Lo siento.

When to use

Use 'Lo siento' for a general apology when you've made a mistake, caused inconvenience, or want to express sympathy. It's broadly understood and used across the Spanish-speaking world.

How it works

This phrase literally means 'I feel it,' with 'lo' being a direct object pronoun referring to the situation or offense. It's a concise way to express regret.

• Lo: Direct object pronoun, referring to the situation or offense.
• siento: First-person singular present indicative of 'sentir' (to feel).

Register and formality

This phrase is neutral and can be used in most situations, from informal to semi-formal. It does not use 'tú', 'usted', or 'vos', making it universally applicable.

Notes

Quick apology. Neutral everyday wording.