Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"I'm sorry" in Spanish: lo siento
lo siento
Note: excuse me: perdón
I'm sorry in Spanish is lo siento. Use lo siento for real regret. For bumps and small interruptions, perdón often fits better than lo siento.
Missing a meetup
Lo siento. Se me hizo tarde.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce lo siento
Say it
loh SYEN-toh
/lo ˈsjento/
loh SYEN-toh. Stress SYEN in siento. The ie is one syllable. Keep lo siento smooth.
"I'm sorry" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| lo siento | I'm sorry Apology for mistakes, bad news, or hurt feelings. | Apology for mistakes, bad news, or hurt feelings. |
| lo siento mucho | I'm very sorry Stronger regret. | Stronger regret. |
| perdón | sorry / excuse me Small apologies and getting attention. | Small apologies and getting attention. |
| disculpa | sorry (informal) Casual apology to someone you call tú. | Casual apology to someone you call tú. |
| disculpe | sorry (formal) Polite apology with usted. | Polite apology with usted. |
How to use lo siento in real life
- 1Missing a meetup
Lo siento. Se me hizo tarde.
I'm sorry. I ran late.
Lo siento plus a short reason feels sincere.
- 2Sharing bad news
Lo siento, no pude conseguir boletos.
I'm sorry, I couldn't get tickets.
Lo siento softens disappointing news.
- 3Stepping on a bag
¡Uy, lo siento!
Oops, I'm sorry!
Quick lo siento works for small accidents too.
Mistakes English speakers make with lo siento
Incorrect: Yo siento.
Correct: Lo siento.
Keep the lo: lo siento. Yo siento sounds incomplete for sorry.
Incorrect: Lo siento (only to squeeze past strangers)
Correct: Perdón. / Con permiso.
For passing by, perdón fits better than heavy lo siento.
Good to know
Lo siento carries real regret in Latin America, so save it for sincere apologies. Light bumps often get perdón or disculpa. After lo siento, a brief fix or reason helps more than a long speech.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arriving late to a study session
ChatPal
Pensé que no venías.
I thought you weren't coming.
You
Lo siento. El metro se retrasó.
I'm sorry. The metro was delayed.
ChatPal
No pasa nada. Empezamos ahora.
No worries. We'll start now.
You
Gracias. Otra vez, lo siento.
Thanks. Again, I'm sorry.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"I'm sorry" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "I'm sorry" in Spanish
What is the difference between lo siento and perdón?
Lo siento is stronger regret. Perdón covers small slips and excuse-me moments.
Does siento change with gender?
No. Lo siento stays the same for men and women.
How do you pronounce lo siento?
loh SYEN-toh. Stress SYEN inside siento.
Can I say lo siento to a group?
Yes. Lo siento still works; add a ustedes verb if you explain.
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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