Spanish grammar
Public apologies: disculpen las molestias, lamentamos el retraso, les rogamos…
Apologise to the public with the set phrases of radio, shops and services.
From the scene Disculpen las molestias (Sorry for the inconvenience)
In short
Apologise to the public with set phrases: disculpen las molestias, lamentamos el retraso. Les rogamos que takes the subjunctive.
Your turn
Which one goes with we apologise for the delay?
Options: sentimos lo ocurrido · lamentamos el retraso · disculpen las molestias
Show answer
we apologise for the delay → lamentamos el retraso
How it works
Apologies to the public use set, impersonal phrases. Disculpen las molestias (please excuse the inconvenience) speaks to everyone as ustedes.
Good to know
Lamentamos el retraso and sentimos lo ocurrido speak for the whole team.
Good to know
Les rogamos (we kindly ask you) takes a noun or que + subjunctive: les rogamos que no nos escriban.
please excuse the inconvenience disculpen las molestias
Elena
Eso no se cuenta. Se dice: "disculpen las molestias".
You don't tell them that. You say: "please excuse the inconvenience".
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Eso no se cuenta. Se dice: "(blank)".
Options: lamentamos el retraso · sentimos lo ocurrido · disculpen las molestias
Show answer
Elena
Eso no se cuenta. Se dice: "disculpen las molestias".
You don't tell them that. You say: "please excuse the inconvenience".
we apologise for the delay lamentamos el retraso
Elena
Buenos días, queridos oyentes. Lamentamos el retraso y disculpen las molestias.
Good morning, dear listeners. We apologise for the delay and for the inconvenience.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Buenos días, queridos oyentes. (blank) y disculpen las molestias.
Options: Les rogamos un poco de paciencia · Lamentamos el retraso · Sentimos lo ocurrido
Show answer
Elena
Buenos días, queridos oyentes. Lamentamos el retraso y disculpen las molestias.
Good morning, dear listeners. We apologise for the delay and for the inconvenience.
we're sorry about what happened sentimos lo ocurrido
Elena
Sentimos lo ocurrido. Y les rogamos un poco de paciencia.
We're sorry about what happened. And we ask you for a little patience.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Y les rogamos un poco de paciencia.
Options: Lamentamos el retraso · Sentimos lo ocurrido · Disculpen las molestias
Show answer
Elena
Sentimos lo ocurrido. Y les rogamos un poco de paciencia.
We're sorry about what happened. And we ask you for a little patience.
we ask you for a little patience les rogamos un poco de paciencia
Elena
Sentimos lo ocurrido. Y les rogamos un poco de paciencia.
We're sorry about what happened. And we ask you for a little patience.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sentimos lo ocurrido. Y (blank).
Options: lamentamos el retraso · les rogamos un poco de paciencia · disculpen las molestias
Show answer
Elena
Sentimos lo ocurrido. Y les rogamos un poco de paciencia.
We're sorry about what happened. And we ask you for a little patience.
we ask you not to write to us les rogamos que no nos escriban
Ramón
Y les rogamos que no nos escriban para quejarse.
And we ask you not to write to us to complain.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y (blank) para quejarse.
Options: disculpen las molestias · lamentamos el retraso · les rogamos que no nos escriban
Show answer
Ramón
Y les rogamos que no nos escriban para quejarse.
And we ask you not to write to us to complain.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| please excuse the inconvenience | disculpen las molestias |
|---|---|
| we apologise for the delay | lamentamos el retraso |
| we're sorry about what happened | sentimos lo ocurrido |
| we ask you for a little patience | les rogamos un poco de paciencia |
| we ask you not to write to us | les rogamos que no nos escriban |
More lines from the story
- Ramón¿Y qué les decimos? ¿Que a Javi se le cayó el café?And what do we tell them? That Javi spilt his coffee?
- ElenaDisculpen otra vez. Nuestro invitado de hoy es un casero gruñón.Our apologies again. Today's guest is a grumpy landlord.