How to Apologize in Spanish for Small Mistakes: Bumping Into Someone or Arriving Late
Learn beginner-friendly Latin American Spanish apologies for bumping into someone or being late, with formal and informal options and natural replies.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Spanish, a quick apology for a small mistake is usually short and formulaic. The most common everyday word is perdón, and the most flexible verb phrase is lo siento. For bumping into someone, a brief perdón or disculpe is often enough. For being late, you normally add a short reason and sometimes a promise to do better. This lesson teaches informal and formal apologies, natural responses, and the main regional differences you will hear in Latin America. It does not cover apologies for serious offenses, which need longer, more careful language.
By the end, you can…
- apologize informally and formally for bumping into someone in Spanish.
- apologize for being late and respond appropriately when someone apologizes to me.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Perdón.
Sorry. / Excuse me.
pehr-DOHN
Very common and neutral for small accidents like bumping into someone. It works in both informal and formal situations.
Disculpe.
Excuse me. / I'm sorry.
dees-KOOL-peh
Formal or polite; use it with strangers, older people, or people you address as usted. In much of Latin America it is common when getting someone's attention or passing by.
Lo siento.
I'm sorry.
loh SYEHN-toh
A general apology. It is slightly more personal than perdón and is common for being late or for a small inconvenience.
Perdón, llegué tarde.
Sorry, I'm late.
pehr-DOHN, yeh-GWEH TAR-deh
A simple informal apology for being late. In some regions, especially the Caribbean and parts of Central America, you may hear llegué tarde pronounced with a softer or dropped s in some words, but the written form is standard.
Disculpe la tardanza.
Excuse my lateness. / Sorry for the delay.
dees-KOOL-peh lah tar-DAHN-sah
Formal and useful at work or with someone you do not know well. Tardanza means delay or lateness.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For small apologies, Spanish often uses a short fixed phrase plus an optional reason. The pattern is: apology + reason. Examples: Perdón, no te vi. (Sorry, I didn't see you.) Lo siento, llegué tarde. (Sorry, I'm late.) Disculpe, fue sin querer. (Excuse me, it was unintentional.) Notice that Spanish does not need a separate word for 'I am' in these short phrases; perdón and disculpe work on their own. If you add a reason, use a simple past tense like no te vi or llegué tarde.
When to use it
Use perdón for quick, informal accidents, especially with friends, family, or people your age. Use disculpe with strangers, at work, or when you want to be polite, and it pairs naturally with usted. Use lo siento when you want to sound a little more sincere or personal, for example when you are late: Lo siento, llegué tarde. For a formal late apology, say Disculpe la tardanza or Perdón por la tardanza. If someone apologizes to you, reply with No hay problema, Está bien, or No te preocupes. In formal situations, use No hay problema or Está bien; No te preocupes is informal because te is informal.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¡Ay, perdón! No te vi.
Oh, sorry! I didn't see you.ah-ee, pehr-DOHN, noh teh veeNo hay problema.
No problem.noh eye proh-BLEH-mahDisculpe la tardanza.
Excuse my lateness.dees-KOOL-peh lah tar-DAHN-sahEstá bien, no se preocupe.
It's fine, don't worry.ehs-TAH byehn, noh seh preh-oh-KOO-pehA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, a short perdón or disculpe is usually enough for a minor bump, and people often continue walking. For lateness, expectations vary: in some casual social settings a brief apology is enough, while at work or in formal appointments a clear apology like Disculpe la tardanza is expected. Using usted with disculpe shows respect and is common with strangers, older people, and in professional settings.
One thing to watch for
Using Lo siento as the only apology for bumping into someone in a quick, casual moment.
Try this instead: For a quick bump, Perdón or Disculpe is more natural and lighter. Use Lo siento when you want to sound more personal or when you are late. Example: Perdón, no te vi. (Sorry, I didn't see you.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You accidentally bump into a stranger on the street. What is a polite one-word apology?
Show a sample answer
Disculpe.
Disculpe is formal and polite, so it works well with a stranger. Perdón is also acceptable and very common, but Disculpe matches the formal context better.
2You arrive late to a meeting with your boss. Give a formal apology.
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Disculpe la tardanza.
This is a formal apology for being late. Perdón por la tardanza is also correct and slightly less formal, but both work with a boss.
3A friend says Perdón, llegué tarde. What is a natural informal reply?
Show a sample answer
No te preocupes.
No te preocupes is informal and friendly. No hay problema or Está bien are also correct and can be used in both informal and formal situations.
For small mistakes, keep it short: Perdón or Disculpe for a bump, and Lo siento or Disculpe la tardanza for being late. Match formality with usted and disculpe, and reply with No hay problema or Está bien.
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