Short answer: "sorry" in Spanish is Lo siento, or Perdón depending on the situation.
Lo siento, the core translation
The default way to say "sorry" in Spanish is Lo siento. Pronounced roughly loh see-EN-toh.
When Spanish speakers actually use it
"Perdón" for small stuff (bumping into someone); "Lo siento" for real apologies.
Alternative: Perdón
Perdón is the other option Spanish speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.
Practice this in a real Spanish conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Lo siento" into a real Spanish exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
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FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "sorry" in Spanish?
Both Lo siento and Perdón are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.
How do I pronounce Lo siento?
Roughly loh see-EN-toh. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.