How to Say “Sorry for the Late Response” in Spanish

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perdón por la tardanza
/peɾdon poɾ la taɾdanθa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'sorry for the late response' is translated into Spanish as perdón por la tardanza.
This phrase is an apology used when someone takes a long time to reply to a message or email. Other ways to express this include siento la demora, which focuses more on the feeling of regret or more elaborate sentences like Lamento la tardanza en responder (I apologize for the delay in responding) or Le pido disculpas por la demora en mi respuesta (I apologize for the delay in my response).

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase perdón por la tardanza literally translates to 'pardon for the delay'.

Which one should you use?

While perdón por la tardanza is a standard way to apologize, you can choose different forms based on your tone. Perdón por la demora is an informal way to say 'Sorry for the delay', whereas Disculpe la demora is a formal way to say 'Sorry for the delay'. If you want to be even more-expressive in a formal way, you might use Permítame disculparme por la tardanza en contestarle (Allow me to apologize for the delay in responding to you).

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For informal situations, such as chatting with friends or colleagues you know well, you can use Perdón por la demora, disculpa la demora or Lo siento mucho por la tardanza en contestarte (I'm really sorry for the delay in responding to you). If you need to be formal or polite, such as when emailing a client or a superior, use Disculpe la demora (apologies for the delay). In very formal contexts, you might say Agradezco su paciencia mientras esperaba mi respuesta (I appreciate your patience while waiting for my response).

How does it change in a sentence?

In the phrase perdón por la tardanza, the noun tardanza is feminine, which is why the definite article used is la.

How do you pronounce it?

/peɾdon poɾ la taɾdanθa/

Did you know?

  • In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a late response is often excused by the social value of sobremesa, the custom of lingering at a table long after a meal to talk.
  • If you want to sound extremely formal or deferential in an email, you can use the verb rogar, as in Le ruego me disculpe. This translates more to 'I beg you to excuse me' than a simple 'sorry'.
  • The word perdón shares a deep root with the Latin dōnō, meaning 'to give'. This suggests that seeking a 'pardon' is historically viewed as asking for a gift of forgiveness.

Examples in context

  • Perdón por la tardanza en responder tu mensaje.
    Sorry for the late response to your message.

Example conversation

Daniel is replying to a WhatsApp message from Sofía after several hours.

  1. Daniel

    Hola Sofía, perdón por la tardanza.
    Hi Sofía, sorry for the late response.
  2. Sofía

    No te preocupes, Daniel, no pasa nada.
    Don't worry, Daniel, it's no problem.
  3. Daniel

    ¿Pudiste ver el documento que te envié?
    Were you able to see the document I sent you?
  4. Sofía

    Sí, ya lo revisé todo.
    Yes, I already reviewed everything.

Sources

  • IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, perdón, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Felix Terry
Felix TerryHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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