disculpa
/diskulpa/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for sorry casually is disculpa.
disculpa is used to apologize for a small mistake or to politely interrupt someone to ask a question, much like saying 'excuse me'. Other ways to express apology include Perdón, which is common regardless of formality and Lo siento, a common and casual phrase meaning 'I'm sorry'. For expressing regret in a more formal way, you can use Lamento.
Which one should you use?
While disculpa is used for one person informally, you should use disculpe if you are addressing a stranger, an elder or someone in a formal setting to be polite. If you are addressing more than one person to get their attention or to apologize to a group, use disculpen.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, perdona is commonly used instead of perdón in casual situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
disculpa is the imperative singular form used when speaking to one person informally.
How do you pronounce it?
/diskulpa/
Did you know?
- The word disculpa shares its root with the English word 'culprit', which refers to someone who is guilty of a crime or a mistake.
- A common response to disculpa is no pasa nada, which literally means 'nothing happens' but functions as 'it is no big deal'.
- Although disculpa is an apology, its usage is so common in streets and markets that it often loses its 'weight' and functions almost identically to the English 'hey' when grabbing a vendor's attention.
Examples in context
- Perdón, se me cayó sin querer tu refresco.Sorry, I accidentally spilled your soda.
- Disculpa, ¿sabes qué hora es?Excuse me, do you know what time it is?
- Disculpa, no te vi.Sorry, I didn't see you.
- ¡Disculpa! Se te cayó la cartera.Excuse me! You dropped your wallet.
Example conversation
Sofía accidentally bumps into Mateo in a hallway.
- SofíaAy, disculpa, Mateo.Oh, sorry, Mateo.
- MateoNo pasa nada, Sofía.It's nothing, Sofia.
- SofíaNo estaba mirando.I wasn't looking.
- MateoNo te preocupes.Don't worry about it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries disculpa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
