Sofia · Learn Spanish How to say it in Spanish How to Say I'm Sorry in Spanish (+ Variations You'll Hear)
The most common way to say “I’m sorry” in Spanish is lo siento — but here’s the thing most courses skip: Mexicans reserve lo siento for serious moments, and use perdón for everyday slip-ups. Say lo siento after stepping on someone’s toe and it sounds oddly dramatic, like saying “my deepest condolences” for a spilled coffee. Getting the weight of your apology right is what this page is about.
The main way to say it
Lo siento — pronounced loh SYEN-toh.
Literally “I feel it,” this is the apology for things that genuinely matter: bad news, someone’s loss, a real mistake that hurt someone.
- Lo siento mucho, no era mi intención. — I’m very sorry, it wasn’t my intention.
- Siento mucho lo de tu abuela. — I’m so sorry about your grandmother.
For everyday stuff — bumping into someone, arriving late, interrupting — the natural word is perdón (pehr-DOHN). It’s quick, light, and does 80% of the apologizing you’ll ever need in Mexico.
Variations
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Register | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lo siento | loh SYEN-toh | Neutral–serious | Genuine apologies, sympathy, bad news |
| Lo siento mucho | loh SYEN-toh MOO-choh | Serious | Stronger version: “I’m so sorry” |
| Perdón | pehr-DOHN | Casual | Everyday slip-ups: bumping, interrupting, being late |
| Perdóname | pehr-DOH-nah-meh | Personal | ”Forgive me” — heartfelt, between people who are close |
| Discúlpame | dees-KOOL-pah-meh | Casual–neutral | ”Excuse/forgive me” with friends and peers |
| Discúlpeme | dees-KOOL-peh-meh | Formal | Same, but with usted — bosses, elders, strangers |
| Una disculpa | OO-nah dees-KOOL-pah | Very Mexican | ”My apologies” — extremely common in Mexico |
| Fue sin querer | fweh seen keh-REHR | Casual | ”It was an accident / I didn’t mean to” |
That una disculpa row is worth memorizing: in Mexico you’ll constantly hear te ofrezco una disculpa (“I offer you an apology”) or just una disculpa on its own — from shop clerks, in official announcements, between colleagues. It’s a distinctly Mexican formula that you rarely hear in Spain.
Another very Mexican softener: qué pena — “how embarrassing / I feel bad.” In Mexico pena means embarrassment more than sorrow, so ¡Ay, qué pena, perdón! is the perfect reaction when you realize you’ve made a small social blunder.
Hear it in context
Dialog 1 — Arriving late (casual)
— ¡Perdón por llegar tarde! Había un tráfico horrible. — No te preocupes, acabamos de llegar también.
— Sorry for arriving late! Traffic was horrible. — Don’t worry, we just got here too.
Dialog 2 — A real apology (serious)
— Oye, perdóname por lo que dije ayer. Estuvo mal. — Está bien, gracias por decírmelo. Todos tenemos días malos.
— Hey, forgive me for what I said yesterday. It was wrong. — It’s okay, thanks for telling me. We all have bad days.
Notice the pattern: light situation → perdón; heavy situation → perdóname or lo siento. The reply no te preocupes (“don’t worry”) is the standard gracious response to a small apology, along with no pasa nada (“it’s nothing”).
Common mistakes
-
Using “lo siento” for tiny things. The classic gringo tell. Bumped someone’s elbow? Perdón. Save lo siento for when you actually feel something.
-
Translating “I’m sorry?” (didn’t hear you) as “lo siento.” If you didn’t catch what someone said, the Mexican phrase is ¿Mande? or ¿Cómo? — never lo siento, which would just confuse people.
-
Saying “estoy triste” to apologize. Estoy triste means “I’m sad” — it describes your mood, it doesn’t apologize. English speakers sometimes reach for it because “sorry” covers both in English. In Spanish, they’re separate.
-
Forgetting the formal/informal split. Discúlpame to your friend, discúlpeme to your boss or an elderly stranger. One vowel, big difference in respect.
-
Over-apologizing. Mexican small talk is warm and forgiving — one sincere perdón plus a smile closes the matter. Repeating “sorry sorry sorry” American-style reads as anxious rather than polite.
Related phrases
Apologies rarely travel alone. These pages cover what usually comes right before or after:
- How to say “Excuse me” in Spanish — the attention-getter, and where perdón vs disculpe gets untangled
- How to say “I don’t understand” in Spanish — for when “sorry?” really means “what did you say?”
- How to say “Can you help me?” in Spanish — a polite request often opens with a soft apology
For broader conversational skills, see our guides to common Spanish phrases and Spanish greetings.
FAQ
What’s the difference between “lo siento” and “perdón”? Weight. Perdón is for small everyday slip-ups; lo siento expresses genuine feeling — sympathy, regret, bad news. Both are correct; the situation decides.
How do I say “I’m so sorry for your loss” in Spanish? Mi más sentido pésame (formal condolences) or the warmer lo siento mucho, te acompaño en tu dolor — “I’m so sorry, I’m with you in your grief.”
How do Mexicans respond to an apology? Most often no te preocupes (“don’t worry”), no pasa nada (“it’s nothing”), or está bien (“it’s okay”).
Is “mi culpa” a real phrase? Yes — fue mi culpa means “it was my fault” and works well paired with an apology: Perdón, fue mi culpa.
Knowing which apology fits takes a little real-conversation mileage. Sofia, an AI Spanish tutor who speaks natural Mexican Spanish, can throw everyday scenarios at you — late arrivals, spilled drinks, awkward moments — until choosing between perdón and lo siento becomes instinct.