‘Lo siento’ in Spanish translates to ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I’m feeling sorry’ in English.
It’s a slightly confusing construction for Spanish beginners, as the literal translation would mean ‘I feel it’ – sentir being the verb ‘to feel’, and ‘lo’ being the direct object ‘it’.
Including the ‘subject pronoun’, the full phrase would be ‘Yo lo siento,’ but the ‘yo’ subject isn’t typically used in written or spoken Spanish, as the meaning is inferred.
‘Lo siento’ is a versatile phrase used to express apologies, sympathy, or regret. Here are some examples:
- To apologize for a mistake:
- Lo siento, no debería haber dicho eso. (I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.)
- Lo siento mucho por llegar tarde. (I’m very sorry for being late.)
- To express sympathy or empathy:
- Lo siento mucho por tu pérdida. (I’m very sorry for your loss.)
- Lo siento, sé lo difícil que debe ser para ti. (I’m sorry, I know how difficult it must be for you.)
- To express regret or remorse:
- Lo siento mucho, no quería lastimarte. (I’m very sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.)
- Lo siento si te hice sentir mal. (I’m sorry if I made you feel bad.)
- As a polite response to someone sharing their problems or struggles:
- A: Tuve un día muy difícil en el trabajo. (I had a very tough day at work.)
B: Lo siento mucho, ¿hay algo en lo que pueda ayudarte? (I’m really sorry to hear that, is there anything I can do to help you?)’
- A: Tuve un día muy difícil en el trabajo. (I had a very tough day at work.)
‘Lo siento’ is a common and polite way to acknowledge one’s own fault, express sympathy, or show understanding towards someone else’s situation.
‘Lo siento’ is just one way of apologising in Spanish, along with other commonly used phrases ‘perdón’ and ‘disculpa’.
All have slight subtleties to how you use them:
- “Lo siento”:
- Translation: “I’m sorry” or “I’m feeling sorry.”
- Usage: “Lo siento” is a general and formal way to express apology or regret. It’s often used for situations where you genuinely feel remorse or sympathy.
- Example: “Lo siento mucho, no quería herir tus sentimientos.” (I’m very sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.)
- “Perdón”:
- Translation: “Sorry” or “Excuse me.”
- Usage: “Perdón” is a versatile term used for asking for forgiveness, apologizing for a mistake, or getting someone’s attention politely.
- Example: “Perdón por llegar tarde.” (Sorry for being late.)
- “Disculpa” / “Disculpe”:
- Translation: “Excuse me” or “Pardon.”
- Usage: “Disculpa” and “Disculpe” are polite ways to apologize or seek permission. “Disculpa” is more informal, while “Disculpe” is more formal and often used when addressing someone respectfully.
- Example: “Disculpa, ¿puedo pasar?” (Excuse me, may I pass?) / “Disculpe, ¿podría ayudarme?” (Pardon, could you help me?)
- “Perdona” / “Perdone”:
- Translation: “Forgive me” (informal) or “Forgive me” (formal).
- Usage: “Perdona” and “Perdone” are variations of “perdón” used when asking for forgiveness in a more direct or personal manner. “Perdona” is informal, while “Perdone” is formal.
- Example: “Perdona mis errores, por favor.” (Forgive my mistakes, please.) / “Perdone la interrupción.” (Forgive the interruption.)
- Other expressions:
- “Mis disculpas”: “My apologies” or “I apologize.”
- “Lo lamento”: “I regret it” or “I’m sorry.”
- “Fue mi culpa”: “It was my fault.”
- “Te pido perdón”: “I ask for your forgiveness.”
- “Me arrepiento”: “I regret it” or “I’m sorry.”
Overall, the choice of which apology to use depends on the context, relationship with the other person, and level of formality required in the situation.