The everyday way to say sorry in Spanish is lo siento (loh SYEHN-toh), literally "I feel it". It covers real apologies and sympathy. For small slips, like bumping into someone, say perdón, or perdona to someone you call tú. Lo siento mucho means I'm very sorry. The usual answer, especially in Spain, is no pasa nada: no problem.
- Sorry
- lo siento
- I'm very sorry
- lo siento mucho
- Small slip
- perdón
- Reply
- no pasa nada
- Level
- A1
Should you say lo siento or perdón?
Think of perdón as a reflex and lo siento as a feeling. Perdón (and perdona, perdone) asks someone to excuse a small bump or interruption. Lo siento says you regret something: a mistake, an accident, someone else's bad news.
| Spanish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Perdón | Sorry, pardon | A small slip; neutral |
| Perdona / Perdone | Sorry | tú / usted; a small bother |
| Disculpa / Disculpe | Sorry, excuse me | tú / usted; a little more polite |
| Lo siento | I'm sorry | A real apology, or sympathy |
| Lo siento mucho | I'm very sorry | Something more serious |
| Lo siento muchísimo | I'm so, so sorry | Strong regret |
People in a panic often use both. On a Madrid commuter train, David's coffee goes all over Marta's newspaper:
David dice: "¡Perdón, perdón, lo siento muchísimo!"How do you apologise formally in Spanish?
For a serious or formal apology, Spanish uses pedir perdón or pedir disculpas (to ask forgiveness, to apologise), or the verb sentir with what you are sorry about. Siento plus an infinitive means "I'm sorry for doing…".
Siento llegar tarde.
Sorry I'm late.
Le pido disculpas.
I apologise to you.
Formal, usted.
Disculpe las molestias.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Common on signs and in shops.
Ha sido culpa mía.
It was my fault.
Spain; fue culpa mía is more usual in Latin America.
Lamento lo ocurrido.
I regret what happened.
Formal, written.
A real confession can be short. Javier's friend Diego admits that a rival stallholder paid him to badmouth the tomatoes of Javier's aunt:
Lo siento mucho.How do you respond to an apology in Spanish?
No pasa nada (it's nothing, don't worry) is the answer you will hear most in Spain. No te preocupes (don't worry) works everywhere, and becomes no se preocupe with usted. Tranquilo or tranquila (relax, it's fine) is friendly and informal.
In the park, Lucía's dog has just stolen a sandwich from a table at the churros kiosk:
"Lo siento, Doña Pilar. Lo pago". Doña Pilar sonríe. "No pasa nada", dice.When does lo siento mean sympathy, not apology?
Just like English "I'm sorry", lo siento can respond to bad news that is not your fault. Lo siento mucho is the natural thing to say when someone tells you they have lost their job or are ill. After a death, Spanish has fixed condolence phrases: mi más sentido pésame (my deepest condolences) and, in Spain, the traditional te acompaño en el sentimiento (I share your sorrow).
One trap: siento on its own is "I feel" in the sense of regret, but me siento means I feel (well, tired, sad) or I sit down. Me siento mal is I feel ill or I feel bad, not "I'm sorry".
Read A1 Spanish stories full of mix-ups and apologies, and tap any word to see what it means.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
What does lo siento literally mean?
I feel it. Lo is "it" and siento comes from sentir, to feel. The apology says you feel the harm or the sadness of what happened.
Is perdón or lo siento more polite?
Neither is ruder; they do different jobs. Perdón excuses a small slip. Lo siento expresses real regret or sympathy. Using lo siento for a tiny bump sounds a little over the top.
How do you say I'm sorry, it was my fault?
Lo siento, ha sido culpa mía in Spain, or lo siento, fue culpa mía, which is understood everywhere and more usual in Latin America.
How do you say sorry for the inconvenience?
Disculpe las molestias (formal), or perdona las molestias to someone you call tú. Siento las molestias also works.
What does no pasa nada mean?
Literally "nothing is happening". It means it's fine, don't worry, no harm done, and it is the most common reply to an apology in Spain.