What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive adjective mis (my) and the noun disculpas (apologies/excuses).
Which one should you use?
If you want to be more direct and formal when asking for forgiveness or getting someone's attention, you might use the verb disculpe (excuse me / forgive me) instead of the noun phrase mis disculpas.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal contexts, you should use Perdona or Perdón for.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, you may hear Perdón por el inconveniente to say.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun disculpa is feminine. Therefore, if you use the singular form, you must use the feminine article una or the feminine possessive mi (e.g., una disculpa for.)
When do people say it?
Depending on the level of formality required, you can use other phrases: Le pido disculpas means.
Did you know?
- While mis disculpas is formal, using it in a very casual setting with close friends can be interpreted as sarcasm or a joke.
- Spanish has a distinct difference between perdón and disculpa, where perdón focuses on the act of forgiveness and disculpa focuses on the excuse for the error.
- The noun disculpa can also mean 'excuse' in the sense of a justification, such as a note from a doctor to explain an absence.
Examples in context
- No aceptó mis disculpas.He did not accept my apologies.This sentence shows how to use mis disculpas in a negative context.Tatoeba #1017971 by DanaDescalza, translation #297990 by CK
- Lamento mucho llegar tarde a la reunión. Perdón por el retrasoI am very sorry for arriving late to the meeting. Apologies for the delay
- Espero que acepte mis disculpas.I hope you accept my apologies.
Example conversation
Mateo is apologizing to Lucía for being late to a meeting.
- MateoLucía, por favor acepta mis disculpas por el retraso.Lucía, please accept my apologies for the delay.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Mateo, entiendo la situación.Don't worry, Mateo, I understand the situation.
- MateoGracias por ser tan comprensiva conmigo.Thank you for being so understanding with me.
- LucíaDe nada, podemos empezar ahora.You're welcome, we can start now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
