Desculpa / desculpe
jees-KOOL-pah / jees-KOOL-pee
How to say itPart of: Please & sorry
“Sorry; excuse me.”
Desculpa and desculpe both mean sorry and both are correct. Desculpa is the informal form: friends, family, anyone your age. Desculpe goes with você and senhor or senhora: strangers, service, older people. In practice Brazilians say desculpa most of the time and nobody minds. Me desculpa is warmer; desculpa aí the casual “sorry about that”.
Looking for please, sorry and excuse me? Please and sorry in Portuguese: the guide
EverydayAll Brazilalso: me desculpa, desculpa aí, dsclpReply: Tudo bem.
How Brazilians use it
“Desculpa, não vi a sua mensagem.”
“Sorry, I didn’t see your message.”
To a friend.
“Desculpe, a senhora deixou cair isto.”
“Excuse me, madam, you dropped this.”
To a stranger; also to get attention.
“Me desculpa, eu não quis te magoar.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Warmer; when you mean it.
“Desculpa pelo atraso, o trânsito estava horrível.”
“Sorry for the delay, the traffic was awful.”
Pelo before a masculine noun, pela before a feminine one.
In a real book
“— Desculpa, não pude vir mais cedo; que há?”“— Bem... desculpe... Adeus, baronesa.”How to reply
Similar expressions
- PerdãoStronger: pardon, forgive me.
- Foi malMy bad; slang.
- Com licençaExcuse me to get past, not to apologise.
- Sinto muitoI’m so sorry: sympathy and bad news.
Brazil vs Portugal
Portugal defaults to desculpe, and desculpa lá is the casual version there. Brazil says desculpa to almost everyone.
Common mistakes
- Don’t use sinto muito for a small bump: it sounds like condolences; desculpa is the word.
- Don’t say lo siento or perdón: Spanish.
- Don’t worry about desculpa vs desculpe with a friend: both are fine, and desculpa is what Brazilians say.
Frequently asked questions
What does desculpa mean in English?
Sorry, and also excuse me when you want someone’s attention. It is the informal form of the apology; desculpe is the same word for strangers and older people.
Is it desculpa or desculpe?
Both are right. Desculpa is informal (friends, family, your age); desculpe is for strangers, service and older people. Brazilians say desculpa most of the time.
Is desculpe Spanish or Portuguese?
Portuguese. The Spanish is disculpe or perdón. Desculpa and desculpe come from desculpar, to excuse.
How do you respond to desculpa?
Tudo bem (it’s fine), não foi nada (it was nothing), imagina (don’t mention it) or, between friends, relaxa.