Desculpa
everyday
The most common way to say "sorry" in Brazil is Desculpa. Among friends Brazilians also say Foi mal, like "my bad", and Perdão is more formal.
Meaning: apology (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Desculpa | everyday |
| Perdão | formal |
| Foi mal | slang, Brazil |
Desculpa works for small slips and for serious apologies. Foi mal fits only casual moments such as a bump in a queue or a missed message.
Which one should you use?
To get past someone, say Com licença, which is "excuse me". Saying Desculpa there would sound like you did something wrong.
Did you know?
- Foi mal literally means "it went badly" and is not used in formal writing.
Examples in context
- Desculpa, não ouvi.Sorry, I did not hear.
- Foi mal, esqueci.My bad, I forgot.
- Com licença, posso passar?Excuse me, can I pass?
Example conversation
Marcos steps on Elisa's foot in a queue at a bakery in Brasília.
- MarcosAi, desculpa!Oh, sorry!
- ElisaSem problema.No problem.
- MarcosFoi mal mesmo.Really my bad.
