perdonar
“perdonar” means “to forgive” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to forgive, to pardon
Also: to excuse (a person)
📝 In Action
¿Puedes perdonarme por llegar tan tarde?
A1Can you forgive me for arriving so late?
Ella perdonó a su hermano a pesar del daño que hizo.
A2She forgave her brother despite the damage he caused.
El presidente tiene el poder de perdonar a los criminales.
B1The president has the power to pardon criminals.
to excuse
Also: to exempt, to let someone off
📝 In Action
El banco le perdonó la mitad de la deuda.
B2The bank excused him half of the debt (waived half the debt).
Perdona mi ignorancia, pero ¿qué significa esa palabra?
B1Excuse my ignorance, but what does that word mean?
Por favor, perdona el ruido; estamos en obras.
B1Please excuse the noise; we are doing construction.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: perdonar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'perdonar' in the sense of 'waiving a debt'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin *per-* (meaning 'thoroughly' or 'completely') and *donare* (meaning 'to give'). The word literally means 'to give completely' or 'to give away' (the debt or the offense).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'Perdonar' and 'Disculpar'?
'Perdonar' means to forgive a serious offense or debt, focusing on the deep emotional act of letting go of resentment. 'Disculpar' means to excuse a minor fault, delay, or to simply say 'Excuse me' when interrupting someone or passing by.
Is 'Perdón' a verb or a noun?
'Perdón' is the noun form, meaning 'forgiveness' or 'pardon.' 'Perdonar' is the verb form, meaning 'to forgive.' You can use 'Perdón' on its own as a quick request for forgiveness.