How to say sorry in Spanish: 5 different ways

By Marta Díaz on Thursday, April 24, 2025

Apologizing isn't always easy, but it's one of the most human things we can do. Knowing how to recognize a mistake, show remorse, and apologize is a gesture that builds respect, trust, and closeness.

In Spanish, as in other languages, there are many ways to say sorry in Spanish and each one has its own nuance, tone, and context. In this article, we'll tell you five different ways to say sorry in Spanish so that you can continue on your path and learn Spanish in Spain will be an unforgettable journey for you.

How to apologize in Spanish?

Lo siento and its variants

Lo siento is, of course, the most direct and widely recognized way to say sorry in Spanish. This expression is short but very powerful and can be used to apologize in almost any situation, from something minor to something more serious.

Depending on your tone of voice and the context, it can sound very sincere or more automatic, so it's important to accompany it with appropriate body language.

Some variations of expressions with Lo siento in Spanish are:

• Lo siento
• Lo siento mucho
• De verdad, lo siento
• Siento lo que pasó

For example: “Lo siento, no quise hacerte daño. Estoy muy arrepentido” (I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm very sorry).

Perdón

Another very common word for apologizing in Spanish is perdón. It is a little more formal than lo siento and sometimes more direct. It can be used alone or combined with other phrases, such as “perdón por...” or “perdóname.”

The word perdón is usually used when you interrupt someone, when you have made a minor mistake, or when you need to pass through a narrow space.

Some examples are:

• Perdón, no sabía que estabas ocupado (Sorry, I didn't know you were busy)
• Perdona por llegar tarde, había mucho tráfico (Sorry I'm late, there was a lot of traffic)

How to say excuse me in Spanish?

Disculpa

The third way to say sorry in Spanish is disculpa. This form is very common in formal or respectful situations, especially when you are not very familiar with the person you are addressing.

Disculpa is used informally, while disculpe is the formal way. It can also be used in the plural when addressing a group: disculpen. Both are widely used to ask for permission or to get someone's attention politely.

For example:

• Disculpa, ¿puedo hablar contigo un momento? (Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?)
• Disculpe, señora, ¿este asiento está libre? (Excuse me, ma'am, is this seat free?)

Lo lamento

Another expression, but no less important, is Lo lamento. Like lo siento, this way of asking for forgiveness in Spanish is used in many contexts and, in fact, you can substitute one for the other, and the phrase will have the same meaning.

Although lo lamento is a deeper expression than lo siento, especially when expressing condolences.

Examples:

• Lamento oírte decir eso (I'm sorry to hear that)
• Lamento tu pérdida (I'm sorry for your loss)
• Lo lamento mucho (I'm very sorry)

Me equivoqué

This phrase does not literally mean “I'm sorry,” but it is a very effective way to ask for forgiveness. Accepting that you have made a mistake is a clear sign of humility and honesty. It can often be combined with other phrases such as “te pido perdón” or “no fue mi intención”.

An example would be: “Sé que me equivoqué contigo. Me dejé llevar y te hablé mal. Te pido perdón” (I know I was wrong to you. I got carried away and spoke to you badly. I apologize).

How to say sorry in Spanish with other expressions

Sometimes, you don't need to literally say sorry to apologize in Spanish. There are other ways to show regret, some more subtle, others more emotional, depending on the situation. Here are some alternatives that can also be used to apologize in Spanish in a different way.

• Te pido disculpas por llegar tarde, no quería hacerte esperar tanto (I apologize for being late, I didn't mean to keep you waiting so long)
• Siento lo ocurrido ayer en la reunión, no estuve en mi mejor momento (I'm sorry about what happened yesterday at the meeting, I wasn't at my best)
• Me arrepiento de haberte hablado así, no lo merecías en absoluto (I regret talking to you like that, you didn't deserve it at all)
• No debí haber dicho eso delante de todos, me pasé de la raya (I shouldn't have said that in front of everyone, I crossed the line)
• No sabes cuánto lo siento... Ojalá pudieras perdonarme (You don't know how sorry I am... I hope you can forgive me)
• Se disculpó sinceramente por el malentendido y aceptamos sus palabras (He sincerely apologized for the misunderstanding, and we accepted his words)
• Me pidió perdón por su reacción, y la verdad es que lo noté muy arrepentido (He apologized for his reaction, and I could tell he was truly sorry)
• Es mi culpa, no revisé bien los datos antes de enviarlos (It's my fault; I didn't check the data properly before sending it)
• Me equivoqué al juzgarte tan rápido, lo siento (I was wrong to judge you so quickly; I'm sorry)
• No fue mi intención hacerte sentir mal, ¿me perdonas? (I didn't mean to make you feel bad; will you forgive me?)

Apologizing isn't just a matter of words, but also of attitude. In Spanish, there are many ways to do this: from the classic, lo siento to more subtle ways such as me equivoqué. The important thing is that the message is sincere, respectful, and appropriate to the context. Sometimes, acknowledging the mistake and showing that we are sorry is more valuable than a simple empty apology. Do you know any other ways to say sorry in Spanish? Tell us about them!