho. → I’m so sorry.
• Lo siento, fue culpa mía. → I’m sorry, it was my fault.
• Siento mucho tu pérdida. → I’m very sorry for your loss.

Careful, though: using lo siento for a tiny slip, like brushing past someone, can sound overly dramatic.

Perdón: the everyday sorry

Perdón is your all-purpose “sorry” and “excuse me,” the equivalent of a quick English “pardon.” Spanish speakers use it constantly.

• Bumping into someone: ¡Perdón!
• Interrupting: Perdón, ¿tienes un momento?
• Not hearing something: ¿Perdón? (“Sorry?”)

It works both before and after a small mistake, which makes it wonderfully flexible.

Disculpa / disculpe: polite attention

Disculpa is close to perdón, but it leans toward politely getting attention or apologizing before you inconvenience someone. The form depends on formality:

• Disculpa → informal, with tú (friends, peers).
• Disculpe → formal, with usted (a stranger, an elder, a waiter).

For example: to get a waiter’s attention, Disculpe, ¿me trae la cuenta? (“Excuse me, could you bring the bill?”). For more everyday lines like this, see our Spanish phrases for beginners.

Stronger apologies and useful phrases

When “sorry” needs more behind it, these help:

• Perdóname. → Forgive me.
• Disculpa las molestias. → Sorry for the trouble.
• No era mi intención. → I didn’t mean to.
• Fue culpa mía. → It was my fault.

Bonus: con permiso

To squeeze past someone or leave a room politely, Spanish uses con permiso (“excuse me / with your permission”), not an apology word. It’s the courteous way to make space for yourself in a crowd.

How to respond when someone apologizes

If someone says sorry to you, here’s how to put them at ease:

• No pasa nada. → “It’s nothing / no worries.” The everyday reply.
• No te preocupes. → “Don’t worry” (informal).
• Tranquilo / tranquila. → “Relax, it’s okay.”
• Está bien. → “It’s fine.”
• No hay problema. → “No problem.”

For example: —Perdón por llegar tarde. —No pasa nada.

Sorry or excuse me: which is which?

English blurs “sorry” and “excuse me,” so here’s the clean split in Spanish. Use perdón or disculpe both to apologize and to get someone’s attention. Use con permiso only when you need to pass by or squeeze through. And keep lo siento for genuine regret, never as a casual “excuse me.”

Apologizing sincerely: a cultural note

In Spanish-speaking cultures, a good apology is as much about tone and body language as the exact word. A sincere lo siento paired with eye contact carries far more weight than a rushed one. For small everyday moments, though, keep it light: a quick perdón with a smile is all anyone expects, and over-apologizing can actually feel awkward. The sweet spot is simple, match the size of your apology to the situation, be genuine, and move on. Get that balance right and you’ll come across as both polite and completely natural.

Quick recap

• Genuine regret: lo siento
• Everyday sorry / excuse me: perdón
• Getting attention (formal/informal): disculpe / disculpa
• Passing by: con permiso

So, which one would you use if you stepped on someone’s foot? Tell us in the comments, and we’ll let you know if you nailed it!