How to Say Sorry in Spanish (With Examples)

Key takeaways

• “Lo siento” (I’m sorry) is the most common apology for everyday situations.
• “Disculpe” or “Disculpa” works for formal settings and quick apologies.
• “Perdón” is used for minor mistakes and informal contexts.
• “Pido disculpas” signals a serious or formal apology.
• Context determines which phrase to use and whether additional explanation is needed.

You stepped on someone’s foot on the metro and needed to apologize. You froze for a moment, then muttered something that might have been Spanish. Afterward, you wondered if you’d said it correctly or if your tone was off. Knowing how to apologize confidently in Spanish prevents these moments of doubt.

From its community of 30,000+ tutors across 150+ languages, italki has Spanish tutors who help learners master natural apologies in context. This guide covers the four main ways to apologize in Spanish, when to use each, and example sentences for common scenarios.

The main apology expressions

Expression	Literal meaning	When to use	Register
Lo siento	I feel it	Genuine regret, sympathy, serious mistakes	Informal to neutral
Perdón	Pardon	Small bumps, interruptions, minor inconveniences	Informal
Disculpa	Excuse me	Getting attention, polite interruptions	Informal
Disculpe	Excuse me	Same as disculpa but with strangers or authority figures	Formal
Lo lamento	I regret it	Written apologies, serious formal situations	Formal
Me disculpo	I apologize	Formal spoken or written contexts	Formal

Lo siento

Lo siento (I’m sorry, literally “I feel it”) is the Spanish apology with the most emotional weight. You use it when you have done something that genuinely affected someone, when you are expressing sympathy after bad news, or when you want to convey real regret.

Examples: Lo siento mucho (I’m very sorry). Lo siento, no fue mi intención (I’m sorry, it was not my intention). Lo siento por tu pérdida (I’m sorry for your loss).

Perdón

Perdón (pardon, sorry) is the everyday apology for small situations. You bump into someone on the street? Perdón. You need to squeeze past someone in a crowded café? Perdón. It is lighter than lo siento and does not imply deep regret.

Examples: Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso? (Sorry, can you repeat that?) Perdón, necesito pasar (Excuse me, I need to get through).

Disculpa and disculpe

Disculpa (excuse me, informal) and disculpe (excuse me, formal) both come from the verb disculpar (to excuse, to forgive). Use disculpa with people your age, friends, or in relaxed settings. Use disculpe with someone older, in a professional setting, or when approaching a stranger you do not know.

Examples: Disculpa, ¿sabes dónde está la farmacia? (Excuse me, do you know where the pharmacy is?) Disculpe, señor, ¿tiene un momento? (Excuse me, sir, do you have a moment?)

Lo lamento

Lo lamento (I regret it / I’m sorry) is more formal and literary than lo siento. You will hear it in news reports, official communications, and formal written apologies.

Examples: Lo lamentamos profundamente (We deeply regret this). Lo lamento, no puedo ayudarte con eso (I’m sorry, I cannot help you with that).

Me disculpo

Me disculpo (I apologize) is the most formal construction and works well in professional emails, business meetings, or public statements.

Example: Me disculpo por el malentendido (I apologize for the misunderstanding).

Practice all six phrases with a Spanish online tutor and use each one in realistic dialogue until you choose the right register automatically.

How to accept an apology in Spanish

Expression	Meaning	When to use
No hay problema	No problem	Casual, small situations
No te preocupes	Do not worry	Friendly, reassuring
Está bien	It is fine	Neutral, works in most contexts
No pasa nada	Nothing happened / It is fine	Very common in Spain and Latin America
Te perdono	I forgive you	For more serious situations

No pasa nada (nothing happened, it is fine) is probably the most commonly heard response across both Spain and Latin America. It is warm and dismissive of the mistake in a friendly way.

Example dialogues

Casual situation: bumping into someone

• A: ¡Ay, perdón\! No te vi. (Oh, sorry\! I did not see you.)
• B: No te preocupes, no pasa nada. (Do not worry, it is nothing.)

Apologizing for a genuine mistake

• A: Lo siento mucho, olvidé tu cumpleaños. (I’m so sorry, I forgot your birthday.)
• B: Está bien, no importa. (It is fine, do not worry about it.)

Professional setting

• A: Disculpe la interrupción. Tengo una pregunta urgente. (Excuse the interruption. I have an urgent question.)
• B: Claro, dime. (Of course, go ahead.)

Apologies in written communication

Email apologies follow different conventions than spoken apologies. “Disculpe/Disculpa” is too casual for professional email. Use “Le/Te pido disculpas por…” (I apologize to you for…) or “Lamento + noun” (I regret…).

Example: Lamento el retraso en mi respuesta. (I regret the delay in my response.)

For informal written apologies to friends, “Lo siento mucho” or “Perdón” both work well.

Craft professional apology emails with a Spanish tutor on italki so you can handle workplace communication confidently.

Common apology combinations

Apologies rarely stand alone. You often combine the apology with an explanation or offer to fix the problem.

Structure: Apology + explanation + solution.

Example: Lo siento, no vi tu mensaje. Ahora te llamo. (I’m sorry, I didn’t see your message. I’ll call you now.)

Example: Disculpa, no tengo cambio. Quizás más tarde. (Sorry, I don’t have change. Maybe later.)

Build natural apology sequences with an online Spanish teacher so you can move smoothly from recognition to resolution.

With over 15 years of experience connecting learners to qualified teachers, italki has helped students in 190+ countries achieve their language learning goals. Book a trial lesson on italki today.

FAQ

Is there a gender-specific way to apologize in Spanish?

No. “Lo siento,” “disculpe,” and “perdón” apply equally regardless of the speaker’s or listener’s gender. Agreement happens elsewhere in sentences but not in these apology phrases.

Should I add “muy” (very) to make my apology stronger?

Yes, “Lo siento mucho” (I’m very sorry) carries more weight than “Lo siento” alone and works well for serious mistakes. Don’t overuse it, or it loses impact.

What if someone says “No te preocupes” (Don’t worry) after my apology?

That’s a signal they’ve accepted your apology. Simply say “Gracias” (Thank you) or “De verdad, disculpa” (Really, I’m sorry) if you want to emphasize that you mean it.