perdóname
informal
To a girl or woman your own age or younger you say perdóname or disculpa. For a real apology use lo siento. The words do not change because she is a girl.
Meaning: apology (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| perdóname | informal |
| Disculpa | informal |
| Lo siento | sincere |
To add warmth you can follow the apology with a term of endearment, such as mi amor to a partner or her name. Perdóname, mi amor is for someone you love.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
With an older woman or a stranger, use disculpe or perdóneme in the usted form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Nothing in these forms is gendered. Gender shows up only if you describe yourself, as in Estoy arrepentido (a man) or Estoy arrepentida (a woman). The listener's gender does not matter.
Did you know?
- The command perdóname is built from perdona plus me, and the stress stays on the same syllable, which is why it gets an accent mark.
Examples in context
- Perdóname, llegué tarde.Sorry, I arrived late.
- Lo siento mucho, fue mi culpa.I am so sorry, it was my fault.
- Disculpe, señorita, ¿está bien?Excuse me, miss, are you all right?
Example conversation
Diego apologizes to his girlfriend Valeria outside a cinema after arriving late.
- DiegoValeria, perdóname por llegar tarde.Valeria, sorry for being late.
- ValeriaYa empezó la película.The movie already started.
- DiegoLo siento mucho. Te invito a cenar.I am really sorry. Dinner is on me.
