Spanish Phrase
Perdona, pero tengo una pregunta.
Meaning
A polite way to interrupt a conversation or a speaker in order to ask something. It translates to ‘Excuse me, but I have a question.’ The phrase balances courtesy (perdona) with a clear purpose (tengo una pregunta).
When to use
Use it when you need to interject in a meeting, classroom, or casual chat without sounding rude. It works well in both formal and informal settings, as long as you keep the tone friendly.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Perdona,perotengounapregunta.
Perdona (imperative)
‘Perdona’ is the informal second‑person singular imperative of ‘perdonar’, used to politely get someone's attention.
pero (conjunction)
‘pero’ means ‘but’ and links two contrasting ideas.
tengo (present of tener)
‘tengo’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘tener’, meaning ‘I have’.
una pregunta (indefinite article + noun)
The article ‘una’ signals a single, non‑specific question; ‘pregunta’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘question’.
🗨In Conversation
Perdona, pero tengo una pregunta.
Excuse me, but I have a question.
Claro, dime.
Sure, go ahead.
✕Common Mistakes
Perdón, pero tengo una pregunta.
‘Perdón’ is an apology after an error; use ‘perdona’ or ‘disculpa’ to get attention.
Perdona, pero tengo pregunta.
The noun ‘pregunta’ needs the indefinite article ‘una’.
Perdona, pero tengo una preguntas.
‘Preguntas’ is plural; the sentence refers to a single question, so keep it singular.
↔Alternatives
Disculpa, pero tengo una duda.
Sorry, but I have a doubt.
Perdón, quisiera preguntar algo.
Pardon, I’d like to ask something.
Con permiso, tengo una pregunta.
With permission, I have a question.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries ‘perdona’ (informal) and ‘disculpe’ (formal) are interchangeable for getting attention, but ‘perdón’ alone is usually used as an apology after a mistake. Choosing the right form shows respect for the listener’s age or status.