How to Say ‘Sorry, can I bother you for a sec?’ in Mexican Spanish
Perdón, ¿te molesto tantito?
pehr-DON teh moh-LEHS-toh tahn-TEE-toh
[pehr-DON teh moh-LEHS-toh tahn-TEE-toh]
🇲🇽 In Mexico: Opening with perdón and asking if you're bothering them gives the other person an easy way to say no. That lands as respectful rather than pushy when approaching a stranger at a bar.
Phrase Breakdown
Perdón,
pehr-DON
Excuse me,
Used to get someone's attention politely. Stress: per-DÓN.
Perdón, ¿dónde está el baño?
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Words in this phrase
Perdón
[pehr-DON]
excuse me / pardon
Used to get attention politely, apologize lightly, or ask someone to repeat something.
Perdón, ¿esta silla está ocupada?
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
¿te molesto tantito?
teh moh-LEHS-toh tahn-TEE-toh
can I bother you for a moment?
A soft, polite request. 'Tantito' means 'a little bit'. Stress: mo-LES-to tan-TI-to.
¿Te molesto tantito? Necesito ayuda.
Can I bother you for a moment? I need help.
Words in this phrase
te
[teh]
you
Indicates the person being addressed.
A 'ti' te gusta más el azul, ¿cierto?
'You' like the blue one more, right?
molesto
[moh-LEHS-toh]
I bother
First person present of 'molestar', to bother or disturb.
¿Te molesto si me siento aquí?
Do I bother you if I sit here?
tantito
[tahn-TEE-toh]
a little bit
Mexican diminutive of 'tanto', meaning a tiny bit or a moment.
Espérame tantito.
Wait for me a little bit.
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