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I am getting conflicting information on these phrases in Spanish. It seems to be a little different in some countries. What is the preferred forms in Costa Rica, based on your experience?

1. when you've accidentally trodden on someone's shoe
2. when you want to interrupt someone in conversation
3. to get someone's attention
4. when you've just jumped up and startled the 5 cops that found you sleeping on a park bench at 6am

Please choose from the following:

Disculpa
Perdon
Lo Siento

Barring expert experience, what do you use when visiting, and what differences have you found in different countries?

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

My experience and opinion (for what ever that is worth and certainly not set in stone)

1: any of the 3
2: disculpa, or if you want to interrupt to dissagree-Perdon
3: disculpa
4: don't say anything in Spanish!! Speak only in English and plead ignorance!!

Seriously, all three seem to often be interchangeable but I could be wrong!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Here is my opinion:
1. lo siento or perdon
2. disculpa
3. disculpa
4. sorry, never been in that situation. I'd probably follow BangBang's advice and speak English and just give them all my cash.

Disculpa- more like excuse me (to get somebody's attention), proactive rather than reactive
Perdon- if you bumpe dinto somebody, or if somebody said something you didn't hear well, could be proactive or reactive
Lo siento- I'm sorry, solely reactive

If you bump into someone you say perdon. If someone tells you that their mother, friend, family member etc has died or has had some grave misfortune you would say lo siento mucho, I am very sorry.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

Another one for you BD...if you want to pass by someone in a crowd or get to something on a shelf they are blocking, say 'permiso' not pardon (me).

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

gracias.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

When ticos/ticas would thank me for something I used to use my Spanish that I learned from my Cuban ex-wife and say ''de nada", it means "it was nothing". My tico friend who attempted to civilize me told me Costa Ricans viewed that as flippant and rude and preferred "con much gusto" meaning roughly, ''with much pleasure"...

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

I've heard "con gusto" from the younger set.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

"que pena" which loosely translates as "too bad" or even "what a shame" is also useful and appropriate in similar circumstances when you may want to express... "im sorry" or " pardon me"

also "que pesar" is used in similar circumstances which translates as " wow that is heavy" (pesar is to be heavy, 'peso" = weight) and expresses an acknowledgement that one has a "heavy burdon" to carry.

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Hoping you don't mind me bumping this

What about when you want to say: forgive me?

Like if you're talking to a local and you want to break the ice by saying, "forgive my terrible spanish, but...." both in a joking and a you're gonna cringe at my spanish kind of way?

Or if you're trying to tease a girl like when she does something silly you can say "Don't worry you're so cute I forgive you! " I know it's corny, but it gives me ideas.

Does the context make sense?

Perdoname!

"Perdoname" fits, though it's more of a serious form of "Pardon Me!". I haven't heard it used in this form, but "Perdona mi mal español!" ... or "Perdona mi español, es muy terrible!" is clearly a humourous jab.


"Don't Worry" = "No te preocupes". As for the 'forgiveness' angle, I would say (for better or worse) "que yo te perdono" (or better) "que voy a perdonarte".

I suggest care in trying to translate English humor into Spanish. It requires idiom which does not translate well. I once caused a shit-storm by calling a Nica "niña tonta" ... literally "silly girl". Except "niña tonta" (in her idioma) is a way of saying "you're a phucking retard!". It all went downhill from there.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Also, my novia explained that there is a pseudo-reflexive form of "Perdonar" ("Perdonarse") that is used in the low-rent barrios of Limon as a idiomatic way of being cute in conversation. But when she relocated to Cartago she said it was considered very insulting and she had to stop using it.

I'm not sure the exact pronoun placement, but it seemed to be a way of saying "I'll pardon myself here, but that dress makes you look fat!". In other words, the speaker is forgiving himself for the insult he's about to speak.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

I'm sure that facial expression and body language will finish the job as far as breaking the ice. And that story! This is why I enjoy your posts BD, I always learn something! I have to admit, I couldn't stop myself from laughing, but I appreciate the warning and I might hold off on teasing the gal...



See this is what I look forward to the most about travelling... aside from mongering... learning these little tidbits about the differences from our culture and theirs and even the little things in their own culture. I just find that totally awesome.

Thanks for the input Pops and BD!

For number two and three you should not use discupla. Instead use the subjective form of the verb to form an interjection. You should say discuple or more appropriately formatted ¡Disculpe!

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/disculpe

The ending with the E or the A is important and sounds different. Use the above link to listen to the generated voice.

If you pronounced it discupla instead of disculpe then it would sound like perfunctory apology or perhaps using the word as a noun. You should also use discuple instead of discupla as an apology if you meant to be more emphatic. For example, scenario 4 would work better with discuple instead of discupla.

With the subjunctive ending there can be no doubt. You are either interrupting someone, trying to politely but firmly get their attention, or really sorry for a mistake. It also works well with wait staff when you don't know their name.

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