I’m Sorry I’m Late in Spanish | Polite Lines That Land Well

“Perdón por llegar tarde” works in most situations; add a short reason and a thank-you to keep it courteous.

Showing up late feels awkward in any language. In Spanish, it gets easier once you’ve got one dependable line, plus a few swaps for work, friends, and texts. The goal is simple: own the delay, share a clear update, and show respect for the other person’s time.

This article gives you ready phrases you can use right away, with small tweaks that change the tone without turning your message into a speech. You’ll see what to say in person, what to text, and what to avoid when you’re running behind.

What to say when you’re late

Most Spanish apologies for lateness start with one of these cores. They’re short, natural, and easy to reuse:

• Perdón por llegar tarde. (Sorry for arriving late.)
• Perdona el retraso. (Sorry about the delay.)
• Disculpa la demora. (Sorry for the wait/delay.)
• Lo siento, llego tarde. (I’m sorry, I’m late.)

Pick one, then add one extra line that helps the other person decide what to do next. That extra line can be an ETA, a quick status, or a thank-you.

Two parts that make your apology sound natural

A lot of fluent-sounding apologies follow this two-part pattern:

1. Apology + lateness: “Perdón por llegar tarde.”
2. Courtesy or update: “Gracias por esperarme.” or “Ya voy en camino.”

The second part keeps your message polite without making it long. It also signals that you’re not brushing it off.

I’m Sorry I’m Late in Spanish for work and friends

You can use the same base line in many places, then adjust the pronoun and the closing phrase. Spanish often asks you to choose between tú (casual) and usted (formal). With a manager, client, older person, or a stranger, usted is a safe pick.

Workplace lines that sound professional

These fit meetings, emails, video calls, and messages where you want a steady, respectful tone:

• Disculpe el retraso. Ya estoy llegando.
• Perdón por la tardanza. Ya estoy aquí.
• Lamento la demora. Gracias por su paciencia.
• Disculpe llegar tarde. No volverá a pasar.

“Disculpe” comes from the verb disculpar. The Real Academia Española notes senses that cover excusing a fault and forgiving omissions in everyday speech, which matches why “disculpe/disculpa” works so well for a late arrival. See: RAE entry for “disculpar”.

Friendly lines for people you know

With friends, classmates, family, or a casual meetup, these sound relaxed and human:

• Perdón por llegar tarde. Ya estoy cerca.
• Perdona el retraso, se me complicó un poco.
• Uy, perdón. Me entretuve y salí tarde.
• Lo siento, llegué tarde. ¿Empezamos?

Small interjections like “uy” can soften the tone when the relationship is informal. If you’re writing to someone you don’t know well, skip them and stick to a clean “disculpe/disculpa.”

Choosing between perdón, disculpa, and lo siento

These three often get taught as near-synonyms, but they land differently in real conversations. Knowing the feel behind each one helps you sound natural.

Perdón

“Perdón” is flexible. It works for arriving late, interrupting, bumping into someone, or stepping past a person in a tight space. It can be a one-word apology (“Perdón”) or a specific one (“Perdón por llegar tarde”).

Disculpa / Disculpe

“Disculpa” (tú) and “disculpe” (usted) sound controlled and polite. They fit customer-service situations, messages to someone you don’t know, and workplace chats where you want to be respectful without sounding dramatic.

On phrasing, Fundéu points out that expressions like “pedir disculpas” and “ofrecer disculpas” correspond to “disculparse,” meaning to ask pardon for something in standard Spanish. See: Fundéu note on “disculparse”.

Lo siento

“Lo siento” can signal deeper regret. Use it when your lateness causes a real inconvenience: someone misses a connection, loses a reservation, or has to rearrange their schedule. For a tiny delay with a friend, it can feel heavier than the moment calls for.

How to add a reason without overexplaining

A reason can help, but only if it stays short. People mainly want clarity: are you on the way, and when will you arrive?

Reason add-ons that sound natural

• Hubo tráfico. (There was traffic.)
• Se retrasó el metro. (The metro ran late.)
• Tuve una llamada que se alargó. (A call ran long.)
• Me salió un imprevisto. (Something came up.)
• Estoy buscando aparcamiento. (I’m looking for parking.)

Pair the reason with a next step, so the other person isn’t left guessing.

Timing updates that feel clear

• Llego en 10 minutos.
• Estoy a cinco minutos.
• Salí tarde y ya voy en camino.
• Estoy llegando. ¿Dónde estás?

Table of go-to lines by setting

Use this table as a grab-and-go list. These lines cover common situations and keep the tone matched to the setting.

Situation	Spanish line	Tone cue
Meeting your boss	Disculpe el retraso. Ya estoy llegando.	Formal, direct
Client call starting late	Disculpe la demora. Me conecto en dos minutos.	Formal, calm
Friend waiting at a café	Perdón por llegar tarde. Ya te veo.	Casual, warm
Date night	Perdón, llego tarde. Gracias por esperarme.	Polite, personal
Group hangout	Perdón, voy con retraso. Empiecen sin mí.	Easygoing
Class or training	Perdón por la tardanza. Ya entro.	Neutral
Restaurant reservation	Perdón, llegaremos tarde. ¿Podemos mantener la reserva?	Polite request
Video call with a new contact	Disculpe, llego tarde por un imprevisto. Ya me conecto.	Formal, clear

How to apologize by text without sounding stiff

Texts can read colder than you mean. A small courtesy phrase adds warmth, and an ETA removes doubt.

Simple text templates

• Perdón por llegar tarde. Llego en 10.
• Disculpa la demora. Estoy a cinco minutos.
• Perdón, se retrasó el metro. Ya voy.
• Lo siento, voy tarde. ¿Te va bien si llego a las 7:15?

When the delay is longer

Once you’re running late by a chunk of time, the best move is to offer a choice. You can propose a new time or offer to reschedule.

• Perdón, se me fue la hora. Llego en 25. Si prefieres, lo dejamos para otro día.
• Disculpa, voy tarde. ¿Te viene bien moverlo a las 8?
• Lo siento, hoy no llego a tiempo. ¿Reprogramamos?

Small grammar tweaks that change the tone

Spanish gives you a few small switches that make a line sound softer or firmer. These are easy changes that keep your message short.

Por + infinitive vs. por + noun

• Perdón por llegar tarde. (for arriving late)
• Perdón por la tardanza. (for the lateness)

Both work. The infinitive can feel more direct. The noun can feel more formal.

Using lamento and siento

“Lamento” fits written Spanish at work. It reads polite and restrained. “Siento” appears in “lo siento,” which can feel more personal. Pick the one that matches the moment.

Table of swaps you can plug into one sentence

Use this as a build-your-own set. Start with an apology, drop in a reason, then add a courtesy closer.

Apology starter	Reason add-on	Courtesy closer
Perdón por llegar tarde.	Hubo tráfico.	Gracias por esperar.
Perdona el retraso.	Se retrasó el metro.	Ya estoy cerca.
Disculpa la demora.	Me salió un imprevisto.	Ahora sí, salgo ya.
Disculpe el retraso.	Tuve una reunión que se alargó.	Gracias por su paciencia.
Lo siento, llego tarde.	Se complicó el transporte.	¿Seguimos con el plan?
Perdón, voy tarde.	Estoy aparcando.	Entro en un minuto.

Using a quick apology in person

In person, your tone and body language do a lot. Keep your voice calm. Make eye contact. Skip jokes that sound like you’re brushing it off. If you’re entering a room, a quick “Perdón” plus a nod often does the job, then you can add details once you’re seated.

When you arrive to a meeting already started

• Perdón por la tardanza. Ya me siento.
• Disculpe la demora. Continúen, por favor.
• Perdón, ¿me pongo al día en un minuto?

What not to say when you’re late

Some lines backfire because they sound like excuses or shift blame. You can mention the cause, but keep it neutral and brief.

• Don’t lead with anger at traffic or transit.
• Don’t turn it into a long story.
• Don’t act like waiting doesn’t matter.

Also avoid odd phrasing like “ofrecer perdón” when you mean “pedir perdón.” Fundéu recommends sticking to clearer forms such as “pedir perdón” or “pedir disculpas.” See: Fundéu note on “ofrecer perdón”.

A simple checklist you can use every time

If you blank in the moment, use this quick sequence:

1. Say the apology line.
2. Give one short reason if it helps.
3. Share your ETA or next step.
4. Add a thank-you.

This keeps your message polite, clear, and human without sounding stiff.

Practice set: 12 ready lines you can memorize

Pick a few for work, a few for friends, and a few for texts. Say them out loud so they come out smoothly when you need them.

• Perdón por llegar tarde. Gracias por esperarme.
• Perdona el retraso. Ya estoy cerca.
• Disculpa la demora. Ya voy en camino.
• Disculpe el retraso. Enseguida estoy con usted.
• Lamento la tardanza. Gracias por su paciencia.
• Lo siento, llego tarde. ¿Te viene bien que llegue en 15?
• Perdón, hubo tráfico. Llego en 10.
• Perdón, se retrasó el metro. Ya salí.
• Disculpa, me salió un imprevisto. Estoy a cinco minutos.
• Perdón, voy tarde. Empiecen sin mí.
• Lo siento, hoy no llego a tiempo. ¿Reprogramamos?
• Perdón por la tardanza. Ya entro.

If you want deeper reading on apologies as a speech act in Spanish, the Instituto Cervantes’ Centro Virtual Cervantes hosts learner-focused research and teaching material. See: CVC paper on apologies in Spanish (PDF).