colpa mia
The Italian phrase for "my bad" is colpa mia.
colpa mia is used to admit that a mistake or fault is yours. If you want to acknowledge an error specifically, you can also say Ho sbagliato, which means "I made a mistake". For a more casual way to say "excuse me" or "sorry", you might use Scusa.
Meaning: my fault (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun colpa (fault/guilt) and the possessive adjective mia (mine).
Which one should you use?
While colpa mia is a direct way to admit a mistake, it is slightly more formal or serious than the English slang "my bad", which is often used very casually. You can also use the complete sentence È colpa mia, which translates to "it's my fault".
How does it change in a sentence?
colpa mia is a noun phrase. It can be used as a standalone exclamation or as the subject or complement of a sentence. Adding the verb è (is) turns it into the complete sentence È colpa mia.
Did you know?
- The root of colpa actually comes from a word meaning 'to bend' or 'to turn', suggesting a mistake is a 'turning away' from the right path.
- Even though 'my bad' in English is very lighthearted, saying colpa mia can sometimes sound heavy or dramatic, as if you are accepting serious blame.
- In Italy, admitting colpa mia in a social setting often prompts the other person to respond with non importa or pazienza to signal that no apology is needed.
Examples in context
- Colpa mia.My bad.This sentence is useful for expressing "My bad" using colpa mia.Tatoeba #11913228 by Guybrush88, translation #629816 by Snout
- È colpa mia.It's my bad.Tatoeba #1276397 by Guybrush88, translation #790572 by FeuDRenais2
- Scusa, ho spedito la mail al destinatario sbagliato.Sorry, I sent the email to the wrong recipient.
- L'ho dimenticato a casa, è colpa mia.I forgot it at home, it's my fault.
- È colpa mia, scusami.It is my fault, excuse me.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Martina are at home discussing a broken vase.
- AlessandroHo rotto il vaso, colpa mia.I broke the vase, my bad.
- MartinaNon preoccuparti, Alessandro.Don't worry, Alessandro.
- AlessandroTi chiedo scusa, Martina.I apologize to you, Martina.
- MartinaVa bene, non è successo nulla.It's fine, nothing happened.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colpa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
