disculpan
dees-KOOL-pahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ellos disculpan mi error.
A1They excuse my mistake.
Mis jefes disculpan la tardanza.
A2My bosses excuse the lateness.
Ellos se disculpan por el ruido.
A2They apologize for the noise.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is being excused?
This word describes what 'they' are doing. If they are apologizing for themselves, you must add 'se' before it: 'Ellos se disculpan'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying sorry vs. Excusing others
Mistake: "Using 'Ellos disculpan' to mean 'They say sorry'."
Correction: Say 'Ellos se disculpan'. Without 'se', it means they are forgiving someone else's mistake, not admitting their own.
⭐ Usage Tips
Social Etiquette
Use this word for polite, social situations like being late or making a small error. For deep, emotional forgiveness, 'perdonan' is more common.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: disculpan
Question 1 of 1
How do you say 'They apologize' using the word 'disculpan'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'disculpan' formal or informal?
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting to politely excuse someone's behavior.
What is the difference between 'disculpan' and 'perdonan'?
Disculpan is usually for smaller social errors (like being late), while perdonan is for deeper forgiveness (like after a big fight).