Inklingo
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perdón

/per-DON/

Sorry

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

As an interjection, perdón means 'sorry' or 'excuse me,' typically used for minor mistakes or when seeking attention.

perdón(Interjection)

A1

Sorry

?

For a minor mistake, like bumping into someone

,

Excuse me

?

To get someone's attention

,

Pardon?

?

To ask someone to repeat themselves

📝 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))

💡 Grammar Points

A Standalone Word

You can use "perdón" all by itself as a complete sentence to apologize quickly. It doesn't need other words to make sense.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Perdón' vs. 'Lo Siento'

Mistake: "Using 'perdón' when someone tells you their cat died."

Correction: Say 'lo siento mucho'. Use 'perdón' for small accidents you caused (like spilling a drink). Use 'lo siento' to show sympathy for someone else's bad situation.

⭐ Usage Tips

Your Tone of Voice Matters

If you say "¿Perdón?" with a rising tone (like a question), it means "Can you repeat that?". If you say "Perdón." with a falling tone, it means "Sorry."

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.

As a masculine noun, el perdón means forgiveness or pardon—the act of letting go of a grievance.

perdón(Noun)

mA2

forgiveness

?

The act of forgiving

Also:

pardon

?

Official or legal forgiveness

📝 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

  • venganza (revenge)
  • rencor (grudge)
  • culpa (guilt / blame)

Common Collocations

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

💡 Grammar Points

It's a Masculine Noun

When talking about forgiveness as a concept, remember it's a 'guy' word. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it, like 'el perdón' or 'un perdón'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Learn the Whole Phrase

The most common way you'll use this is in the phrase "pedir perdón" (to ask for forgiveness). Think of it as one single idea to make it easier to remember.

✏️ 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

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.