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perdón

per-DONpeɾˈðon

“perdón” means “Sorry” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

Sorry, Excuse me, Pardon?

A small child accidentally bumps into a friendly adult, causing a colorful ball to drop, illustrating a minor apology.

📝 In Action

¡Perdón! No te había visto.

A1

Sorry! I didn't see you.

Perdón, ¿me puede decir dónde está la estación?

A1

Excuse me, can you tell me where the station is?

¿Perdón? No te oí bien. ¿Puedes repetirlo?

A2

Pardon? I didn't hear you well. Can you repeat that?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • disculpa (sorry / excuse me)
  • con permiso (excuse me (to pass by))

forgiveness

Also: pardon
NounmA2
Two stylized human figures standing on opposite sides of a visible crack in the ground. They are reaching across the crack to hold hands, symbolizing forgiveness and reconciliation.

📝 In Action

Te pido perdón si te ofendí.

A2

I ask for your forgiveness if I offended you.

El perdón es una parte importante de la amistad.

B1

Forgiveness is an important part of friendship.

El presidente le concedió el perdón al prisionero.

B2

The president granted the prisoner a pardon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • indulto (pardon (legal))
  • amnistía (amnesty)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pedir perdón – to ask for forgiveness
  • dar el perdón / conceder el perdón – to grant forgiveness
  • sin perdón – without forgiveness / unforgivable

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: perdón

Question 1 of 2

You accidentally bump into someone on a crowded bus. What is the most common and natural thing to say?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
perdonar(to forgive) — Verb
imperdonable(unforgivable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
accióncancióncorazónrazón
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'perdonāre'. It's a combination of 'per-', meaning 'completely' or 'through', and 'donāre', meaning 'to give'. So, it literally meant 'to give completely' or 'to grant'.

First recorded: Around the 11th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: pardonItalian: perdonoPortuguese: perdão

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.