Sorry in Spanish: Lo Siento, Perdón + Apology Phrases

The most useful ways to say “sorry” in Spanish are lo siento and perdón. Use lo siento for a sincere apology or sympathy, perdón for a quick mistake, and disculpa or disculpe when asking someone to excuse you. For a serious repair, name what happened: Siento haber llegado tarde (“I’m sorry for arriving late”).

The Real Academia Española entry for perdón includes its use to ask forgiveness and to interrupt or respond after a small social breach. The verb disculpar includes freeing someone from blame and asking indulgence. Neither entry turns one English word into a universal Spanish formula; the situation determines the phrase.

Choose the apology by what went wrong

The phrases overlap, and speakers differ in how strongly they hear them. Perdón may be enough after stepping in someone’s way; it is usually too thin after breaking an important promise. The scale comes from the event and the repair, not only the word.

Pronounce lo siento and perdón

Lo siento is approximately loh SYEHN-toh. Make sien one syllable and keep the final vowels clear. Perdón is approximately pehr-DOHN, with stress on the accented final syllable. In careful speech, do not move the stress to the first syllable.

Disculpa is approximately dees-KOOL-pah, while disculpe ends -peh. Pronunciation differs across regions, especially the sounds written s, c, and d. These English cues are only memory prompts; native audio is needed for local rhythm and consonants.

Make a real apology in three parts

A meaningful apology needs more than increasing the intensity of lo siento:

1. State regret plainly: Lo siento or Te pido perdón.
2. Name the action without hiding it: Interrumpí la reunión or Olvidé llamarte.
3. Offer the next repair: Lo corregiré hoy or ¿Cómo puedo solucionarlo?

For example:

Lo siento. Envié la versión equivocada y te hice perder tiempo. Te mando la correcta ahora.

I’m sorry. I sent the wrong version and made you lose time. I’m sending the correct one now.

An explanation can be useful, but placing pero immediately after the apology often sounds as though responsibility is being withdrawn. Listen to the other person’s response before demanding quick forgiveness.

Sorry for sympathy is not an admission of fault

Lo siento can express care when something bad happened to someone else:

Siento mucho lo de tu abuelo.

I’m very sorry about your grandfather.

Siento que estés pasando por esto.

I’m sorry you’re going through this.

In these examples, the speaker is not claiming responsibility. They are acknowledging pain. Avoid expanding the moment into advice unless the person asks for it. Language and mourning customs have personal and cultural limits; a memorised sentence cannot replace sensitivity.

Quick mistakes, interruptions, and serious repairs

After bumping into someone:

Perdón. ¿Está bien? — Sí, no pasa nada.

Sorry. Are you okay? — Yes, it’s all right.

After arriving late:

Siento llegar tarde. El tren se detuvo. — Gracias por avisar.

I’m sorry for arriving late. The train stopped. — Thanks for letting me know.

After forgetting an agreement:

Perdóname. Olvidé nuestra cita. Fue culpa mía. ¿Podemos fijar otra hora?

Forgive me. I forgot our appointment. It was my fault. Can we set another time?

To get attention or move past someone, the task is different. Use the guide to excuse me in Spanish for disculpe, perdón, and con permiso in those situations.

Responding when someone apologises

Possible replies include no pasa nada (“it’s okay”), está bien (“all right”), gracias por decírmelo (“thank you for telling me”), and necesito tiempo (“I need time”). None is mandatory. The person receiving the apology can acknowledge it without immediately saying everything is resolved.

If the repair continues, conversation-repair strategies can help both people clarify what they understood. Close a resolved exchange with gracias, not with repeated apologies that force the other person to reassure you.

Common mistakes and important limits

Using lo siento for every tiny interruption. Perdón or disculpe is usually lighter when you only need someone’s attention.

Making lo agree with the speaker. Lo siento does not become la siento because the speaker is a woman. Learn the apology as the fixed chunk used in this sense.

Confusing perdona and perdone. Perdona aligns with tú; perdone aligns with usted. Regional vos use requires local guidance.

Treating a phrase as complete repair. Serious harm may require restitution, changed behaviour, or space. A native reviewer can check language and register, but cannot make an apology appropriate without knowing the relationship.

A dependable decision rule

Choose perdón for a small immediate breach, lo siento for regret or sympathy, and a complete action-specific sentence for a serious apology. Name the impact and the repair before adding explanations. That distinction is more useful than ranking phrases from “weak” to “strong” without context.

Disclosure: LinguaLive publishes commercial language-learning software and has an interest in readers searching for Spanish phrases. This guide is not proof that a template, product, or practice method repairs relationships or improves learning outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between lo siento and perdón?

Lo siento commonly expresses sincere regret or sympathy. Perdón is often a quick “sorry” or “pardon” after a small mistake or interruption.

How do I say I am very sorry in Spanish?

Say lo siento mucho. For a specific apology, add the action: Siento mucho haber llegado tarde.

Is disculpe formal?

Disculpe uses the usted form. Disculpa uses the tú form. Both can ask for attention or excuse a minor breach.

How do I ask someone to forgive me?

Use perdóname with tú or perdóneme with usted. In a serious case, also acknowledge what happened and offer a concrete repair.

Sources and editorial review

This guide was checked against its primary official or academic reference on 27 August 2026. Language usage can vary by region, relationship, and situation. Review the primary source.