Phrase · 🗺️ Regional colloquial Spanish
Qué pena con usted, se me hizo tarde.
I'm so sorry, I got held up.
C2apologisinges-COAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Qué1determinerhowpena1nounembarrassmentfem. · sing.con1prepositionwithusted2pronounyou (usted)3rd sing.,se3pronoun(accidental se)3rdme3object pronounon meyo · 1st sing. · indirect objecthizo3verbit gothacer · past · 3rd sing.tarde3adverblate.
- Qué → usted: qué pena con usted: sorry
- se → hizo: se me hizo tarde: accidental se
- hizo → tarde: hacerse tarde: to get late
Word for word: “What embarrassment with you, it got late on me.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Qué pena con usted = I'm so sorry, how embarrassing (Colombia). pena = embarrassment here, as in me da pena.
- 2Colombians often use usted even with friends and family; it sounds warm, not distant. Subject pronouns and forms of address: tú, usted, ustedes →
- 3se me hizo tarde = I got held up: accidental se takes the blame off you. Common all over Latin America. Accidental se and the middle voice →
Variations
- Qué pena con usted, llegué tarde.
- Perdóneme, se me hizo tarde.
- Disculpa, se me hizo tardísimo.