How to Say "No Problem" in Spanish: Casual Ways to Accept an Apology
Learn to reply to "Lo siento" or "Perdón" with natural Spanish phrases like No hay problema, No te preocupes, and Tranquilo, with register and regional notes.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When someone apologizes in Spanish, you often need a quick, friendly reply: "No problem," "No worries," or "It's okay." This lesson focuses on the receiver's response, not on making an apology. You will learn the direct answer first, then casual and regional variants used in Latin America, especially Mexico, plus slangy options. You will also practice choosing the right phrase for a small mistake, a delay, or a more serious inconvenience.
By the end, you can…
- accept an apology in Spanish with a natural phrase such as No hay problema or No te preocupes.
- choose between neutral, casual, and regional replies depending on the situation and the person I am speaking to.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
No hay problema.
No problem.
noh ay proh-BLEH-mah
The most direct, widely useful reply to Lo siento or Perdón. It works in both casual and neutral situations.
No te preocupes.
Don't worry. / No worries.
noh teh preh-oh-KOO-pehs
Very common in casual conversation. Use it with someone you address as tú. For usted, say No se preocupe.
Tranquilo, no pasa nada.
Relax, it's no big deal.
trahn-KEE-loh, noh PAH-sah NAH-dah
Friendly and reassuring. Say Tranquila when speaking to a woman. Common in Spain and Latin America.
Está bien, no pasa nada.
It's okay, it's no big deal.
ehs-TAH byehn, noh PAH-sah NAH-dah
A calm, neutral reply. Good when the apology is for something minor, like being a few minutes late.
Para nada, no hay bronca.
Not at all, no problem.
PAH-rah NAH-dah, noh ay BROHN-kah
No hay bronca is colloquial Mexican Spanish. Use it with friends or in relaxed settings, not in formal contexts.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A simple pattern is No + hay + problema: No hay problema. This literally means "There is no problem." You can also use No pasa nada, literally "Nothing happens," which means "It's no big deal." For a more personal reply, use No te preocupes, "Don't worry," with tú, or No se preocupe with usted. These patterns are reusable: No hay problema, No pasa nada, No te preocupes. They all accept an apology without making it heavier. Note that Tranquilo/Tranquila is an adjective addressed to the other person, so it agrees in gender with them, not with you.
When to use it
Use No hay problema for almost any small apology, such as arriving late or forgetting something. Use No te preocupes when you want to sound warm and casual with a friend or colleague you know well. Use Tranquilo or Tranquila when the other person seems stressed. In Mexico, No hay bronca is common among friends, but it is slang; keep it for informal situations. In more formal settings, Está bien, no se preocupe is safer. If someone apologizes for a serious mistake, a light phrase can seem dismissive, so a calm Está bien or Lo entiendo may fit better.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Perdón, llegué tarde. El tráfico estaba horrible.
Sorry, I arrived late. The traffic was horrible.pehr-DOHN, yeh-GHEH TAR-deh. el TRAH-fee-koh ehs-TAH-bah oh-RREE-blehNo te preocupes, no pasa nada. Siéntate.
Don't worry, it's no big deal. Sit down.noh teh preh-oh-KOO-pehs, noh PAH-sah NAH-dah. SYEHN-tah-tehGracias. ¿Ya empezó la reunión?
Thanks. Did the meeting already start?GRAH-syahs. yah eh-mpeh-SOH lah reh-oo-NYOHNSí, pero apenas. No hay problema.
Yes, but just barely. No problem.see, PEH-roh ah-PEH-nahs. noh ay proh-BLEH-mahA little context goes a long way
Spanish has both formal and informal ways to accept an apology. With a stranger, an older person, or a boss, use usted forms such as No se preocupe. With friends, use tú forms like No te preocupes. Regional slang varies: No hay bronca is common in Mexico, while Tranquilo, no pasa nada is understood widely. When in doubt, No hay problema is a safe neutral choice.
One thing to watch for
Using No te preocupes with a person you address as usted, as in No te preocupes, señor.
Try this instead: With usted, say No se preocupe, señor. The tú form No te preocupes is for friends, family, and people you call tú. Both are correct in their own register.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A friend says Perdón, olvidé tu libro. You want to say "Don't worry" casually. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
No te preocupes.
No te preocupes is the casual tú form and fits a friend. No hay problema is also correct and slightly more neutral.
2Your boss says Lo siento, llegué tarde. You want a polite, neutral reply. What is a good choice?
Show a sample answer
No se preocupe, no pasa nada.
No se preocupe is the usted form, appropriate for a boss or someone you address formally. No hay problema would also work.
3In Mexico, a close friend apologizes for a small mistake. Which slangy phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
No hay bronca.
No hay bronca is colloquial Mexican Spanish for "no problem." It is fine with close friends but too informal for formal situations.
Start with No hay problema for a safe, neutral reply. Use No te preocupes with friends and No se preocupe in formal situations. Add regional color with No hay bronca only in casual Mexican contexts.
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