culpa
/ˈkuw.pɐ/feminine
The English word guilt is culpa in Portuguese.
Culpa is the most common and straightforward term for guilt. It can be used to describe the feeling of regret for having done wrong, but it can also mean being at fault or responsible for a mistake. If you want to specify a guilt accompanied by a sense of awareness, you can use the term Culpa consciente. To express the idea of having remorse, you can use the phrase Ter remorsos, while Sentir-se culpado is the expression used to say to feel guilty.
Meaning: regret for having done wrong (noun)
Which one should you use?
Culpa can function as both the feeling of guilt and the state of being at fault or responsible for a mistake.
How does it change in a sentence?
While culpa is the noun for guilt, use the adjective culpado to describe a person who is guilty.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈkuw.pɐ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the phrase culpa minha is often used as a casual way to say 'my bad' or 'my mistake' in social situations, even when no actual moral guilt is involved.
- In a religious context, especially in Catholicism, culpa is strictly distinguished from pena, which refers to the punishment that follows the guilt.
- Portuguese speakers use the expression tirar a culpa not just to remove guilt, but to shift the blame onto someone else during an argument.
Examples in context
- Sami admitiu a culpa.Sami admitted guilt.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express admitting guilt with culpa.Tatoeba #6114762 by carlosalberto, translation #6114645 by OsoHombre
- Tom admitiu sua culpa.Tom admitted his guilt.This sentence shows the use of culpa in the context of admitting one's guilt.Tatoeba #11683134 by ajdavidl, translation #4699958 by CK
- Ele está se escondendo por vergonha ou culpa?Is he hiding out of shame or guilt?This sentence demonstrates how to distinguish between shame and culpa.Tatoeba #11330560 by carlosalberto, translation #11330541 by carlosalberto
- Tenho culpa por não ter cumprido minha promessaI'm guilty for not keeping my promise
- Ele sente uma culpa consciente por ter mentidoHe feels a conscious sense of guilt for having lied
- Sinto muito remorso por minhas açõesI feel a lot of remorse for my actions
- Eu me sinto culpado por não ter comparecido à festaI feel guilty for not attending the party
- Sempre bate um peso na consciência quando eu como um doceI always feel guilty when I eat sweets
- Ele tem remorsos por não ter ajudado seu amigoHe has remorse for not helping his friend
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are talking about a mistake at work.
- GabrielVocê não deveria sentir essa culpa, Camila.You shouldn't feel this guilt, Camila.
- CamilaMas eu errei com a equipe.But I made a mistake with the team.
- GabrielEu entendo, mas a culpa não é só sua.I understand, but the guilt is not only yours.
- CamilaObrigada por tentar me confortar, Gabriel.Thank you for trying to comfort me, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guilt” translations and entries culpa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
