How to say “I’m sorry” in Portuguese

Introduction

Knowing how to apologize is essential for everyday conversation, and Brazilian Portuguese offers several ways to express sorry depending on context, tone, and relationship. This article explains common phrases, when to use them, pronunciation tips, and short dialogues to help beginner to intermediate learners sound natural and polite.

Basic apology phrases

The simplest and most common apology in Brazilian Portuguese is Desculpa. Use it in informal situations with friends, family, or people your age.

Examples:

Desculpa, eu não ouvi o que você disse.
Desculpa, foi sem querer.

For slightly more formal or polite situations, use Desculpe. It is the formal imperative of the verb desculpar and works well with strangers, coworkers, or service staff.

Examples:

Desculpe, você pode me ajudar?
Desculpe pelo atraso.

If you want to apologize and accept responsibility in a stronger way, use Peço desculpas. This is a more formal phrase and often used in written communication or formal speeches.

Examples:

Peço desculpas pelo inconveniente.
Peço desculpas se causei algum problema.

Apologizing for mistakes and inconveniences

When you want to apologize for a mistake or a small inconvenience, Brazilians often add short clarifiers after the basic apology. These clarify what you are apologizing for.

Common structures:

Desculpa + pelo/pela + reason
Desculpe + pelo/pela + reason

Examples:

Desculpa pelo barulho.
Desculpe pela confusão com os documentos.

Usage note: use pelo before masculine nouns and pela before feminine nouns. For plural, use pelos and pelas.

Examples:

Desculpe pelos problemas.
Desculpe pelas mudanças de horário.

Apologizing for interrupting or asking for attention

When you need to get someone’s attention or interrupt politely, Brazilians use short phrases that soften the interruption.

Common options include Com licença and Desculpe.

Examples:

Com licença, você pode repetir o número do telefone?
Desculpe, posso fazer uma pergunta rápida?

Usage note: Com licença is literally asking for permission, and it is very polite when passing through a crowded space or interrupting a conversation.

Saying sorry for emotional mistakes or hurting someone

When apologizing for hurting someone’s feelings or making a serious mistake, Brazilians often use phrases that show regret and desire to make amends. A common, heartfelt phrase is Sinto muito.

Examples:

Sinto muito pelo que aconteceu.
Sinto muito se te magoei.

Another empathetic phrase is Me desculpe. It has a personal tone because it literally means forgive me.

Examples:

Me desculpe, eu não deveria ter dito aquilo.
Me desculpe, eu me precipitei.

Usage note: Sinto muito can also be used to express sympathy for bad news, similar to sorry to hear that in English. In contrast, Me desculpe is specifically for apologizing.

Formal and corporate apologies

In professional or formal contexts, Brazilians prefer phrases that are more respectful and impersonal. Use these in emails, customer service situations, or formal conversations.

Common formal phrases include Pedimos desculpas and Lamentamos.

Examples:

Pedimos desculpas pelo transtorno causado.
Lamentamos o ocorrido e estamos tomando providências.

Usage note: Pedimos desculpas literally means we apologize and is often used by companies or groups. Lamentamos expresses regret and is slightly more formal than Desculpe.

Short, casual apologies and expressions

Brazilian Portuguese has many short apologies and filler phrases used in casual speech. These are handy for everyday minor slips and informal interactions.

Common casual phrases:

Foi mal — very informal, similar to my bad.
Foi sem querer — I didn’t mean to.
Perdão — pardon or excuse me, slightly old-fashioned but still used.

Examples:

Foi mal, eu derrubei seu copo.
Foi sem querer, desculpa.
Perdão, eu me atrasei.

Usage note: Foi mal is best reserved for friends and casual contexts. Avoid it in formal settings.

Apologizing in specific situations

Here are targeted phrases for particular situations you may encounter in Brazil.

Apologizing for being late

Common phrases:

Desculpe o atraso — sorry for the delay.
Desculpa pelo atraso — informal version.

Examples:

Desculpe o atraso, peguei muito trânsito.
Desculpa pelo atraso, o ônibus demorou.

Apologizing after bumping into someone

Common phrases:

Desculpa or Com licença are typical.
If you accidentally step on someone’s foot you can say Me desculpe to sound more sincere.

Examples:

Desculpa, eu não te vi.
Me desculpe, foi sem querer.

Apologizing on the phone or in messages

When speaking on the phone or writing messages, short, clear apologies work best. Use Desculpe, Me desculpe, or Peço desculpas as needed.

Examples:

Desculpe, estou sem sinal.
Peço desculpas, houve um problema com o envio do e-mail.

Politeness and tone

Apologies in Brazilian Portuguese depend a lot on tone, facial expression, and follow-up actions. A sincere tone and a clear attempt to fix the situation matter more than the specific words.

Tip: Combine a verbal apology with an offer to help or a solution. Phrases like Posso ajudar? or Como posso consertar isso? show responsibility and willingness to make amends.

Examples:

Desculpe pelo erro. Posso corrigir agora mesmo?
Me desculpe, como posso consertar isso?

Pronunciation tips

Pronunciation helps your apology sound natural. Here are simple notes for the key phrases in this article.

Desculpa — sounds like des-KOOL-pa
Desculpe — sounds like des-KOOL-peh
Me desculpe — meh des-KOOL-peh
Sinto muito — SEEN-toh MOY-toh
Com licença — koom lee-SEN-sah
Peço desculpas — PEH-soo des-KOOL-pas

Usage note: Brazilian Portuguese is syllable-timed and the stress often falls on the second-to-last syllable in these words. Speak at a relaxed pace and use intonation to convey sincerity.

Short dialogues for practice

Below are short dialogues showing natural ways to apologize in everyday situations. Use these as models when speaking with Brazilians.

Dialogue 1: bumped into someone at a cafe
Pessoa A: Desculpa, eu te empurrei sem querer.
Pessoa B: Tudo bem, sem problema.

Dialogue 2: late for a meeting
Pessoa A: Desculpe o atraso, o trânsito estava horrível.
Pessoa B: Sem problema, vamos começar agora.

Dialogue 3: mistakenly sent a message
Pessoa A: Me desculpe, mandei a mensagem errada.
Pessoa B: Não tem problema, acontece.

Dialogue 4: formal apology in customer service
Atendente: Pedimos desculpas pelo inconveniente.
Cliente: Obrigado, espero que resolvam em breve.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Beginners sometimes confuse formal and informal forms or overuse one phrase in inappropriate contexts. Here are quick tips to avoid common errors.

1. Using Desculpa in very formal situations: prefer Desculpe or Peço desculpas.
2. Saying Sinto muito when you mean a casual sorry: reserve Sinto muito for sympathy or serious regrets.
3. Skipping an offer to help: follow an apology with an action or solution to sound sincere.

Regional and cultural notes

Brazil is large and speech varies by region. Some people use colloquial shortcuts or local expressions, but the forms explained here are widely understood nationwide.

For very informal online chats, Brazilians may abbreviate apologies or use emojis. In formal contexts, always choose the more respectful phrases.

Quick reference cheat sheet

Use this mini-list when you need a fast reminder of which phrase to use.

Informal: Desculpa, Foi mal
Polite/Formal: Desculpe, Peço desculpas
Serious sympathy: Sinto muito
Passing/interrupting: Com licença

Conclusion

Apologizing in Brazilian Portuguese is straightforward once you know the right phrase for the situation. Use Desculpa with friends, Desculpe or Peço desculpas in formal settings, and Sinto muito for deeper regret or sympathy. Remember that tone and follow-up actions are essential to sounding sincere. Practice the example dialogues and pronunciation tips to build confidence and naturalness.