Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| desculpa | /desˈkuw.pɐ/ (Brazil) /d͡ʒisˈkuw.pɐ/ (Brazil) |
|
| perdão | /pɛʁˈdɐ̃w̃/ [pɛɦˈdɐ̃ʊ̯̃] (Northeast Brazil) /peʁˈdɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) |
formal |
| foi mal | /ˈfoj ˈmaw/ (Brazil) /ˈfoj ˈmal/ (Portugal) |
slang |
These expressions are used to express regret or sorrow.
Which one should you use?
desculpa is the standard, everyday way to say sorry for minor mistakes or social slips. perdão is much more serious and formal, often used when asking for deep forgiveness or in highly formal settings. foi mal is a colloquial way to say sorry, similar to the English expression "my bad."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
desculpa is used in informal or neutral contexts. For more formal situations, you can use perdão, Desculpe-me (Excuse me/I'm sorry) or Peço desculpas (I apologize). If you wish to express deeper sorrow formally, you can say Lamento muito (I'm very sorry). On the informal side, foi mal is considered slang and Me desculpa can be used to mean "Forgive me".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the phrase Sinto muito mesmo is a common way to say "I am really sorry".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While desculpa is the informal imperative, desculpe is the polite version used when addressing a stranger or someone you wish to treat with respect. You can also say Mil desculpas to mean "A thousand apologies".
How do you pronounce it?
The word desculpa is pronounced /desˈkuw.pɐ/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you are trying to say "excuse me" to get someone's attention or to pass through a crowd, do not use desculpa. Instead, use com licença.
Did you know?
- The word desculpa is actually a command, derived from the verb desculpar, which literally means 'excuse me' or 'exonerate me'.
- In Brazil, Sinto muito is used almost exclusively for condolences or deep tragedy, making it too heavy for a simple accidental bump into someone.
- The phrase foi mal literally translates to 'it went badly', treating the mistake as an external event rather than a personal failing.
Examples in context
- Foi mal, meu amor.I'm sorry, my love.This example shows the use of the slang foi mal.Tatoeba #10747850 by omniglotman, translation #2510771 by Hybrid
- Desculpa, eu não ouvi.I'm sorry, I didn't hear that.This example shows how to use desculpa to apologize for not hearing.Tatoeba #2603692 by alexmarcelo, translation #2542355 by CK
- Desculpa. Eu não sabia.I'm sorry. I didn't know.This example shows how to use desculpa to apologize for a lack of knowledge.Tatoeba #1876997 by alexmarcelo, translation #1876994 by Spamster
- Desculpe-me, senhor, por ter chegado atrasado à reunião. Lamento muito pelo inconveniente causado.Excuse me, sir, for being late to the meeting. I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused.
- Desculpa, amigo, por ter quebrado seu lápis sem querer. Me desculpa mesmo, foi um acidente.Sorry, friend, for accidentally breaking your pencil. I'm really sorry, it was an accident.
- 136 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are at a coffee shop.
- BeatrizDesculpa, Rodrigo, eu derrubei o seu café.Sorry, Rodrigo, I spilled your coffee.
- RodrigoNão se preocupe, Beatriz, foi um acidente.Don't worry, Beatriz, it was an accident.
- BeatrizEu sinto muito mesmo.I am truly sorry.
- RodrigoEstá tudo bem, eu te desculpo.It's okay, I forgive you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries desculpa, perdão, foi mal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
