desculpe
sorry
Desculpe, onde é o banco?
Excuse me, where is the bank? (formal)Desculpe, foi um erro meu.
Sorry, it was my mistake. (formal)Desculpe, não percebo bem.
Sorry, I don't understand well.'%3E%3Cg transform='translate(0 -24.0) translate(0 347.485) scale(1 0.81707) translate(0 -347.485)'%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%23263C7B' d='M127.935 347.485 L127.935 471.896 A32.403 39.657 0 0 0 192.74 471.896 L192.74 347.485 Z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%234162C9' d='m192.74 436.719c35.029 0 63.425-28.469 63.425-63.586v-25.648h-63.425z'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%2335519F' d='m210.898 347.485h-82.963v-55.253c0-46.064 37.343-291.794 83.407-291.794l112.797 143.091v90.715c0 62.541-50.699 113.241-113.241 113.241z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%23263C7B' d='m256.166 338.08c40.008-17.469 67.974-57.376 67.974-103.822v-90.715l-67.974-86.229z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%230E0E16' d='M378.88 81.415 C378.88 115.719 362.23 143.528 341.70 143.528 H307.28 L299.30 73.789 L370.64 54.802 L378.88 67.465 L378.88 78.087 Z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%2326262F' d='M299.30 41.536 L324.14 0.438 H366.05 C386.80 0.438 403.62 28.545 403.62 63.217 L403.62 106.694 C403.62 110.576 400.52 111.839 399.42 108.423 C398 107 358 103 324.14 86 Z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%234162C9' d='m256.165 203.088v-202.65h-44.823c-46.064 0-83.407 37.342-83.407 83.407v208.387h39.312c49.108 0 88.918-39.911 88.918-89.144z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%231B2C5C' d='M127.9 190.0 H192.9 a15.0 15.0 0 0 1 0 30.0 H127.9 Z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%231B2C5C' d='M127.9 230.0 H170.9 a15.0 15.0 0 0 1 0 30.0 H127.9 Z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%235478DE' d='m257.986 143.529h66.154v-143.091h-112.798c-10.665 0-20.852 2.023-30.226 5.672v60.355c0 42.561 34.416 77.064 76.87 77.064z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%234A6DD2' d='m256.166 143.483c.607.014 1.21.046 1.82.046h66.154v-143.091h-67.974z'/%3E%3Cpath style='fill:%23FFC61E' d='M324.14 0.438 H311.14 a11.0 11.0 0 0 0 -11.0 11.0 V132.529 a11.0 11.0 0 0 0 11.0 11.0 H324.14 Z'/%3E%3Ccircle style='fill:%23FFC61E' cx='256.316' cy='68.38' r='33.0'/%3E%3Cellipse style='fill:%2312121A' cx='256.316' cy='68.38' rx='16.32' ry='16.36'/%3E%3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E)
SpeekuHow to sayHow to say sorry and excuse me in European Portuguese
What people say, and how it sounds.
The answer
sorry, politedesculpe
sorry, to a frienddesculpa/dɨʃˈkuɫpɐ/
excuse me, to pass or entercom licença/kõ liˈsẽsɐ/
The short answer
Desculpe is sorry to anyone you would address politely, and it also opens a question to a stranger: Desculpe, tem horas? Desculpa is the same word for someone you call tu.
Com licença (with permission) is excuse me when you need to get past, interrupt, or come in. It never means sorry.
desh-KULP
The s before the c is the Portuguese sh, and the final e vanishes: desh-KULP. Com licença is kõ li-SEN-sa, the first word nasal and the stress on cen.
Hear it in a sentence
Every line is one the course teaches, with its European Portuguese audio.
desculpa/dɨʃˈkuɫpɐ/
sorry (peço desculpa: I'm sorry); excuse
Desculpa, o que é isto?
Excuse me, what is this?Desculpa, tens um segundo?
Sorry, do you have a second? (informal)Peço desculpa pela demora.
I'm sorry for the delay.com licença/kõ liˈsẽsɐ/
Excuse me
Com licença, posso passar?
Excuse me, may I get past?Com licença. Posso entrar?
Excuse me. May I come in?Com licença. Posso interromper?
Excuse me. Can I interrupt?People also ask
Which one when I bump into someone?
Desculpe. Com licença is for before you squeeze past, not after you have collided.
How do I say I am sorry to hear that?
Lamento, or sinto muito, I feel it a lot.
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