How do you say sorry in Brazilian Portuguese?

Desculpa: the default, everyday apology

Desculpa is what you will hear most in Brazil. It covers bumping into someone, arriving late, interrupting, forgetting to reply, and most small things that need smoothing over. It is informal but not rude, and it works with friends, family, coworkers and strangers alike.

The verb is desculpar, and desculpa is the imperative tu form. In most of Brazil you will hear desculpa; in some regions and in more formal writing you will see desculpe. Both are correct Brazilian Portuguese, and Brazilians do not treat desculpa as a mistake.

• Desculpa, não vi você. Sorry, I didn't see you.
• Desculpa a demora. Sorry for the delay.
• Desculpa, foi sem querer. Sorry, it was an accident.

Perdão: heavier, and often more emotional

Perdão literally means forgiveness, and it weighs more than desculpa. You use it when the mistake is real and you want the other person to know you are not brushing it off. It can be sincere and serious, or it can be slightly dramatic depending on context.

Brazilians also use perdão as a quick interjection, almost like excuse me, when they interrupt or when they did not hear something. In that use it is short and light. The weight depends entirely on tone and situation, so listen for how it is said.

• Perdão, eu errei. I'm sorry, I was wrong.
• Perdão, não foi minha intenção. Forgive me, I didn't mean to.
• Perdão? Não entendi. Sorry? I didn't understand.

How heavy is each one? A quick comparison

Think of it as a scale from light to heavy. Desculpa handles almost everything in daily life. Desculpe is the same apology with a bit more polish. Perdão raises the stakes and asks for forgiveness. Me perdoa is the most intimate and the most emotional.

A useful rule for learners: start with desculpa. Move to desculpe when you want to be careful. Save perdão and me perdoa for moments that actually deserve them, because using them too often makes your Portuguese sound theatrical.

Common questions