perdón, no hablo inglés
The English phrase "sorry, no english" can be translated into Spanish as perdón, no hablo inglés.
This phrase is used to apologize and inform someone that you cannot speak the English language.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of perdón (sorry/pardon), no (not), hablo (I speak) and inglés (English).
Which one should you use?
Lo siento is a more heartfelt or formal way to express regret than perdón, which functions more like 'excuse me' or 'pardon' in this context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb hablo is the first-person singular present indicative of hablar, meaning 'I speak'.
Did you know?
- The word perdón is derived from the Latin word dōnō, meaning 'to give'. In its oldest sense, to forgive someone was literally to give them a gift of mercy.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a small physical gesture like a slight nod or a hand over the heart often accompanies an apology like perdón to show sincerity.
- Spanish has a dedicated word for 'English' as a language, inglés, but the term for 'English' as a nationality or identity can change based on gender. While the phrase uses the masculine inglés, a woman referring to herself as English would say inglesa.
Examples in context
- Perdón, no hablo inglés, ¿habla español?Sorry, I don't speak English, do you speak Spanish?
- Perdón, no hablo inglés, solo español.Sorry, I don't speak English, only Spanish.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inglés, no, perdón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
