perdón
per-DON
/peɾˈðon/
As an interjection, perdón means 'sorry' or 'excuse me,' typically used for minor mistakes or when seeking attention.
perdón(Interjeição)
Sorry
?For a minor mistake, like bumping into someone
,Excuse me
?To get someone's attention
,Pardon?
?To ask someone to repeat themselves
📝 Em Ação
¡Perdón! No te había visto.
A1Sorry! I didn't see you.
Perdón, ¿me puede decir dónde está la estación?
A1Excuse me, can you tell me where the station is?
¿Perdón? No te oí bien. ¿Puedes repetirlo?
A2Pardon? I didn't hear you well. Can you repeat that?
💡 Pontos gramaticais
A Standalone Word
You can use "perdón" all by itself as a complete sentence to apologize quickly. It doesn't need other words to make sense.
❌ Erros Comuns
Using 'Perdón' vs. 'Lo Siento'
Erro: “Using 'perdón' when someone tells you their cat died.”
Correção: Say 'lo siento mucho'. Use 'perdón' for small accidents you caused (like spilling a drink). Use 'lo siento' to show sympathy for someone else's bad situation.
⭐ Dicas de uso
Your Tone of Voice Matters
If you say "¿Perdón?" with a rising tone (like a question), it means "Can you repeat that?". If you say "Perdón." with a falling tone, it means "Sorry."
As a masculine noun, el perdón means forgiveness or pardon—the act of letting go of a grievance.
📝 Em Ação
Te pido perdón si te ofendí.
A2I ask for your forgiveness if I offended you.
El perdón es una parte importante de la amistad.
B1Forgiveness is an important part of friendship.
El presidente le concedió el perdón al prisionero.
B2The president granted the prisoner a pardon.
💡 Pontos gramaticais
It's a Masculine Noun
When talking about forgiveness as a concept, remember it's a 'guy' word. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it, like 'el perdón' or 'un perdón'.
⭐ Dicas de uso
Learn the Whole Phrase
The most common way you'll use this is in the phrase "pedir perdón" (to ask for forgiveness). Think of it as one single idea to make it easier to remember.
✏️ Prática rápida
Quiz rápido: perdón
Pergunta 1 de 2
You accidentally bump into someone on a crowded bus. What is the most common and natural thing to say?
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📚 Mais recursos
Perguntas Frequentes
What's the real difference between 'perdón', 'lo siento', and 'con permiso'?
Think of it this way: - **Perdón**: For small mistakes you made ('Oops, sorry I bumped you') or to get attention ('Excuse me, sir...'). - **Lo siento**: For expressing sympathy or regret for a more serious situation ('I'm sorry for your loss'). You feel the sorrow. - **Con permiso**: Specifically for when you need to physically pass someone ('Excuse me, may I get by?').
Is 'perdón' a verb?
No, 'perdón' itself is not a verb. It's either an interjection (the standalone word 'Sorry!') or a noun ('forgiveness'). The verb form, which means 'to forgive', is 'perdonar'.
Can I use 'disculpa' instead of 'perdón'?
Yes, very often! 'Disculpa' (informal 'you') or 'disculpe' (formal 'you') works almost exactly like 'perdón' for getting attention or for minor apologies. They are very interchangeable in everyday situations.