Dont Ask Me for That Love Again in Spanish
How to say "Excuse Me" in Spanish in every situation — without sounding stuffy or dull.
I of the virtually mutual things y'all have to learn how to say in whatever language is "Excuse Me".
But similar any mutual expression, a 1:1 translation isn't useful without context. The way you say "excuse me" to someone depends on the state of affairs: practice you need attention? Practise you demand to become past on the subway? Did you bump into them? And are they older or younger than you (or the same age)?
One of the first expressions nosotros learn in any beginner'southward Spanish textbook is "lo siento". Simply that phrase has limited used, which we'll cover below. Basically, it'southward only ane course of "alibi me" in Spanish out of many.
All this is why nosotros have this article explaining all the different situations when yous might say "excuse me", and the translations in Castilian.
Y'all might also like our Spanish learning resource for more of an introduction into Castilian linguistic communication.
Excuse Me in Spanish — A Quick Overview of Culture
Spanish language civilisation — in unlike regions of Spain every bit well as in Latin America — always skews a fleck more formal than Western, British-derived colonial culture in general.
The cultural departure is similar to what y'all might expect in parts of British or American civilization, for example in the parts of the US where yous might wait people to say "sir" or "ma'am" more often. Only it's more than universal in Spain and Latin America.
This tendency towards formality ways that it'due south almost never "incorrect" to apply an usted conjugation — unless you're speaking to a toddler, in which case information technology's funny but not impolite or anything. Information technology's besides never "wrong" to use a polite expression. At worst, you'll come off every bit very polite — never strange.
That's why there are and so many means of saying alibi me in Spanish that would sound more formal than in English language. For example, at the dinner table, speaking English, I would never say "with your permission" to alibi myself unless I were joking around, or were dining with the Queen of England. Just it'southward totally natural to practice and so in Castilian.
Come across below for all the ways y'all can say alibi me in Spanish in a multifariousness of contexts.
Getting past someone in the subway/jitney/street
- Permiso
This is the very first situation we ever have to apply "excuse me" in any land!
The discussion permiso literally ways "permission". But of grade, y'all never say "permission" in English.
Sometimes it's beforehand — in a plane, on the way to the destination, trying to become past someone to go to the bath.
Saying permiso gets you past anyone. Information technology's slightly breezy to just say it as a discussion, so you tin can add a bit of politeness past saying con permiso, con su permiso, or permiso, por favor. None of these are likewise formal in any situation — politeness e'er is OK.
Getting up from the table
- Con su permiso
If you need to alibi yourself from the table, whether it's to make an early exit or to go to the bathroom, yous merely say con su permiso or con permiso.
Getting attention from a server or attendant, or someone on the street
- Disculpe/disculpa
- Perdone/perdona
- Señor/Señora
This is one of those phrases we use most ofttimes. I thought disculpe sounded stuffy and formal, but information technology works fine.
If it's someone immature (or your age, or you're both young), you can use the tu conjugations: disculpa or perdona.
Don't say oye, it'south super informal.
Read next: I Love You lot in Spanish – 7 Heartfelt Ways to Express Love
Apologising (e.g. for bumping into someone)
- Perdón
- Perdóneme
This is a great expression for all the many times you may bump into someone or accidentally affect them. Since we oftentimes apologise to strangers, we opt for the usted conjugation — perdóneme.
Add a niggling flavour with a good Spanish assertion. ¡Uy, perdóneme!
I'1000 so lamentable!
- Lo siento (mucho)!
Lo siento is your standard way of saying "I'thousand sorry" in Castilian.
Only you should know that maxim lo siento is a piddling stronger than "I'yard sorry" in terms of feeling. It literally means "I experience", if that's a guide. Saying lo siento roughly translates in intensity to "I apologise!" or "My apologies!" in English.
So yous say lo siento in situations where yous've offended someone, or mayhap if someone'southward canis familiaris has died or they're having a difficult fourth dimension because a family member is sick.
May I?
- Permítame
This is an expression someone would employ to say "alibi me" in Spanish simply pregnant "let me have a look at that for a second".
For example if someone wants to prove y'all something on a map, on a telephone, or in a book, they would say permítame before taking it from you.
This is the formal conjugation for permitir, with me on the end. Information technology literally ways "permit me" or "allow me".
I don't think that's right…
- Un momento…
- Espere…
Use these phrases when someone is making a wild accusation and you lot want to politely tell them they're wrong.
Literally united nations momento means "one moment" (if you didn't guess that) and espere means "wait". You lot can also say "espera" if it's an informal chat.
They're the equivlent of in English maxim "Excuse me a moment" when y'all're going to follow on with "I don't retrieve that's correct…"
I beg your pardon? (if you didn't hear/understand)
- ¿Perdón?
- ¿Cómo?
- ¿Cómo fue?
Ofttimes in English we say "excuse me" to indicate nosotros didn't understand something and want the other person to repeat themselves.
We say excuse me in Spanish in this way by proverb one of the iii options in a higher place. Of the three, I accept heard ¿cómo? the near, just that's just my experience.
Deplorable to carp you, simply…
- Me apena molestarte de nuevo pero …
- Lamento incomodarte nuevamente pero …
- Perdone, no quiero molestarte, pero…
Finally, ane last way of saying alibi me in Spanish is to use the forms me apena or lamento.
These are roughly like "I regret" or "I'm lamentable to", as in "I'yard sorry to bother you…"
I personally find these a petty too intense for day-to-mean solar day utilize. I might use something more than like "Perdone, no quiero molestarte, pero…", which I included above.
Hope these were useful. If there'southward something more you want to larn, contact us and let us know!
Source: https://discoverdiscomfort.com/excuse-me-in-spanish/