Apologising in Spanish involves much more than saying lo siento. The language uses different expressions depending on who you are talking to, how serious the situation is, and what kind of relationship you share. A quick apology to a friend sounds one way, while an apology to a client or supervisor needs extra care.

This guide walks you through natural, real-world examples of Spanish apologies for work, relationships, friends, and written messages, helping you sound sincere, confident, and culturally aware in every situation.

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How to Say Sorry at Work in Spanish

Workplace apologies in Spanish depend a lot on how you approach the moment. A thoughtful apology shows that you care about the other person’s time and that you take your responsibilities seriously. In many Spanish-speaking environments, people appreciate a mix of clarity and warmth, so the way you phrase things shapes the entire interaction. The goal is to sound accountable, not robotic. With that in mind, here are the most common formal and informal workplace apologies in Spanish and how to use them in a way that feels natural and sincere.

Formal Spanish Apologies at Work

Formal phrases work best with managers, clients, or external contacts. They sound polished and respectful, making them ideal for formal meetings, presentations, or moments when clarity and professionalism matter.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
I’m sorry for the inconvenience	Lamento las molestias	Lamento las molestias. Estoy revisando el informe para enviarlo hoy mismo. → “Sorry for the inconvenience. I’m reviewing the report to send it today.”
I apologise for the mistake	Le pido disculpas por el error	Le pido disculpas por el error en los datos enviados. → “I apologise for the mistake in the data sent.”
It was not my intention	No era mi intención	No era mi intención causar confusión durante la reunión. → “It wasn’t my intention to cause confusion during the meeting.”
Thank you for your understanding	Gracias por su comprensión	Gracias por su comprensión mientras resolvemos el problema técnico. → “Thank you for your understanding while we resolve the technical issue.”

Informal Apologies at Work

These expressions sound friendlier and are perfect for coworkers and teammates. They still convey responsibility, but the tone feels lighter and more conversational.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
Sorry for the delay	Perdón por la demora	Perdón por la demora, recién termino una llamada. → “Sorry for the delay, I just finished a call.”
Sorry, I didn’t realise	Disculpa, no me di cuenta	Disculpa, no me di cuenta de que estabas hablando. → “Sorry, I didn’t realise you were speaking.”
My bad, it wasn’t on purpose	Uy, fue sin querer	Uy, fue sin querer, no quise interrumpir. → “Oops, it wasn’t on purpose, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
I owe you one	Te debo una	Te debo una por cubrirme en la reunión. → “I owe you one for covering me in the meeting.”

When using these, remember Spanish speakers often rely on tone, eye contact, and a relaxed posture to soften the message. A warm, sincere delivery makes even a short apology feel genuine.

How to Apologise to a Partner in Spanish

Saying sorry to a partner in Spanish requires a mix of honesty, warmth, and emotional awareness. Spanish tends to favour sincerity over long explanations, so the words you choose matter less than the feeling behind them. Whether the situation involves a small misunderstanding or a meaningful disagreement, using the right Spanish apology helps you reconnect and show that you’re genuinely trying to make things right.

Light Spanish Apologies for a Partner

These Spanish apologies work well for light arguments, moments of tension, or any situation where emotions run high but the issue isn’t deeply serious. The tone is soft, personal, and affectionate, which fits the way many Spanish-speaking couples communicate when repairing small emotional bumps.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you	Perdón, no quise molestarte	Perdón, no quise molestarte. Estuve pensando y tenés razón. → “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve been thinking and you’re right.”
I understand how you feel	Entiendo cómo te sentís	Entiendo cómo te sentís y no fue mi intención hacerte daño. → “I understand how you feel, and it wasn’t my intention to hurt you.”
I value our relationship	Valoro nuestra relación	Valoro nuestra relación y no quiero que algo tan pequeño nos afecte. → “I value our relationship and don’t want something so small to affect us.”
I’m sorry for my tone	Perdón por mi tono	Perdón por mi tono. Estaba cansado y no lo manejé bien. → “Sorry about my tone. I was tired and didn’t handle it well.”
I didn’t mean to speak that way	No quise hablarte así	No quise hablarte así. Me salió sin pensar. → “I didn’t mean to speak to you like that. It came out without thinking.”
I just want us to be okay	Solo quiero que estemos bien	Solo quiero que estemos bien. Hablemos cuando estés listo/a. → “I just want us to be okay. Let’s talk when you’re ready.”

Deep or Serious Spanish Apologies for a Partner

When the situation carries more emotional weight, a deeper Spanish apology helps express regret, responsibility, and a willingness to rebuild trust. These phrases are slower, more deliberate, and show genuine care. They fit moments involving broken trust, painful misunderstandings, or anything that requires more than a quick “lo siento.”

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
I’m truly sorry for what happened	Lamento de verdad lo que pasó	Lamento de verdad lo que pasó. Sé que te lastimé y quiero arreglarlo. → “I’m truly sorry for what happened. I know I hurt you and I want to fix it.”
I take responsibility	Asumo mi responsabilidad	Asumo mi responsabilidad. No voy a justificar lo que hice. → “I take responsibility. I’m not going to justify what I did.”
I want to rebuild your trust	Quiero recuperar tu confianza	Quiero recuperar tu confianza. Sé que va a llevar tiempo. → “I want to regain your trust. I know it will take time.”
I understand why you’re upset	Entiendo por qué estás enojado/a	Entiendo por qué estás enojado/a y estoy acá para hablarlo cuando quieras. → “I understand why you’re upset, and I’m here to talk whenever you’re ready.”
Tell me how I can fix this	Decime cómo puedo reparar esto	Decime cómo puedo reparar esto. Estoy dispuesto/a a hacer lo necesario. → “Tell me how I can fix this. I’m willing to do what it takes.”
I will never do something like that again	Nunca volveré a hacer algo así	Nunca volveré a hacer algo así. No quiero perder lo que tenemos. → “I will never do something like that again. I don’t want to lose what we have.”

In many Spanish-speaking cultures, serious apologies feel more sincere when paired with openness and patience. A calm tone, steady eye contact, and a willingness to listen often matter just as much as the words themselves.

How to Say Sorry to Friends and Family in Spanish

Apologising to friends and family in Spanish feels different from saying sorry at work or with a partner. These are the people who grew up with you, who know your habits, your good days, and your not-so-good ones. So the apology has a different flavour. It’s more relaxed, more honest, and sometimes even a little humorous. Lucky for us, Spanish gives us plenty of natural options to make things right without sounding stiff or dramatic.

Casual Spanish Apologies for Friends and Family

Everyday apologies with friends and family happen in the smallest moments. Maybe you shared something you shouldn’t have, or reacted too quickly, or said something without thinking. These Spanish apologies help you smooth things over in a way that feels natural and honest – the kind of tone you’d use with people who know you well.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
Sorry, I lost track of time	Perdón, se me fue el tiempo	Perdón, se me fue el tiempo. No pensé que ya era tan tarde. → “Sorry, I lost track of time. I didn’t realise it was already this late.”
My bad, I didn’t notice	Mi culpa, no me fijé	Mi culpa, no me fijé que estabas ahí. → “My bad, I didn’t notice you were there.”
I got distracted	Me distraje	Me distraje y no escuché la última parte. → “I got distracted and didn’t hear the last part.”
Sorry I said something you told me privately	Perdón, se me escapó y conté lo que me dijiste en privado	Perdón, se me escapó y conté lo que me dijiste. No debí hacerlo. → “Sorry, it slipped out and I mentioned what you told me. I shouldn’t have done that.”
I didn’t do it on purpose, it was a mistake	No lo hice a propósito, fue un error	No lo hice a propósito, fue un error. Me salió sin pensar. → “I didn’t do it on purpose, it was a mistake. It just came out without thinking.”
Sorry for interrupting you	Perdón por interrumpirte	Perdón por interrumpirte. Sigue, ahora sí te escucho. → “Sorry for interrupting you. Go on, I’m listening now.”

Heartfelt Spanish Apologies to Loved Ones

When feelings get involved, the apology needs a bit more depth. These Spanish phrases help when you’ve disappointed someone, raised your voice, forgotten something meaningful, or handled a situation poorly. They sound sincere without being melodramatic.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
I’m sorry I hurt your feelings	Lamento haberte herido	Lamento haberte herido. No pensé antes de hablar. → “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. I didn’t think before speaking.”
I should have handled things better	Debí manejar las cosas mejor	Debí manejar las cosas mejor. No estuve en mi mejor momento. → “I should have handled things better. I wasn’t at my best.”
I’m sorry I let you down	Perdón por fallarte	Perdón por fallarte. Sé que contabas conmigo. → “I’m sorry for letting you down. I know you were counting on me.”
I appreciate your patience	Aprecio tu paciencia	Aprecio tu paciencia. Estoy tratando de mejorar en eso. → “I appreciate your patience. I’m trying to improve on that.”
I want to fix this together	Quiero resolver esto contigo	Quiero resolver esto contigo, sin prisa y con calma. → “I want to work through this with you, without rushing.”

How to Write an Apology Email or Message in Spanish

Writing an apology in Spanish feels very different from saying it in person. You don’t have your tone of voice or your expressions to help soften the message – only the words on the screen. A good Spanish apology email or message combines clarity, sincerity, and just enough warmth to show you genuinely care about fixing the situation.

Formal Apology Email in Spanish

A formal Spanish apology email follows a simple structure: a polite greeting, a direct apology, a brief and relevant explanation (only if it helps), and a respectful closing. These expressions fit professional situations such as writing to clients, supervisors, service providers, or university staff.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
I apologise for the inconvenience	Lamento el inconveniente	Lamento el inconveniente y estoy trabajando en una solución inmediata. → “I apologise for the inconvenience and I’m working on an immediate solution.”
I would like to clarify the situation	Deseo aclarar la situación	Deseo aclarar la situación para evitar malos entendidos en el futuro. → “I would like to clarify the situation to avoid misunderstandings in the future.”
I accept responsibility for this issue	Acepto la responsabilidad por este asunto	Acepto la responsabilidad por este asunto y me aseguraré de que no se repita. → “I accept responsibility for this issue and will make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Allow me to correct the error	Permítame corregir el error	Permítame corregir el error y enviarle la versión revisada hoy mismo. → “Allow me to correct the error and send you the revised version today.”
Thank you for your patience	Gracias por su paciencia	Gracias por su paciencia mientras organizamos los detalles finales. → “Thank you for your patience while we finalise the details.”
I am available for any additional information	Quedo atento/a a cualquier información adicional	Quedo atento/a a cualquier información adicional que necesite. → “I am available for any additional information you may need.”

Informal Spanish Apology Messages and Texts

Informal apology messages in Spanish are meant for coworkers you get along with, classmates, friends, or anyone you write to casually through WhatsApp, Instagram, or SMS. These phrases feel friendly, real, and specific to text communication.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
Sorry for replying so late	Perdón por contestar tan tarde	Perdón por contestar tan tarde. Acabo de ver tu mensaje. → “Sorry for replying so late. I just saw your message.”
I misunderstood what you said	Entendí mal lo que dijiste	Entendí mal lo que dijiste y por eso respondí otra cosa. → “I misunderstood what you said and that’s why I replied something different.”
I mixed up the information	Confundí la información	Confundí la información y envié la versión equivocada. → “I mixed up the information and sent the wrong version.”
Let me fix this and update you	Déjame corregir esto y te aviso	Déjame corregir esto y te aviso apenas lo tenga listo. → “Let me fix this and I’ll update you as soon as it’s ready.”
Sorry, I didn’t check before sending it	Perdón, no revisé antes de enviarlo	Perdón, no revisé antes de enviarlo. Ya cambié lo que faltaba. → “Sorry, I didn’t check before sending it. I already updated what was missing.”
I thought I had sent it, but I didn’t	Creí que lo había enviado, pero no	Creí que lo había enviado, pero no. Ahí va ahora sí. → “I thought I had sent it, but I hadn’t. Sending it now.”

How to Respond to an Apology in Spanish

Accepting an apology in Spanish can feel surprisingly delicate. Do you brush it off lightly? Do you acknowledge what happened? Do you let the other person know you’re still processing? Spanish offers a wide range of responses, from warm acceptance to polite caution, and choosing the right one depends on your relationship and the situation. These expressions help you respond with empathy, clarity, and emotional maturity – qualities highly valued in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Accepting an Apology Politely in Spanish

Sometimes the apology is simple, sincere, and enough. In those cases, you just need a short, polite response that closes the moment with grace. These phrases feel natural among friends, coworkers, or even acquaintances.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
No problem	No hay problema	No hay problema, solo quería que quedara claro. → “No problem, I just wanted to make sure we were clear.”
Don’t worry about it	No te preocupes	No te preocupes, ya pasó. → “Don’t worry about it, it’s already behind us.”
I appreciate the apology	Gracias por disculparte	Gracias por disculparte, lo valoro de verdad. → “Thanks for apologising, I truly appreciate it.”
It’s all good now	Todo bien ahora	Todo bien ahora, sigamos adelante. → “It’s all good now, let’s move on.”
I understand	Entiendo	Entiendo, sé que fue un mal día. → “I understand, I know it was a rough day.”
Thank you for saying that	Gracias por decirlo	Gracias por decirlo, significó más de lo que crees. → “Thank you for saying that, it meant more than you think.”

These responses help set a calm, respectful tone while keeping the interaction short and positive.

Expressing Partial Forgiveness in Spanish

What if the apology is sincere but you still need time? Spanish allows space for that too. These expressions show empathy without pretending everything is instantly fixed. They keep communication open and honest.

English	Spanish	Example (Spanish → English)
I need a little time	Necesito un poco de tiempo	Necesito un poco de tiempo, pero agradezco que lo hayas dicho. → “I need a little time, but I appreciate that you said it.”
I hear you, but I’m still processing	Te escucho, pero sigo procesando	Te escucho, pero sigo procesando lo que pasó. → “I hear you, but I’m still processing what happened.”
Let’s talk again later	Hablemos otra vez más tarde	Hablemos otra vez más tarde, quiero pensarlo bien. → “Let’s talk again later, I want to think it through.”
I’m not upset, just surprised	No estoy molesto/a, solo sorprendido/a	No estoy molesto/a, solo sorprendido/a por cómo se dieron las cosas. → “I’m not upset, just surprised by how things happened.”
I appreciate it, but it still hurt	Lo agradezco, pero sí me dolió	Lo agradezco, pero sí me dolió. Necesito un momento. → “I appreciate it, but it did hurt. I need a moment.”
We’ll work through it	Vamos a resolverlo	Vamos a resolverlo, solo quiero ir paso a paso. → “We’ll work through it, I just want to go step by step.”

These responses show honesty without closing the door – a balance many Spanish speakers see as respectful and emotionally intelligent.

Final Tips to Apologise Naturally in Spanish

• Use the right level of formality.
  Choose perdón (“sorry”) or disculpa (“excuse me/sorry”) for friends, and phrases like lamento el inconveniente (“I apologise for the inconvenience”) for professional settings.
• Keep your message short and sincere.
  Long explanations feel defensive; one or two honest sentences feel more genuine.
• Acknowledge the other person’s feelings.
  Phrases like entiendo lo que pasó (“I understand what happened”) or comprendo tu molestia (“I understand why you’re upset”) make apologies warmer and more empathetic.
• Take responsibility directly.
  Expressions such as fue mi error (“it was my mistake”) or me equivoqué (“I was wrong”) show maturity and accountability.
• Avoid literal translations from English.
  “My bad” doesn’t translate well. Use natural Spanish alternatives instead, like fue un descuido (“it was a slip-up”).
• Match your tone to the situation.
  Warm and casual for close relationships; calm and steady for serious or professional contexts.
• Don’t apologise excessively for small things.
  Reserve lo siento (“I’m sorry”) for meaningful emotional situations and use softer forms like perdón (“sorry”) for everyday moments.
• Use simple vocabulary rather than complex phrases.
  Spanish apologies sound more authentic when they’re straightforward: No debí decir eso (“I shouldn’t have said that”) is better than long, formal explanations in most cases.

Apologising naturally in Spanish becomes much easier when you learn the language through real interaction. At Language Trainers, you study with native Spanish teachers who introduce you not only to the grammar and vocabulary, but also to the cultural perspective behind every expression – including how apologies are used in everyday life. Our communication-based approach focuses on practical language you actually use with real people, and each student receives a personalised lesson plan built around their goals, level, schedule, and learning style.

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Whether you want to sound more confident at work, improve your relationships with Spanish-speaking friends and family, or simply communicate with more ease and authenticity, our one-to-one Spanish courses give you the tools to express yourself clearly and naturally.

Ready to take your Spanish to the next level? Contact Language Trainers and discover how meaningful and enjoyable real Spanish communication can be.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apologising in Spanish

1.    How do you say “excuse me” in Spanish?

The most common way to say “excuse me” in Spanish is perdón, which works well when you need to pass through a crowd, interrupt politely, or catch someone’s attention. In more formal situations, especially with strangers or in professional environments, disculpe feels more appropriate. Both words show respect and soften the interaction, and Spanish speakers use them constantly in day-to-day life.

2.    How do you say “I’m sorry” in Spanish?

The most direct translation of “I’m sorry” is lo siento, and it expresses genuine emotional regret. Learners hear it often because it fits many situations, from small misunderstandings to more personal mistakes. When someone wants to show deeper sincerity, they might say lo siento mucho or choose a more formal phrase such as lamento lo ocurrido, which sounds appropriate in professional or serious contexts. The exact expression you choose depends on the moment, but all of them communicate empathy and responsibility.

3.    How do you say “It won’t happen again” in Spanish?

A natural way to say “It won’t happen again” in Spanish is no volverá a ocurrir, which means “it won’t happen again.” The phrase works well in both personal and professional situations because it sounds firm and responsible without being dramatic. People sometimes use warmer or more reassuring variations, such as Te prometo que no pasará otra vez (“I promise it won’t happen again”) or Haré lo posible para que no se repita (“I’ll do what I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again”). All of these expressions show commitment to improving the situation and ensuring the same problem doesn’t happen twice.

4.    How do you reply to an apology in Spanish?

Spanish offers many polite ways to respond to an apology, and the tone you choose depends on the situation. In casual or simple moments, people often say No hay problema (“No problem”) or Todo bien (“All good”) to move forward easily. When the apology is more meaningful, a phrase like Gracias por disculparte (“Thank you for apologising”) helps acknowledge the effort the other person made. There are situations where you accept the apology but need time to process, and Spanish allows that too: Necesito pensarlo un poco means “I need to think about it a bit,” while Aprecio lo que dijiste means “I appreciate what you said.” These responses keep communication open without creating pressure or conflict.