Respectful Ways to Offer Condolences in Spanish
Tired of feeling awkward when giving condolences in Spanish?
When something unfortunate happens, we may not know the right words to say, and much less in a foreign language! This is why today we’ll go through different ways of giving condolences in Spanish with the goal of always sounding respectful and showing sympathy.
¡Aprendamos algo nuevo!
What are Condolences in Spanish Countries?
The act of giving condolences in Spanish countries (and elsewhere) refers to the participation in someone else’s pain or the expression of sympathy when someone’s facing a loss. It’s a manifestation with which you show you are sorry for someone’s unfortunate event (normally, death).
The most common scenario to give condolences in Spanish is when someone’s relative, friend, or colleague has passed away. However, you can also give them when you know someone’s relative, close friend, or colleague has been in an accident and isn’t okay in the hospital, or when you know a person is going through something extremely hard to manage (like a strong illness of a child, for example).
Death and Giving Condolences
When someone has passed away, the places where people normally give condolences in Latin America are:
- Funerales (funerals): set of ceremonies fully dedicated to the deceased, prior to his burial. These ceremonies depend on many factors; mainly of the religion, beliefs and social position of the deceased person.
- Tanatorios (funeral homes): funeral establishment in which the necessary services are carried out for the exhibition of the deceased prior to the celebration of the burial. The main purpose of the funeral home is to accompany the family and watch over the body.
- Velatorios (wakes): refers to one of the rooms of the funeral home where the deceased is viewed.
- Entierros (burials): When they bury the person who passed away, usually in a cemetery.
- Misas (masses): one of the most predominant religions in Latin America is the Catholic one. This is why people offer masses (or services, in the case of other Christians) for the rest of the soul of the person who has left this world.
As you see, there are many scenarios/places in which you can offer condolences in Spanish. Now, we’ll study how to do it respectfully, with sympathy, and using the right words.
Vocabulary for Condolences in Spanish
Let’s move on to explore the words, phrases, and examples to make reference to condolences in Spanish.
Words that Mean “Condolences” in Spanish
In the following table, you’ll see nouns related to condolences in Spanish and some example sentences.
| Spanish | English |
| Las condolencias | Condolences |
| El pésame | Condolences |
| El compadecimiento | Sympathy |
| El sentimiento | Feeling |
| La pena | Sorrow |
Example sentences
Hijo, el abuelo de tu amigo acaba de fallecer. Llámalo para darle tus condolencias.
Son, your friend’s grandfather just passed away. Call him to give your condolences.
Iremos a darle el pésame a Ana, su mejor amiga acaba de fallecer.
We will go to offer our condolences to Ana, her best friend has just passed away.
Me compadezco mucho de Katy, acabo de escuchar que murió su madre.
I feel very sorry for Katy, I just heard her mother died.
Me llena de sentimiento la muerte de Carmen, la ví tan solo hace 5 días y todo estaba tan bien.
Carmen’s death fills me with feeling, I saw her just 5 days ago and everything was okay.
Qué pena la muerte de Mario, fue un buen hombre.
I feel sorrow for Mario’s death, he was a good man.
Other Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives
There are words related to condolences but don’t necessarily mean the word. Here, you´ll find nouns, verbs, and adjectives to use when talking about condolences in Spanish, and some example sentences, too.
| Spanish | English |
| El duelo | Mourning |
| La tristeza | Sadness |
| El arrepentimiento | Regret |
| Llorar | To cry |
| Encerrar | To bury |
| La culpa | Guilt |
Example sentences
Jorge, es importante que vivas el duelo. La muerte de tu abuela fue algo difícil de procesar y requiere de tiempo para sanar.
George, it’s important that you mourn. Your grandmother’s death was something difficult to process and requires time to heal.
Es normal que sientas tristeza cuando alguien ha fallecido, lo importante es que poco a poco te vayas sintiendo mejor.
It is normal for you to feel sad when someone has passed away, the important thing is that you start feeling better little by little.
Me arrepiento de no haber ido a verlo más veces al hospital, nunca pensé que fuera a morir.
I regret not having gone to see him more times in the hospital, I never thought he was going to die.
Es importante que no te encierres en tus pensamientos de tristeza cuando alguien muere, debes aprender a ver el lado bueno poco a poco.
It is important that you don’t lock yourself in your thoughts of sadness when someone dies, you must learn to see the bright side little by little.
No debes sentirte culpable por la muerte de tu hermana, fue una situación fuera de tu control.
You should not feel guilty for your sister’s death, it was a situation beyond your control.
Phrases to Give Condolences in Spanish
Here, you’ll find phrases people use to give condolences in Spanish in a respectful and empathic way.
Mi más sentido pésame.
My deepest condolences.
Mis más sinceras condolencias.
My deepest condolences.
Lo siento mucho, que descanse en paz.
I’m so sorry, may he/she rest in peace.
Me pesa tu dolor tanto como a ti, aquí tienes mi apoyo.
Your pain weighs to me as much as it does to you, you have my full support.
Te deseo mucho ánimo, lo siento mucho.
I wish you a lot of encouragement, I’m very sorry.
Era una gran persona, siento mucho su pérdida.
He/she was a great person, I am very sorry for his/her loss.
Acabo de enterarme de la triste noticia, lamento mucho tu pérdida.
I just heard the sad news, I’m very sorry for your loss.
Lo siento mucho. Ahora estará en un lugar mejor.
I’m so sorry. Now he/she will be in a better place.
No me atrevo a decir que entiendo tu dolor, pero te acompaño en el sentimiento. Cuentas conmigo.
I don’t dare to say I understand your pain, but I accompany you in the feeling. You can count on me.
Siento mucho tu pérdida, cuentas conmigo para lo que necesites.
I’m very sorry for your loss, you can count on me anytime.
Mis más profundas condolencias para ti y tu familia.
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Lamento mucho tu pérdida.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Te ofrezco mis pensamientos, oraciones y buenos deseos durante este momento difícil.
I offer you my thoughts, prayers, and good wishes during this difficult time.
Lo siento mucho. Estoy a disposición de ti y tu familia, hoy y siempre.
I am very sorry. I’m available to you and your family, today and always.
Se podrá haber escapado de nuestra vida, pero jamás de nuestros corazones.
He/she may have escaped from our life, but never from our hearts.
Cuentas con mis oraciones, les deseo mucho bien a ti y tu familia.
You can count on my prayers, I wish you and your family much good.
Mi corazón está contigo en estos tiempos de pérdida.
My heart is with you in these times of loss.
Les deseo mucha paz a ti y a tu familia en este tiempo de duelo.
I wish you and your family much peace in this time of mourning.
Estaré rezando por ti y tu familia.
I will be praying for you and your family.
Espero que tu alma y corazón encuentren mucho consuelo.
I hope your soul and heart find much comfort.
Now you have the tools to say the right words when giving condolences in Spanish!
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