peço desculpas
To say "I apologize" in Portuguese, you use peço desculpas.
peço desculpas is a formal expression used to say that you are sorry for a mistake or a wrongdoing. It is used when you want to express that you are asking for forgiveness.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I ask for apologies". The word peço is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb pedir, which means "to ask" or "to request".
Which one should you use?
While peço desculpas is a formal way to apologize, the single word desculpa is used in much more informal, everyday situations to mean "sorry" or "excuse me".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the phrase Peço imensa desculpa is commonly employed in formal apologies, as is the phrase Lamento muito.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb peço is the first-person singular present indicative of pedir. When you are apologizing for a specific noun, you use pelo if the noun is masculine or pela if the noun is feminine to mean "for the".
Did you know?
- The verb pedir in peço desculpas is the same verb used to order food in a restaurant.
- While peço desculpas is formal, Brazilians often use the phrase mil desculpas to express a very deep or repeated apology, literally meaning 'a thousand apologies'.
- In Portugal, it is more common to use the singular peço desculpa whereas in Brazil the plural peço desculpas is preferred for the same meaning.
Examples in context
- Peço desculpas por isso.I apologize for this.This sentence is useful for apologizing for a specific thing using peço desculpas.Tatoeba #1564647 by alexmarcelo, translation #1560329 by Grim_fandango
- Peço desculpas pelo atraso.I apologize for the delay.This sentence is useful for apologizing for a delay using peço desculpas.Tatoeba #1293982 by alexmarcelo, translation #1392467 by Shishir
- Peço desculpas pela bagunça.I apologize for the mess.This sentence is useful for apologizing for a mess using peço desculpas.Tatoeba #7827864 by Ricardo14, translation #2291872 by CK
- Desculpe-me pelo meu comportamento inadequado na reunião. Eu não deveria ter interrompido.Excuse me for my inappropriate behavior at the meeting. I should not have interrupted.
- Peço desculpas pela minha falta de pontualidade. Houve um imprevisto no meu caminho.I apologize for my lack of punctuality. There was an unforeseen event on my way.
- Desculpa por não ter te ligado ontem. Eu esqueci completamente.Sorry for not calling you yesterday. I completely forgot.
- Me desculpe por não ter comparecido à festa do seu aniversário.I'm sorry for not attending your birthday party.
- Foi mal por ter quebrado sua caneta. Eu não percebi que estava segurando com força.Sorry for breaking your pen. I didn't realize I was holding it too hard.
- Peço imensa desculpa por não ter comparecido à sua cerimônia de premiação. Um imprevisto ocorreu.I deeply apologize for not attending your award ceremony. An unforeseen event occurred.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila apologizes to Rodrigo for a mistake in a report at work.
- CamilaPeço desculpas pelo erro no relatório.I apologize for the error in the report.
- RodrigoTudo bem, Camila, podemos corrigir agora.It's okay, Camila, we can fix it now.
- CamilaEu vou refazer tudo imediatamente.I will redo everything immediately.
- RodrigoNão se preocupe, erros acontecem.Don't worry, mistakes happen.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
