Apologising in Spanish is more than just translating words; it’s about grasping cultural nuances that show true sincerity and respect. When you apologise correctly, it can help your personal and professional relationships in Spanish-speaking areas.
It doesn’t matter if the apology is for something small or something big, knowing the right phrases is key. Learning 37 different ways to say sorry improves your Spanish and helps you handle complex social situations better.
37 Sincere Ways to Apologize in Spanish
Understanding the verbs ‘perdonar,’ ‘disculpar,’ and ‘lamentar’ is key when apologising in Spanish. ‘Perdonar’ and ‘disculpar’ are usually used for small mistakes, asking for forgiveness. ‘Lamentar’ shows deeper regret for bigger mistakes.
When apologizing, it’s crucial to admit your mistake. To make your apology feel more genuine, you might say ‘Lo siento’ or ‘Perdóname’. Make sure your apology matches how serious the mistake was.
| # | Spanish Apology | English Meaning |
| 1 | Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| 2 | Perdón | Pardon/Forgive me |
| 3 | Disculpa | Excuse me |
| 4 | Mis disculpas | My apologies |
| 5 | Lamento mucho lo ocurrido | I deeply regret what happened |
| 6 | No fue mi intención | It was not my intention |
| 7 | Te pido perdón | I ask for your forgiveness |
| 8 | Siento mucho lo sucedido | I’m very sorry for what happened |
| 9 | No quise hacerte daño | I didn’t mean to hurt you |
| 10 | Me equivoqué | I was wrong |
| 11 | Eso fue un error de mi parte | That was a mistake on my part |
| 12 | Me arrepiento de lo que dije | I regret what I said |
| 13 | Siento haberte decepcionado | I’m sorry to have disappointed you |
| 14 | Espero que puedas perdonarme | I hope you can forgive me |
| 15 | Quiero enmendar mi error | I want to make amends for my mistake |
| 16 | Fue sin querer | It was unintentional |
| 17 | Te debo una disculpa | I owe you an apology |
| 18 | Asumo toda la responsabilidad | I take full responsibility |
| 19 | ¿Cómo puedo hacerlo mejor? | How can I make it better? |
| 20 | Te mereces una explicación | You deserve an explanation |
| 21 | Fue un malentendido | It was a misunderstanding |
| 22 | Me duele haberte lastimado | It hurts me to have hurt you |
| 23 | Prometo que no volverá a ocurrir | I promise it won’t happen again |
| 24 | Me comporté mal | I behaved badly |
| 25 | Te pido disculpas desde el corazón | I apologize to you from the bottom of my heart |
| 26 | Eso no debería haber pasado | That should not have happened |
| 27 | Déjame compensarte | Let me make it up to you |
| 28 | Me siento avergonzado | I feel ashamed |
| 29 | He reflexionado sobre mi comportamiento | I have reflected on my behavior |
| 30 | Siento mucho la situación | I’m very sorry for the situation |
| 31 | Me preocupa mucho haberte ofendido | I’m very concerned that I offended you |
| 32 | Por favor, acepta mis disculpas sinceras | Please accept my sincere apologies |
| 33 | Te pido mil disculpas | I ask for a thousand apologies |
| 34 | Estoy dispuesto a reparar el daño | I am willing to repair the damage |
| 35 | No volverá a suceder | It won’t happen again |
| 36 | Comprendo que estés molesto | I understand that you are upset |
| 37 | Valoro nuestra relación y lo siento | I value our relationship and I’m sorry |
How to Offer Forgiveness in Spanish: perdonar, hacer las paces/reconciliarse
Offering forgiveness in Spanish involves using terms like ‘perdonar’, ‘hacer las paces’, or ‘reconciliarse’. ‘Perdonar simply means to forgive. It’s used often, whether you’re talking formally or casually. It’s about letting go of hard feelings and moving forward.
| # | Expression in Spanish | English Translation |
| 1 | Te perdono. | I forgive you. |
| 2 | Ya te he perdonado. | I have already forgiven you. |
| 3 | Es hora de perdonar y olvidar. | It’s time to forgive and forget. |
| 4 | Perdonar es importante para ambos. | Forgiving is important for both of us. |
| 5 | Decido perdonarte. | I choose to forgive you. |
| 6 | Hagamos las paces. | Let’s make peace. |
| 7 | Estoy listo para hacer las paces. | I’m ready to make peace. |
| 8 | Debemos hacer las paces y seguir adelante. | We should make peace and move on. |
| 9 | Es un buen momento para hacer las paces. | It’s a good time to make peace. |
| 10 | Hacer las paces nos hará sentir mejor. | Making peace will make us feel better. |
| 11 | Deberíamos reconciliarnos. | We should reconcile. |
| 12 | Estoy abierto a reconciliarnos. | I’m open to reconciling. |
| 13 | Reconciliarse es el mejor paso para nosotros. | Reconciling is the best step for us. |
| 14 | Vamos a intentar reconciliarnos. | Let’s try to reconcile. |
| 15 | Espero que podamos reconciliarnos pronto. | I hope we can reconcile soon. |
| 16 | No guardo rencor. | I hold no grudge. |
| 17 | Olvidemos el pasado y miremos hacia el futuro. | Let’s forget the past and look to the future. |
| 18 | Volvamos a empezar. | Let’s start over. |
| 19 | Superemos esto juntos. | Let’s get past this together. |
| 20 | Aprendamos de nuestros errores y sigamos adelante. | Let’s learn from our mistakes and move on. |
Conclusion
Now that we’ve covered how to apologise in Spanish, let’s summarise the main points: Learning to say sorry in Spanish boosts your language skills and your ability to connect with others in different cultural settings. It’s important to know how to use words like perdonar (to forgive), hacer las paces (to make peace), and reconciliarse (to reconcile). When you use these heartfelt expressions, you show respect and true regret. You show you really want to fix and build stronger relationships.
