Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"Excuse me" in Spanish: perdón
perdón
Note: to pass by: con permiso
Excuse me in Spanish is perdón. Use perdón to get attention or apologize lightly. To slip past someone, prefer con permiso over perdón.
Getting a waiter's attention
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How to pronounce perdón
Say it
pehr-DOHN
/peɾˈdon/
pehr-DOHN. Stress DOHN. Soft d in some accents. Keep perdón as one clear word.
"Excuse me" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| perdón | excuse me / sorry Getting attention or light apologies. | Getting attention or light apologies. |
| con permiso | excuse me (to pass) Moving through a crowd or leaving a table. | Moving through a crowd or leaving a table. |
| disculpa | excuse me (informal) Casual attention-getter with tú. | Casual attention-getter with tú. |
| disculpe | excuse me (formal) Polite attention-getter with usted. | Polite attention-getter with usted. |
| perdóname | forgive me Stronger personal apology than bare perdón. | Stronger personal apology than bare perdón. |
How to use perdón in real life
- 1Getting a waiter's attention
Perdón, ¿nos trae la cuenta?
Excuse me, can you bring us the check?
Perdón opens a polite request to staff.
- 2Correcting yourself
Perdón, dije el martes. Es el miércoles.
Excuse me, I said Tuesday. It's Wednesday.
Quick perdón flags a self-correction.
- 3Bumping someone lightly
¡Perdón!
Excuse me!
A short perdón covers small bumps.
Mistakes English speakers make with perdón
Incorrect: Perdon sin acento.
Correct: Perdón.
Write the accent: perdón. Stress falls on the last syllable.
Incorrect: Perdón (only while squeezing through a packed aisle)
Correct: Con permiso.
To pass by, con permiso fits better than perdón alone.
Good to know
In crowded Latin American markets, perdón and con permiso both help you pass. Perdón still works for attention and small apologies. Tone matters: a rushed perdón can sound sharp.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Asking for directions in a store
ChatPal
¿Buscas algo en especial?
Are you looking for something special?
You
Perdón, ¿dónde está el arroz?
Excuse me, where is the rice?
ChatPal
Al fondo, a la izquierda.
At the back, on the left.
You
Perdón, ¿pasillo cuatro o cinco?
Excuse me, aisle four or five?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Excuse me" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Excuse me" in Spanish
When do I use perdón vs con permiso?
Perdón for attention or sorry. Con permiso when you need to pass.
Is perdón formal?
It is polite and safe. For usted, disculpe is also common beside perdón.
How do you pronounce perdón?
pehr-DOHN with stress on DOHN. Keep the accent on perdón.
Does perdón change for a group?
No. Perdón stays the same; use ustedes on the verb that follows.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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