When Appologizing, Which Word Do I Use?

Question

I know lo siento, perdon, and I think disculpe all mean sorry. But when do I use which one? When do I use it for just casual mistakes, for example bumping into someone, or when something tragic happened to a friend's family member recently?

Answer 1

Hello Yoshifan,

Welcome to our SpanishDict community forum

A very good question

I will give you some ideas, but this is not intended to be a complete guide to what to say in these situations!...There are usually many ways to say these things; these are just a few!

If you bump into somebody you can say: Perdón / Perdón, señor/ señora

If you want to interrupt somebody in the street to ask for directions, you would say: Disculpe, señor/ señora and you can add por favor to the end of your sentence.

If you want to apologise you can say:

Lo siento (mucho) = I'm (very) sorry

and if you want to you can add:

La culpa es mía = It's my fault

Lamento mucho lo ocurrido = I'm sorry about or I very much regret what happened. (Oxford Spanish Dictionary)

If somebody you know is not well you can say:

Lamento que no se encuentres bien

If something tragic has happened and you wish to pass on your condolences I think you could say:

Lamento (mucho) de saber lo que ha pasado con...

Todos lamentados tan irreparable pérdida

= We all mourn such a sad loss. (Oxford Spanish dictionary)

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

"Compromiso" can also be used as an "excuse me" when bumping into people. There are SO many ways to say this jaja - codyandrews1993, Aug 27, 2016

Compromiso? I think you mean "con permiso" - aileribel, Aug 27, 2016

Yes,I know you can use con permiso here but I don't think that compromiso is applicable here as compromiso means committent or engagement ;) Thank you, Cody :) - FELIZ77, Aug 27, 2016

The Brazilian natives use Con licença = Con permiso (Español) ;) - FELIZ77, Aug 27, 2016

Some good phrases to know, thank you :) - Yoshifan, Aug 27, 2016

You are welcome, Yoshifan :) - FELIZ77, Aug 27, 2016

Good work mate have a badge. - ray76, Aug 28, 2016

No, I meant to say "compromiso" I thought it was weird at first too when I was living in Mexico. It's just one of those "weird language things" lol - codyandrews1993, Aug 28, 2016

However, this might not cover the full spectrum of dialects of the Spanish language - codyandrews1993, Aug 28, 2016

The only reason I say this is because I asked them to write it out for me and that's what they gave me. - codyandrews1993, Aug 28, 2016

Thank you for your very interesting comments, Cody ;) - FELIZ77, Aug 28, 2016

I am learning penisula Spanish spoken in Spain :) - FELIZ77, Aug 28, 2016

I'm just immersed in everything. I speak with just about every dialect except Spain, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Cuba and Costa Rica on a daily basis. I'm so mixed up with various slang, it's not even funny - codyandrews1993, Aug 28, 2016

Answer 2

If you bump into someone, you would say disculpame. If you want someone to move aside so you can pass through, or to attract someone's attention so you can ask a question, you would say perdon. When you break someone's computer or something tragic happens to someone you would say lo siento. I hope it helps.

Thanks mate , very informative, but if someone breaks my computadora sorry ain't going to do it for me. - ray76, Aug 27, 2016

He'll say sorry; then you'll ask for a replacement computer. :) - Raja-jani, Aug 27, 2016

Very helpful, thanks :) - Yoshifan, Aug 27, 2016

Ray, saying I'm sorry is simply the starting point. It is only an acknowledgement of guilt and responsibility. Usually there needs to be some form of restitution like payment of compensation to cover loss! ;) - FELIZ77, Aug 27, 2016

Answer 3

Perdón por no saber.

¿Pero ser lo siento no es suficiente ¿verdad?

Pardon me for not knowing .

But being sorry is not enough is it ?

Por favor ayúdenos chicos de disculpa!

Please help us apologetic guys !