Show While in English it’s common to use, or rather overuse, the word ‘sorry’ - we’ve all been there - in Spanish it’s not that simple. We’re often taught that ‘lo siento’ will do and, although it is a form of expressing empathy and remorse, it’s not always the best or even the right way to say ‘I’m sorry’. When you think about it, there are dozens of different degrees of apology and as many reasons for making one. Sometimes it’s easy to throw out that ‘I’m sorry’ and other times it takes strength and courage. Are we empathizing? Apologizing for something out of our control? For some blunder we made? For bumping into someone? Have we just caused some hardship or let our best friend down? Unlike in the English language, hispanohablantes have different forms of saying ‘sorry’ depending on the context. The expressions are also at times interchangeable, but don’t fret! We’ll teach you the most common expressions so you can begin practicing and feel confident that your next ‘I’m sorry’ comes across as genuine. Lo sientoSentir is the verb meaning ‘to feel’. The expression ‘lo siento’ directly translates to ‘I feel it’. Most Spanish language learners are taught to use ‘lo siento’ to say ‘I’m sorry’. However, it is not correct for all apologies, although the listener will get the idea that you’re apologizing about something.
Here are the most common and correct uses of ‘lo siento’ or ‘siento mucho’: To express empathy or commiserate with someone about something.
To apologize for something minor like bumping into someone.
To express condolences when someone passes.
To say ‘I’m sorry for…’, use lo siento followed by por and a noun or infinitive form of the verb.
Disculpe/aThe verb, disculpar, directly means ‘to excuse’ or ‘to forgive’. The expression disculpe is used to apologize for a mistake, yet is not used for serious apologies.
Followed by por and a noun or infinitive form of the verb.
PerdónThe verb, perdonar, means ‘to forgive’. The expression, perdón, is most accepted when you need to apologize and ask for forgiveness in serious situations. Ironically, it can also be used in situations where you need to give a light apology.
When apologizing for hurting or offending someone. In these cases, the apology carries more significance and can be more difficult to express as you’re accepting the guilt.
Much like lo siento and disculpa, you can say perdón when you accidentally do something wrong, like step on someone’s foot or forget to switch off the lights when leaving a room.
Lo lamentoThe verb, lamentar, directly translates to ‘lament’. The expression, lo lamento, is also used to apologize, yet in Mexico it’s not used as often and is considered more academic and formal.
Other expressions of apologiesIn English, we don’t just use the expression ‘I’m sorry’ to apologize. There’s the ‘I need to get someone’s attention’ sorry and the ‘Oops, I didn’t quite catch that’ sorry, not to mention the ‘can I please get through?’ sorry. Perdona (formal and not commonly used in Mexico) / Perdón
Disculpe/a
Con permiso
¿Mande?
Check out our monthly Spanish language blogs to learn more about the intricacies of the language! And, we do believe that the best way to master Spanish is through immersing yourself in the language and culture. Here at Na’atik we offer a unique immersion experience in the off the beaten path in the small, authentic, Mexican city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. To find out more, clickhere or contact us at . How do you say sorry in Spanish slang words?“Lo siento”
This is the most common phrase for sorry, and is mostly used in informal situations. For example, if you make a mistake you would say “lo siento” to express saying sorry.
How do you apologize in Mexican Spanish?If you want to be very apologetic, or if you're concerned you've just offended or hurt someone, you can say Perdón or Perdóneme, por favor. Literally, these phrases mean “Sorry” or “Forgive (me)” and “Forgive me, please”.
How do you apologize sincerely in Spanish?How to Say “Sorry” in Spanish When You've Done Something Wrong. Perdón (I'm sorry) / Perdóname (forgive me) ... . Lo siento (I'm sorry) ... . Te/Le pido disculpas (I apologize / I ask for your forgiveness) ... . Te pido disculpas de corazón (I sincerely apologize) ... . Te/Le debo disculpas (I owe you an apology). How do Latinas say sorry?If so, the most common way is (yo) lo siento. It's used all over the Hispanic world as both “I am sorry” and “I regret it”.
|