disculpe
/diskulpe/from spelling rules
In Spanish, disculpe means excuse me.
Disculpe is used to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor interruption or mistake.
Which one should you use?
While disculpe is used to get attention or excuse an interruption, perdón is more commonly used as a quick apology for a physical bump or a mistake. The form disculpa is the informal (tú) version used with friends or peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, people are more likely to say disculpa informally. In Spain, Spaniards typically use perdona informally, while perdone is a formal choice.
How do you pronounce it?
/diskulpe/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, disculpe can be used sarcastically to introduce a sharp critique or a contradiction, effectively meaning 'with all due respect, you are wrong'.
- Spanish has a distinct concept of 'culpa' (guilt) embedded in disculpe, whereas the English 'excuse me' is more about asking for permission to interrupt.
- In high-end service environments in Spain and Mexico, staff will often use disculpe as a standard verbal bridge before delivering any news, even if no mistake was made.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿me podría ayudar?Excuse me, could you help me?
- Perdón, ¿puede decirme cómo llegar a la estación de tren?Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the train station?
- Con permiso, necesito pasarExcuse me, I need to pass by
- Disculpe, ¿tiene la hora?Excuse me, do you have the time?
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación?Excuse me, where is the station?
- Disculpe la demora con su pedido.Excuse the delay with your order.
Example conversation
Alejandro is trying to get past Lucía in a crowded hallway.
- AlejandroDisculpe, ¿me permite pasar?Excuse me, may I pass through?
- LucíaSí, claro, pase usted.Yes, of course, go ahead.
- AlejandroMuchas gracias.Thank you very much.
- LucíaDe nada.You're welcome.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
