How do you say excuse me in Spanish?

It depends on the situation. Use disculpe (formal) or disculpa (informal) to get someone's attention, perdón when you accidentally bump into someone, and con permiso when you need to physically pass through a space.

What is the difference between disculpe and perdón?

Disculpe is more formal and is typically used to politely initiate a conversation with a stranger or apologize for an interruption. Perdón is quicker and more casual, often used reflexively after a small accident like stepping on someone's foot.

When should I use con permiso?

Con permiso literally means with your permission and is used when you need to physically move past people, excuse yourself from a table, or enter a space that belongs to someone else. It signals politeness about occupying someone's space.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Excuse Me in Spanish: Disculpe

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Disculpe · phrase · dees-KOOL-peh

Excuse me in Spanish has several translations depending on context. Disculpe (formal) or disculpa (informal) is used to get someone's attention or apologize for a minor interruption. Perdón works when you bump into someone or need a quick apology. Con permiso is specifically for physically passing through a space or excusing yourself from a group.

Pronounce disculpe as dees-KOOL-peh, with the stress on the second syllable. Perdón is pehr-DOHN, and con permiso is kohn pehr-MEE-soh.

Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde queda el banco?

Excuse me, do you know where the bank is?

Excuse Me in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for excuse me, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
disculpe	excuse me	dees-KOOL-peh	Default, widely understood
perdón	excuse me		informal or when bumping into someone
con permiso	excuse me		when passing through or excusing yourself physically

How Native Speakers Use Disculpe

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Getting a stranger's attention

Disculpe, ¿me podría decir la hora?

Excuse me, could you tell me the time?

Disculpe is the polite, formal way to approach a stranger for information.

Passing through a crowd

Con permiso, ¿me dejan pasar? Llego tarde.

Excuse me, can you let me through? I'm running late.

Con permiso is the standard phrase when you need to physically move past someone.

After bumping into someone

¡Perdón! No te vi caminando.

Excuse me! I didn't see you walking.

Perdón is the quick, informal apology used reflexively in momentary accidents.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Disculpe

Using disculpe when squeezing past

Incorrect: Disculpe, necesito pasar. (squeezing through a narrow space)

Correct: Con permiso, ¿me dejan pasar?

Disculpe is for getting attention or apologizing verbally. When you physically need to move through a space, con permiso is more natural and expected.

Using excusa me as a direct translation

Incorrect: Excusa me, ¿dónde está el baño?

Correct: Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño?

Excusa me is not Spanish. While excusa exists as a noun meaning excuse, the polite phrase for getting attention is disculpe or perdón.

Lock in Excuse Me 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 Disculpe used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using disculpe in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde queda el banco? 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 Excuse Me in Spanish

How do you say excuse me in Spanish?: It depends on the situation. Use disculpe (formal) or disculpa (informal) to get someone's attention, perdón when you accidentally bump into someone, and con permiso when you need to physically pass through a space.
What is the difference between disculpe and perdón?: Disculpe is more formal and is typically used to politely initiate a conversation with a stranger or apologize for an interruption. Perdón is quicker and more casual, often used reflexively after a small accident like stepping on someone's foot.
When should I use con permiso?: Con permiso literally means with your permission and is used when you need to physically move past people, excuse yourself from a table, or enter a space that belongs to someone else. It signals politeness about occupying someone's space.