To Miss

[Bobbert]

I know there are many ways to use the word “miss” in Spanish as well as in English, and I’m familiar with a lot of their uses in Spanish, but I can’t figure out how to say “miss” in the sense of not successfully encountering, seeing, physically meeting up with someone.

For example, “We are sorry to have missed you yesterday.” (Missed in the sense that we did not actually see, talk, interact with you yesterday because the traffic was heavy and we didn’t arrive on time, so we missed you.)

All I can think of to say is “Sentimos no haberle encontrado ayer.”

Does that convey the same meaning? Is there a better way to say it to get closer to saying “miss” or is using “encontrar” the only way?

Along the same lines, other similar examples of “to miss” that I can think of that I’m unsure of how to say are:

Where are you? I went to your hotel, but the doorman said I just missed you.

I know I was supposed to meet Nayeli at McDonalds at 9 a.m., but I got up late, so I missed her. I hope she’s not mad and will forgive me.

You said you would be wearing a bright purple shirt with a matching purple hat, so I have no idea how I missed you.

Any explanations and examples are appreciated.

[Rusty]

If you missed seeing someone yesterday, use «Lamentamos/Sentimos no haberle visto ayer.»

I suspect the rest can be answered by others (Angélica ).

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Rusty. That's the more general way to translate.

In Mexico we tend to use the verb "alcanzar" in this kind of sentences. Here are some proposals. You can use combinations of them.

We are sorry to have missed you yesterday.
- Qué lástima que no pudimos verte.
- Lástima que no alcanzamos a verte.
- Qué pena que no pudimos alcanzarte.
- Lamentamos no haber podido encontrarnos con usted. (More formal.)

Where are you? I went to your hotel, but the doorman said I just missed you:
- ¿Dónde estás? Fui a tu hotel, pero el portero me dijo que te acababas de ir.
- ¿Dónde andas? (Mexican Spanish) En tu hotel me dijeron que ya no estabas/que ya te habías ido.

I know I was supposed to meet Nayeli at MD at 9 a.m., but I got up late, so I missed her. I hope she's not mad and will forgive me.
- Ya sé que tenía que ver a Nayeli en MD a las 9 de la mañana, pero me levanté tarde y no pude alcanzarla. Ojalá (que) no se haya enojado y me perdone.
- Se suponía que me iba a encontrar con Nayeli a las 9 de la mañana, pero me quedé dormido y no alcancé a llegar (a tiempo/antes de que se fuera). Espero que no se haya enojado y que me perdone.
-...dormí de más y no logré llegar...

You said you would be wearing a bright purple shirt with a matching purple hat, so I have no idea how I missed you.
- Dijiste que traías una playera (Mexican Spanish) morado brillante y un sombrero del mismo color. No sé cómo fue que no te encontré/que no te vi.
- Dijiste que venías de camisa* y sombrero morado brillante. ¿Cómo no te identifiqué?
- Dijiste que estarías vestido con una camisa morada y un sombrero a juego. No tengo idea de por qué no pude ubicarte. *I'd use "playera" if it was a T-shirt, and "camisa" if it was a button shirt.

[Bobbert]

Thank you, Rusty and AngelicaDeAlquezar. The added examples are great, so that clears it all up for me.

I think I'll "miss" someone on purpose in the near future just so I can show off and use one of these great examples.