perdón

Perdón is a Spanish noun with multiple related meanings centered on mercy and social harmony. In everyday language, it denotes the act of apologizing for a fault or offense—when someone says “pido perdón” or simply “perdón” as an interjection. It can also refer to forgiveness granted by another person or by God, as in “el perdón de Dios” or “pedir perdón para ser perdonado.” The verb corresponding is perdonar; the adjective “perdonado” means forgiven.

The term also has a legal or political meaning in some jurisdictions, where it stands for a pardon or amnesty sanctioned by authorities (often called indulto or amnistía in law). In this sense, perdón denotes a release from punishment rather than an admission of guilt.

Etymology: perdón derives from Latin perdonare, literally “to grant freely, to forgive,” formed from per- “completely” or “through” and donare “to give.”

Usage notes: Perdón is generally used for social apologies and personal forgiveness, while disculpa is a lighter, more casual synonym. In religious contexts, perdón represents a central idea: reconciliation with the divine or with others. The phrase “con perdón de” is used to soften a statement, roughly “with the pardon of” the audience.

See also: perdonar; disculpa; indulto; amnistía.