con permiso
polite, passing or leaving
Mexican Spanish has several ways to say "excuse me". con permiso is used to pass by or leave, disculpe gets someone's attention, and perdón apologizes for a small mistake.
Meaning: polite phrase to pass, interrupt or apologize (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| con permiso | polite, passing or leaving |
| disculpe | polite, getting attention |
| perdón | everyday, apology |
Say Con permiso when you squeeze through a crowd or enter a room. Use Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar? to start talking to a stranger.
Which one should you use?
Perdón is for bumping into someone or interrupting by accident. Mexicans use con permiso a lot more than English speakers use "excuse me" for passing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
With a person you address as tú, say disculpa instead of disculpe.
Did you know?
- Mexicans often say con permiso when they leave a table or a room, as a polite way of saying "I will go now".
Examples in context
- Con permiso, voy a pasar.Excuse me, I am going to get through.
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está la salida?Excuse me, where is the exit?
- Perdón, no lo vi.Sorry, I did not see you.
Example conversation
Natalia asks a security guard named Don Jaime for directions at a metro station in Mexico City.
- NataliaDisculpe, ¿por dónde se sale al Zócalo?Excuse me, which way is out to the Zócalo?
- Don JaimePor esa escalera, a la izquierda.Up those stairs, on the left.
- NataliaGracias. Con permiso.Thanks. Excuse me.
