How to Say "Excuse You" in Spanish

con permiso

/kom peɾˈmiso/

The English phrase "excuse you" is translated into Spanish as con permiso.

con permiso is a polite phrase used to ask for permission to pass by someone or leave a group.

Which one should you use?

While con permiso is used for moving through a space, disculpe is used to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor mistake.

In certain regions, con permiso is commonly used to excuse oneself or politely request permission to pass.

Unlike many Spanish phrases, con permiso is a fixed idiomatic expression and does not change based on whether you are speaking to one person or many.

The word permiso shares a common ancestor with the English word 'mission', as both stem from the Latin 'mittere', meaning 'to send'.
In some Latin American countries, con permiso is used as a polite way to announce you are entering a room where others are working or resting, similar to a soft knock on a door.
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying con permiso is not just a courtesy but a social requirement when walking between two people talking or moving through a crowded room.

Sofía needs to pass Mateo in a narrow hallway.

Sources

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