So far the only way I know to say "I'm sorry" is "lo siento." However, this gets repetitive rather quickly, and sometimes I'm looking for a stronger form of an apology. What other ways are there to apologize in spanish? If you are apologizing for an extremely terrible thing you've done, would you use a different phrase? How do native speakers apologize or convey regret for things they've done?
-
You can also say "lo siento" + something big, like "muchísimo".– fedorquiApr 16, 2014 at 8:55
-
"Lo siento" implica mas bien el sentido de empatia que el arrepentimiento.– PaulMay 5, 2014 at 18:39
-
I made a YouTube video that explains how to apologize in Spanish. It explains which context is appropriate for different apologies like when to use lo siento or perdón. Hope this helps! youtu.be/mneRXgho_FQ– SarahDec 12, 2019 at 21:34
7 Answers
Well at least in Mexico is not common to say "lo siento" instead we say "perdón" for apologizing. The only part that I've heard "lo siento" is in movies or telenovelas.
A stronger version of "perdón" is "perdóname" or "discúlpame". You can add "por favor" at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
Here some examples:
Perdóname por haberte mentido.
Por favor perdóname.
Perdón por no haber hecho caso.
Perdón.
Discúlpame por favor.
-
1
-
1
-
I think we use "lo siento" when we really make a mess, and "perdon" in every other I'm sorry moment– PonchoApr 10, 2014 at 15:37
-
As a good spanish, you must learn to say it in the way you don't say it.. xD, "la he cagado", is really colloquial, and if you put sad face, can be understood like that :P, and you don't have to say "sorry". Apr 14, 2015 at 10:15
'Sentir', 'perdonar', 'disculpar', and even 'dispensar' are all used depending on the reason for your apology:
Lo sentimos, este teléfono ha sido desconectado.
Lo sentimos, la lluvia ha arruinado el paseo.
You're just being polite, it is not really your fault and beyond your control.
Discúlpame por haber llegado un poco tarde.
Estamos remodelando, disculpe las molestias.
Disculpe, ¿sabe a qué hora empieza la fiesta?
This is the equivalent of 'excuse me'. You are responsible for the action, but it is a small or easily-justifiable matter.
Perdóname por no haber ido a nuestra cita.
*Perdón por pisarte la mano
You are responsible for the action, and it is a big deal.
Other words to keep in mind:
'Dispensar' is used by old people in Mexico, it is the equivalent of 'disculpar' and it is disappearing but will remain in written works.
'Con permiso' is the active and physical version of 'excuse me'. It always involves physical movement, like when leaving/entering a room or reaching in front of someone to grab something.
'Pesar' is used when something weighs heavily on you and is much deeper:
Me pesa mucho no haberte creído.
Last but not least, 'dar el pésame' is what you would say to someone who has lost someone:
Mi más sentido pésame por la pérdida de tu papá.
-
1Very similar in Spain, but here we also use
Lo siento
when the action is our fault, apart from the use you have explain.¡Lo siento! no sabía que estabas detrás de la puerta. ¿Te he hecho daño?
. If you really regret what you have done you can also addperdona
orperdóname
at the end:¡Lo siento! no sabía que estabas detrás de la puerta. ¿Te he hecho daño? Perdona
– itzikiApr 10, 2014 at 8:01
In Argentina, we just emphasize "Lo siento" (or "lo lamento")
Lo siento mucho
Lo siento muchísimo
Alfredo's alternatives are also ok.
Other alternative, stronger than just "lo siento":
lo lamento / lo lamento mucho / lo lamento muchsísimo
It's also more formal than "lo siento"
You could say:
- Lo siento mucho
- Siento
- Lamento
- Mi más sentido pésame
Though, I'm sorry has different meanings depend on the context that you use, it can also be used to ask someone repeat something, to express condolences, to object, or to get someone's attention. And in different context, you would use different expressions to say "I'm sorry".
-
Hello Kayla and welcome to Spanish Language. Instead of posting links to other pages -which is likely to have your posts marked as spam-, select the relevant parts of those pages and quote them in here. Check How to Answer and tour to get a full view of how we like answers in here.– fedorquiApr 15, 2017 at 14:43
From my experience, you could say
Perdón
Lo lamento
Perdón is more used if you accidentally hurt or bump into a person. If you want you can add muchísimo to make it sound like you mean it from your bottom of your heart.