How to Say Excuse Me in Spanish
How do you say excuse me in Spanish? Say 'Perdón' (pehr-DOHN) or 'Disculpe' (dees-KOOL-peh). Learn which to use to pass, apologize or get attention, with pronunciation.
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Quick answer
To say excuse me in Spanish, say 'Perdón' (pehr-DOHN) to apologize or get past someone, or 'Disculpe' (dees-KOOL-peh) to politely get a stranger's attention. To pass through a crowd or excuse yourself, say 'Con permiso' (kon pehr-MEE-soh). Each fits a slightly different situation.
Perdón
/pehr-DOHN/ — Spanish
How to Say Excuse Me in Spanish
English uses “excuse me” for several different situations — apologizing, squeezing past someone, getting attention, asking someone to repeat. Spanish splits these into distinct, more precise phrases. The three workhorses are Perdón, Disculpe, and Con permiso, and knowing which to use makes you sound genuinely polite.
The Versatile Word: Perdón
Perdón — pronounced pehr-DOHN
From perdonar (to forgive), it literally means “pardon.” It’s the most flexible option: use it to apologize, when you bump into someone, or when you didn’t hear and want a repeat (“Perdón?” = “Sorry?”).
Copy the Phrase
A common way to say excuse me in Spanish is Perdón (pehr-DOHN).
The Three Main Phrases
Match the phrase to your purpose:
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Use It To… |
|---|---|---|
| Perdón | pehr-DOHN | Apologize, bump into someone, ask “sorry?” |
| Disculpe | dees-KOOL-peh | Politely get a stranger’s attention (formal) |
| Disculpa | dees-KOOL-pah | Get attention (informal, with tú) |
| Con permiso | kon pehr-MEE-soh | Pass through, walk by, leave a room |
| Perdone | pehr-DOH-neh | Formal “excuse me / I’m sorry” (usted) |
| Perdona | pehr-DOH-nah | Informal “excuse me / sorry” (tú) |
| Disculpe, ¿podría…? | dees-KOOL-peh poh-DREE-ah | Excuse me, could you…? (very polite) |
Formal vs. Informal
Spanish marks register through verb endings:
- Disculpe / Perdone / Discúlpeme — formal (usted): strangers, elders, professional settings.
- Disculpa / Perdona / Discúlpame — informal (tú): friends, peers, children.
Perdón and Con permiso are register-neutral and safe in any situation, which is why they’re so handy for beginners.
Which One When?
- Walking through a crowd / past someone seated: Con permiso (with permission to pass).
- Getting a waiter’s or stranger’s attention: Disculpe (formal) or Disculpa (informal).
- Bumping into someone / a small apology: Perdón.
- Didn’t hear them: ¿Perdón? or ¿Cómo? (How?/What?).
- Leaving the table / a room: Con permiso or Con permiso, ya vuelvo (excuse me, I’ll be back).
Pronunciation Tips
- Perdón: Stress the second syllable (the accented ó): pehr-DOHN. The R is a single light tap.
- Disculpe: dees-KOOL-peh — stress the middle syllable.
- Con permiso: The double… actually a single tapped R: kon pehr-MEE-soh.
- Inverted ¿: A written question opens with ¿ — ¿Perdón?
Cultural Notes
Spanish-speaking cultures value polite acknowledgment, so these little phrases matter. Saying Con permiso before stepping past someone — or before leaving a gathering — is considered courteous and is used far more deliberately than English “excuse me.” If you’re answered with Propio or Adelante, that simply means “go ahead.” When in doubt about formality with a stranger, default to Disculpe; it’s polite, clear, and never out of place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say excuse me in Spanish?
The most versatile word is 'Perdón' (pehr-DOHN), used to apologize, get past someone, or ask someone to repeat. To get a stranger's attention politely, use 'Disculpe' (dees-KOOL-peh), and to pass through a crowd say 'Con permiso' (kon pehr-MEE-soh).
How do you pronounce Perdón?
It's 'pehr-DOHN' with the stress on the second syllable, marked by the accent on the ó. The R is lightly tapped (not the strong rolled rr), and the final N is clear. Keep the vowels short: pehr-DOHN.
What is the difference between Perdón, Disculpe and Con permiso?
'Perdón' = sorry / excuse me (apology or bumping into someone). 'Disculpe' (formal) / 'Disculpa' (informal) = excuse me to get attention or ask a question. 'Con permiso' = excuse me to pass by, walk through, or leave a room. Choose by intent.
What does Perdón literally mean?
'Perdón' literally means 'pardon' or 'forgiveness' (from perdonar, to forgive). 'Disculpe' means 'excuse (me)' from disculpar (to excuse). 'Con permiso' literally means 'with permission' — you're politely asking leave to pass or go.
How do you say excuse me formally vs. informally in Spanish?
To get attention: formal 'Disculpe' (with usted) vs. informal 'Disculpa' (with tú). 'Perdón' works in both registers. For 'sorry,' formal/emphatic is 'Perdone' or 'Discúlpeme,' while casual is 'Perdona' or 'Perdón.'