Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Apologize in Spanish: Disculparse, Pedir Perdón & More
Disculparse · verb (reflexive) · dees-kool-PAHR-seh
Disculparse is the most common Spanish verb for to apologize. It is reflexive — me disculpo means I apologize. For a deeper, more heartfelt apology, pedir perdón (to ask for forgiveness) raises the emotional register, while pedir disculpas (to offer apologies) works well in professional settings.
dees-kool-PAHR-seh (disculparse) · peh-DEER pehr-DOHN (pedir perdón) · peh-DEER dees-KOOL-pahs (pedir disculpas)
Quiero disculparme por lo que dije ayer.
I want to apologize for what I said yesterday.
Apologize in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for apologize, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| disculparse | apologize | dees-kool-PAHR-seh | Default, widely understood |
| pedir perdón | apologize | ask for forgiveness, emotionally stronger | |
| pedir disculpas | apologize | offer apologies, slightly formal |
How Native Speakers Use Disculparse
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Casual, everyday apology
Me disculpo si llegué tarde, había mucho tráfico.
I apologize if I arrived late — there was a lot of traffic.
Disculparse is the natural choice for routine apologies in conversation.
Heartfelt, emotional apology
Te pido perdón de todo corazón por haberte fallado.
I sincerely ask your forgiveness for having let you down.
Pedir perdón carries deeper emotional weight and implies you are asking the other person to release you from fault.
Formal or professional apology
La empresa pidió disculpas públicas por el error en la facturación.
The company issued a public apology for the billing error.
Pedir disculpas is common in press statements, corporate emails, and official communication.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Disculparse
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: Yo disculpo por el retraso.
Correct: Yo me disculpo por el retraso.
Disculparse is reflexive — you must include me, te, se, nos, or se before the verb. Without it, disculpar means to excuse someone else, not to apologize.
Using apologizar as a false cognate
Incorrect: Quiero apologizar por mi error.
Correct: Quiero disculparme por mi error.
Apologizar does not exist in standard Spanish. The English verb apologize looks like it should translate directly, but disculparse, pedir perdón, and pedir disculpas are the real options.
Lock in Apologize Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Disculparse used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using disculparse in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Quiero disculparme por lo que dije ayer. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Apologize in Spanish
- How do you say apologize in Spanish?
- The most common verb is disculparse. You can also say pedir perdón for deeper emotional apologies or pedir disculpas in professional and formal settings. Each carries a different weight, but all translate as to apologize.
- What is the difference between disculparse and pedir perdón?
- Disculparse is a general-purpose apology suitable for everyday situations — arriving late, a small misunderstanding. Pedir perdón implies genuine wrongdoing and a request for the other person's forgiveness, making it emotionally heavier.
- How do I say I'm sorry versus I apologize in Spanish?
- Lo siento is the direct equivalent of I'm sorry and expresses sympathy or regret. Me disculpo is closer to I apologize and carries a more deliberate, formal tone. Both can be used for personal apologies, but lo siento is far more common in daily speech.