disculpar
“disculpar” means “to excuse” in Spanish (Forgiving someone for a small mistake or social interruption).
to excuse, to forgive, to pardon
Also: to justify
📝 In Action
Disculpa, ¿sabes dónde está la estación?
A1Excuse me, do you know where the station is?
Te disculpo por no haber avisado antes.
A2I forgive you for not letting me know earlier.
Disculpe, señor, ¿tiene un momento?
A2Pardon me, sir, do you have a moment?
Mi madre no me disculpó llegar tan tarde.
B1My mother didn't excuse me for arriving so late.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: disculpar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence shows the correct formal way to get a stranger's attention in a store?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from Latin 'disculpare,' meaning to free from blame or fault. The Latin word combined 'dis-' (away) and 'culpare' (to blame), which came from 'culpa' meaning fault or guilt. So 'disculpar' originally meant 'to remove blame from someone.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'disculpar' the same as 'perdonar'?
Yes, they are very close in meaning. Both mean 'to forgive' or 'to excuse.' 'Perdonar' is slightly more common in everyday speech, while 'disculpar' is also widely used. You can use either one.
When should I use 'disculpa' vs 'disculpe'?
Use 'disculpa' (tú form) with friends, family, children, and pets. Use 'disculpe' (usted form) with strangers, older people, your boss, and in formal situations like restaurants or stores. When in doubt, use the formal 'disculpe' - it's always safe!
Can I use 'disculpar' to mean I'm sorry about something I did?
For apologizing about YOUR OWN mistake, it's more natural to say 'lo siento' or 'pedir disculpas.' For example: 'Lo siento mucho' (I'm so sorry) or 'Pido disculpas por el error' (I apologize for the error). Use 'disculpar' when you are forgiving someone ELSE.