Spanish · Real conversations
Apologize for inconvenience naturally in Spanish
An effective apology identifies the inconvenience. You can acknowledge waiting, explain a changed arrangement, or add a concrete step that addresses the problem.
Three ways to say it
Perdón por hacerte esperar.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Acknowledge that the other person has had to wait.
Siento el cambio de planes.
I'm sorry about the change of plans.
Recognize the effect of a change of plans.
Perdón por las molestias. Te envío el archivo correcto ahora.
Sorry for the trouble. I'll send the correct file now.
Acknowledge trouble and immediately explain the corrective action.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'keep you waiting' means cause someone to continue waiting; it does not mean keep or own the person. Learn the target-language construction for making someone wait as a complete phrase.
See the difference in context
Arriving after someone has been waiting
Llevo diez minutos esperando.
I've been waiting for ten minutes.
Perdón por hacerte esperar.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Acknowledging a changed meeting arrangement
¿Entonces no nos vemos hoy?
So we won't meet today?
Siento el cambio de planes.
I'm sorry about the change of plans.
Your turn
You sent the wrong file. Apologize for the trouble and say that you will send the correct file now.
Reveal a sample reply
Perdón por las molestias. Te envío el archivo correcto ahora.
Sorry for the trouble. I'll send the correct file now.
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Spanish
These guides use broadly understandable Latin American Spanish. Tú is familiar and usted is respectful or formal, with important regional variation. Me gustaría and ¿podría …? are useful for considerate requests.
Keep accent marks and opening question marks. Some regions choose different everyday words. Follow the complete example rather than substituting English words one by one, especially with pronouns and expressions of preference.
