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discúlpame

dees-KOOL-pah-meh/disˈkul.pa.me/

“discúlpame” means “Excuse me” in Spanish (When interrupting or asking to pass).

Excuse me, I'm sorry

Also: Pardon me, Forgive me
MexicoSpain
A storybook illustration showing a person gently touching another person's back to ask them to move aside so they can pass in a narrow area.
infinitivedisculpar
gerunddisculpando
past Participledisculpado

📝 In Action

Discúlpame, ¿puedes repetir eso?

A1

Excuse me, can you repeat that?

Llegué tarde, discúlpame.

A1

I arrived late, I'm sorry (forgive me).

Discúlpame, necesito pasar por ahí.

A2

Excuse me, I need to pass through there.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • perdóname (forgive me (informal))
  • lo siento (I'm sorry)
  • con permiso (with permission (to pass))

Common Collocations

  • Discúlpame por el retraso. – Forgive me for the delay.
  • ¿Me disculpas? – Will you excuse me? (asking permission to leave)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "discúlpame" in Spanish:

pardon me→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: discúlpame

Question 1 of 1

If you accidentally bump into a stranger on the street, which phrase would be the most appropriate and polite choice?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
disculpar(to excuse, to forgive) — Verb
disculpa(excuse (noun), apology) — Noun
discúlpeme(Excuse me (formal)) — Imperative verb phrase
🎵 Rhymes▼
llámamedame
📚 Etymology▼

The phrase is built from the verb 'disculpar,' which traces back to the Latin prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'apart' or 'undoing') and the root 'culpa' (meaning 'fault' or 'blame'). This literally means 'to take away the blame' from me.

First recorded: N/A (The base verb 'disculpar' is medieval; the compound imperative form is standard usage)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: scusamiPortuguese: desculpa-me

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'discúlpame' and 'perdóname'?

'Discúlpame' (Excuse me) is generally used for minor apologies or interruptions. 'Perdóname' (Forgive me) is often reserved for more serious mistakes or deeper requests for forgiveness, though they are often interchangeable in casual speech.

Why does 'discúlpame' have an accent mark?

The accent mark is added to 'disculpa' when the pronoun 'me' is attached. It ensures that the stress stays on the third-to-last syllable (the 'u' in 'cúl'), which is where the stress falls in the original verb form 'disculpa'.