Disculpe or Permiso?

[cherry]

Hi Everyone,

I got a problem here, what's the difference between disculpe and permiso when I want to express "Excuse me"?
Another two confusions are: Permiso, disculpa. Do they have the same meaning?

I am still the beginner, I'd appreciate to get your suggestions.

Thanks.

[Rusty]

con permiso = with permission (no verb involved, colloquial for 'excuse me')
permiso = permission (no verb involved, colloquial for 'excuse me')

disculpa = excuse (verb, familiar command form)
disculpe = excuse (verb, formal command form)
discúlpame = excuse me (verb and direct object pronoun, familiar command form)
discúlpeme = excuse me (formal command form)

Use the ones above to break into a conversation or to excuse yourself.


perdón = pardon (no verb involved, colloquial for 'excuse me')
perdóname = pardon me (verb and direct object pronoun, familiar command form)
perdóneme = pardon me (verb and direct object pronoun, formal command form)

lo siento = I'm sorry (for bumping into you)

Use the ones above to say you're sorry.


Wait for others to reply. We probably mix them up in both languages.

[cherry]

Hola, Rusty. ¡Muchas gracias!

Yea these words are really bothering me these days and now I feel pretty clear after your detailed explanations, thanks again!

[aleCcowaN]

In my country we use disculpe and discúlpeme to get people's attention or interrupt them (Disculpe ¿me permite una pregunta?), discúlpeme to ask permission, to mildly apologize or to ask some socially inconvenient behaviour to be overlook, and permiso to ask people to allow ourselves to pass by or through or to ask permission to get in when it's not necessary to do so (because the door is open, for instance).

It's extremely important to differentiate the case of rights that clash or we are just asking something to be granted. If we are walking by, as our rights are, and we find ourselves obstructed by other people that it's just standing there, as their rights are, we say permiso (a tiny bit harsh, though increasingly common) to bother them a moment in order to allow ourselves to go through. But if we interrupt those people just to ask some directions, which is not our "right", that is, it doesn't instantly bound them in any way that they are forced to oblige, in that case we say discúlpeme or disculpe ... (... la molestia; ... que los interrumpa; ...que lo moleste; etc.)

[cherry]

Thanks aleCcowaN, I got your point. We need to differentiate the cases we have rights or not. I really appreciate your help!!

Muchas gracias