Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Forgive Me in Spanish: Perdóname
Perdóname · phrase · pehr-DOH-nah-meh
Perdóname is the direct Spanish translation of forgive me, combining the imperative form of perdonar (to forgive) with the pronoun me. For formal situations, perdóneme is used with the usted form. Discúlpame is a slightly softer alternative that leans closer to excuse me than forgive me.
Say pehr-DOH-nah-meh, with the stress on the second syllable. The accent mark on the o in perdóname signals this stress.
Perdóname, no fue mi intención lastimarte.
Forgive me, it wasn't my intention to hurt you.
Forgive Me in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for forgive me, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| perdóname | forgive me | pehr-DOH-nah-meh | Default, widely understood |
| discúlpame | forgive me | slightly more formal; excuse me / forgive me | |
| perdóneme | forgive me | formal usted form |
How Native Speakers Use Perdóname
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Sincere personal apology
Perdóname por haber llegado tarde a tu boda.
Forgive me for arriving late to your wedding.
Perdóname carries emotional weight and is used for genuine apologies, not casual ones.
Formal apology
Perdóneme, señor, fue un error de nuestra parte.
Forgive me, sir, it was a mistake on our part.
Perdóneme uses the usted conjugation for formal or professional apologies.
Softer alternative
Discúlpame, no sabía que eso te molestaba.
Forgive me, I didn't know that bothered you.
Discúlpame is gentler than perdóname and works well for less serious offenses.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Perdóname
Using perdonar me as two separate words
Incorrect: Perdonar me, fue mi culpa.
Correct: Perdóname, fue mi culpa.
In imperative commands, the pronoun me attaches to the end of the verb as one word: perdóname. Separating them into perdonar me is grammatically incorrect.
Confusing perdóname with perdona
Incorrect: Perdona, te hice mucho daño. (when asking for forgiveness)
Correct: Perdóname, te hice mucho daño.
Perdona alone means forgive (as a command) but does not specify whom to forgive. Adding me (perdóname) makes it clear you are asking to be forgiven yourself.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Perdóname used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Forgive Me in Spanish
- How do you say forgive me in Spanish?
- Forgive me in Spanish is perdóname (informal) or perdóneme (formal). The phrase comes from the verb perdonar (to forgive) with the pronoun me attached. It is used for heartfelt apologies where you are specifically requesting the other person's forgiveness.
- What is the difference between perdóname and discúlpame?
- Perdóname is stronger and implies a genuine request for forgiveness after a significant wrong. Discúlpame is lighter, closer to excuse me, and is used for minor offenses like interrupting someone or making a small mistake.
- Can I use lo siento instead of perdóname?
- Lo siento means I'm sorry and expresses your own regret, but it does not explicitly ask for forgiveness. Perdóname goes a step further by directly requesting that the other person forgive you. In serious apologies, using both together strengthens the message.