perdón
¡Perdón, no te vi ahí!
Pardon, I didn’t see you there!
used to ask for forgiveness or to excuse oneself
Perdón por llegar tarde.
Sorry for being late.
¡Perdón! ¿Me puedes ayudar?
Excuse me! Can you help me?
More common in Spain; in Latin America, 'disculpa' is often preferred.
forgiveness or pardon
Le pido perdón por mi error.
I ask for your forgiveness for my mistake.
Used in religious, legal, or formal contexts.
Collocations
Synonyms
Pro Tip
When to use 'perdón' vs. 'disculpa'
'Perdón' is slightly more formal and is often used for minor mistakes or to get someone's attention. 'Disculpa' is more casual and versatile, used for apologies or excuses.
Gold Rule
Pardon vs. Excuse me
'Perdón' can mean both 'pardon' (forgiveness) and 'excuse me' (to get attention). Context clarifies the meaning.
Word Origin
From Latin *perdōnāre* (to forgive), composed of *per-* (thoroughly) + *dōnāre* (to give).
Usage Notes
Used in both formal and informal contexts, but 'disculpa' is more common in everyday speech in Latin America. In Spain, 'perdón' is widely used.