Excuse Me In Spanish | Polite Phrases That Sound Natural

The go-to choices are “Perdón” and “Disculpe,” and the best pick depends on whether you’re passing by, interrupting, or apologizing.

“Excuse me” sounds simple in English. In Spanish, the phrase you reach for changes with the moment: brushing past someone on a crowded sidewalk, raising your voice to catch a waiter, or owning a mistake. Get the match right and you’ll sound calm and respectful. Get it wrong and you can come off stiff, blunt, or oddly dramatic.

This guide breaks down the phrases real speakers use most, when to pick each one, and how to say them with a tone that fits. You’ll also get ready-to-steal mini lines you can drop into daily talk without overthinking.

What “Excuse Me” Can Mean In Spanish

English packs a few jobs into “excuse me.” Spanish splits those jobs across a small set of phrases. Once you know the three core situations, the rest gets easy.

Getting Someone’s attention

You’re trying to be noticed. You might be asking a question, ordering food, or starting a conversation with a stranger. In many places, a polite attention-getter matters more than the words that follow.

Passing by or asking to move

You’re not asking for a conversation. You just need space: sliding past a chair, stepping through a doorway, or squeezing between two people. Spanish has a phrase made for this exact moment.

Apologizing for a mistake

You bumped into someone, interrupted at a bad time, or said something you shouldn’t have. Spanish can handle quick “my bad” moments and deeper apologies, with different levels of formality.

Excuse Me In Spanish For Getting Attention

When you want attention, you usually choose between “Disculpe” (formal) and “Perdón” (neutral). Both can work, yet they land a bit differently.

Use “Disculpe” for polite, formal attention

Disculpe is the safest choice with strangers, older people, staff at a store, and anyone you want to treat with extra respect. It’s tied to the verb disculpar, “to excuse” or “to forgive,” which the RAE records as a verb that can also be used to ask indulgence for possible harm. RAE definition of “disculpar”.

Useful lines:

• Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar? (Excuse me, can you help me?)
• Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño? (Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?)
• Disculpe, ¿esta mesa está libre? (Excuse me, is this table free?)

Tone tip: Keep it short. Say dis-CUL-pe with a steady voice, then pause. The pause signals respect.

Use “Perdón” for neutral, everyday attention

Perdón works well in casual settings: asking a friend a question, getting a clerk’s attention when things are busy, or restarting after a small interruption. The RAE lists perdón as a courtesy formula for asking forgiveness, for interrupting and taking the floor, and even for signaling you didn’t understand something. RAE entry for “perdón”.

Useful lines:

• Perdón, ¿tienes un segundo? (Excuse me, do you have a second?)
• Perdón, ¿me escuchas? (Excuse me, can you hear me?)
• Perdón, ¿cómo dijiste? (Excuse me, what did you say?)

When you didn’t catch something, you’ll also hear ¿Perdón? by itself. It’s short, and it’s common.

Try “Oiga” or “Oye” when the setting is right

In many regions, you can get attention with a call word:

• Oiga (formal “hey,” used with usted)
• Oye (casual “hey,” used with tú)

These can sound direct. Pair them with a polite follow-up if you’re speaking to a stranger: Oiga, disculpe… In a café with friends, Oye, ven is normal.

Con Permiso: The Phrase For Passing By

If you’re moving through a tight space, con permiso is the natural pick. It’s closer to “with your permission” than “I’m sorry,” so it fits passing-by moments better than perdón in many cases.

The RAE includes con permiso and permiso as courtesy formulas for asking permission to enter or leave a place, or to make use of something. RAE entry for “permiso”.

Use it like this:

• Con permiso. (As you step through.)
• Con permiso, paso. (With permission, I’m coming through.)
• Permiso. (Short version, common in busy spots.)

Spelling note: You may hear the words run together in fast speech. In writing, it stays two words. Fundéu treats permiso as a normal term with standard spelling in Spanish usage. Fundéu topic page on “permiso”.

When “Perdón” Beats “Con Permiso”

Real conversations blur the lines. People use perdón while passing by too, often when there’s contact or you feel you’re bothering someone. Think of it as a quick “sorry,” not a request to move.

Use “Perdón” when there’s a bump or a slip

• Perdón after you brush someone’s shoulder
• Perdón after you step on a foot
• Perdón after you block a hallway for a second

In tight spaces, you can pair both, yet keep it simple: Con permiso, perdón. Said once, softly, it reads as considerate.

Table Of Common “Excuse Me” Phrases And When To Use Them

Spanish gives you several “excuse me” tools. This table maps the phrase to the moment so you can pick fast without second-guessing.

Phrase	Best use	How it feels
Disculpe	Strangers, service, formal questions	Polite, respectful
Disculpa	Casual attention with tú	Friendly, direct
Perdón	Small interruptions, didn’t hear, minor mistakes	Neutral, everyday
Con permiso	Passing by, entering, leaving, squeezing through	Courteous, low-drama
Permiso	Very busy places, quick pass-through	Brief, practical
¿Perdón?	Asking for repetition	Soft, curious
Oiga / Oye	Calling someone’s attention	Direct, depends on tone
Lo siento	Real apology, regret for harm	More serious

Picking Tú Vs Usted Changes The Word Choice

Spanish politeness often runs through pronouns. If you’re using usted, match it with disculpe. If you’re using tú, match it with disculpa. The pairings sound natural because they follow the verb forms.

Fast pairing cheatsheet

• Disculpe + ¿me puede…? (usted)
• Disculpa + ¿me puedes…? (tú)

If you’re unsure, go with disculpe. It’s the safer bet with people you don’t know.

Apology Mode: “Perdón” Vs “Lo Siento”

English uses “excuse me” as a light apology and “I’m sorry” for heavier moments. Spanish does a similar split with perdón and lo siento.

Use “Perdón” for small slips

Perdón is great when you’re correcting a tiny mistake in the flow of talk.

• Perdón, me equivoqué de número. (Sorry, I got the number wrong.)
• Perdón, quería decir martes. (Sorry, I meant Tuesday.)

Use “Lo siento” when there’s real regret

Lo siento fits moments where someone was inconvenienced or hurt. It’s not dramatic. It’s just clearer about regret.

• Lo siento, llegué tarde. (I’m sorry, I arrived late.)
• Lo siento mucho. (I’m very sorry.)

If you want to ask forgiveness directly, you can add perdóname (to a friend) or perdóneme (formal). That’s a step up in intensity because you’re asking the other person to forgive you.

Interrupting Politely Without Sounding Stiff

Interruptions happen. A good Spanish interruption starts with a small courtesy marker, then the reason, then the request.

Three clean interruption patterns

• Perdón, una pregunta… (Excuse me, a question…)
• Disculpe, solo quería confirmar… (Excuse me, I just wanted to confirm…)
• Con permiso, ¿puedo pasar? (Excuse me, may I pass?)

Say the first phrase, pause, then continue. That pause gives the other person a moment to yield the floor.

Regional Notes That Keep You From Sounding Odd

Spanish varies by country and even by city. The good news: perdón, disculpe, and con permiso travel well. Still, a few patterns can save you from awkwardness.

“Perdona” and “Perdone” show up a lot

In Spain, you’ll often hear perdona (tú) and perdone (usted) used as “excuse me.” In Latin America, disculpe tends to be more common in service settings, though both exist. If you use either form with the right pronoun, you’ll be understood.

“Disculpá” may appear in voseo areas

In places that use vos, like Argentina and Uruguay, the verb form may shift: disculpá. If you’re learning standard Spanish first, you can stick with disculpa and still communicate fine.

When “Oye” feels too strong

With strangers, oye can feel abrupt. If you like the sound, pair it with a softener: Oiga, disculpe. Your tone does most of the work.

Mini Scripts You Can Use Right Away

These short scripts cover the most common real-life moments. Swap the noun at the end and you’ve got lines you can repeat for years.

At a restaurant or café

• Disculpe, ¿me trae la cuenta?
• Perdón, ¿me puede traer agua?
• Disculpe, creo que esto no es lo mío.

On the street

• Disculpe, ¿cómo llego a la estación?
• Perdón, ¿qué hora es?
• Con permiso. (as you pass)

In a shop

• Disculpe, ¿cuánto cuesta?
• Perdón, ¿tienen otra talla?

Table Of Scenarios And The Best Phrase To Start With

If you freeze in the moment, start with the phrase that matches the situation, then finish your sentence. This table gives you a quick match.

Situation	Start with	Sample opener
Asking a stranger a question	Disculpe	Disculpe, ¿me puede decir…?
Asking a friend	Perdón	Perdón, ¿me escuchas?
Squeezing past people	Con permiso	Con permiso, paso.
Didn’t hear the last word	¿Perdón?	¿Perdón? ¿Puedes repetir?
Bumped into someone	Perdón	Perdón, fue sin querer.
Interrupting a meeting	Disculpe	Disculpe, solo una cosa.
Serious apology	Lo siento	Lo siento mucho por eso.

Pronunciation And Body Language That Make It Work

Spanish “excuse me” phrases lean on delivery. A tiny change in tone turns a polite request into a sharp command.

Keep your volume steady

Raising your volume too much can sound like you’re scolding. Try a clear, level voice. If the room is loud, step closer instead of shouting.

Use a small pause

Say disculpe or perdón, pause, then ask your question. The pause gives the other person time to switch attention to you.

Match your face to your words

A small smile or neutral face fits most situations. Avoid a big grin when you’re apologizing, and avoid a tight frown when you’re asking for directions.

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

A few common slips can make your Spanish sound less natural. The fixes are simple.

Using “Lo siento” for every tiny thing

Lo siento can sound heavier than you mean. If you’re just interrupting or passing by, perdón or con permiso usually fits better.

Forcing “Perdóname” with strangers

Perdóname is intimate. With strangers, perdón or disculpe reads more natural.

Skipping the pronoun match

If you say disculpe and then jump into tú forms, it can sound mixed. Pick one lane for the interaction. If you start formal, stay formal.

By the time you can choose between disculpe, perdón, and con permiso without thinking, your Spanish will feel smoother in real conversations. You won’t just translate English. You’ll speak the moment.