Portuguese for Kids
How to Say "Sorry" in Portuguese
Apologizing in someone's language shows that you care about their feelings.
In Portuguese (Português)
Desculpa
Pronounced: des-KOOL-pah
What “Sorry” means and when to use it
The listed Portuguese expression in this lesson is “Desculpa.” Its beginner pronunciation approximation is “des-KOOL-pah.” Apologizing in someone's language shows that you care about their feelings. The approximation is a reading scaffold, not a replacement for the native writing or for listening to a speaker whose variety you are learning.
Use this apology after a mistake or small harm: bumping into someone, interrupting, losing a borrowed item, or hurting feelings. A sincere apology also involves stopping the behavior, listening, and repairing what can be repaired; the word alone is not a reset button. Some listed forms can overlap with excuse me or express sympathy, while other languages choose different words by situation. Practice an accidental, low-stakes scene and keep the translated phrase exactly as listed rather than inventing promises.
Do not require apologies for harmless cultural or pronunciation differences. Reserve the practice for an action that actually needs acknowledgment.
Portuguese pronunciation workshop
Portuguese pronunciation differs notably between Brazil, Portugal, and other regions. Nasal vowels, often marked by a tilde or followed by m or n, resonate partly through the nose. Unstressed vowels may reduce, especially in European Portuguese, while Brazilian varieties often sound more open to English-speaking beginners. Written r, s, d, and t can have different regional realizations. Our approximation offers one accessible route but cannot represent every accepted accent; preserve the indicated stress and avoid assuming Spanish sound rules.
Now apply those sound ideas specifically to “Desculpa.” Read the native form first, then use “des-KOOL-pah” to locate the broad sound sequence and emphasized syllable. Say the entire expression in one comfortable turn. Do not substitute English sounds more strongly merely because a letter looks familiar, and do not erase marks, accents, or characters when copying it.
Hum gently to feel nasal resonance, then say the phrase without pinching the nose or exaggerating. Mark the stressed syllable and keep the others lighter. Repeat once using the printed pronunciation support, then once looking only at the Portuguese so the spelling begins to become familiar.
Respectful context across Portugal & Brazil
Portuguese connects communities in Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cabo Verde, and other places. Forms of address, pronouns, and greeting routines vary widely. Você is everyday in many Brazilian contexts but has different social meanings elsewhere; tu is also widespread with region-specific verb patterns. Physical greetings depend on relationship and locality, so follow the other person's lead. Treat Brazilian and European usage as related varieties, not as correct and incorrect versions of one another.
This lesson teaches one useful listed translation, not the only wording used by all Portuguese speakers. Age, relationship, region, and situation can change a speaker's choice. A good learner notices those choices, asks respectfully when appropriate, and accepts correction without arguing that a phrase list must outrank a person's own language experience.
Practice activity: scene, speak, reflect
Use paper shapes for three repair scenes: a knocked-over block tower, an interrupted turn, and a misplaced pencil. Read the scene in English. The learner says the translated apology, then completes a silent repair action—rebuild, wait, or return the pencil. Their partner acknowledges with a nod, without being required to forgive immediately. Rotate all roles. After three rounds, learners explain in English which action made each apology more meaningful and repeat the target phrase from memory.
Use three passes. On pass one, read “Desculpa” while a partner checks every word or character. On pass two, look only at the scene card and retrieve the expression from memory. On pass three, use an English scene prompt and deliver the Portuguese speaking turn at a natural volume. Afterward, explain in English why the phrase fit that scene. This keeps meaning, respectful behavior, and pronunciation together instead of rewarding speed alone.
A successful attempt is understandable and considerate, not accent-free. Mark one detail you kept consistent—perhaps the stress, a long vowel, a tone direction, a final consonant, or the full word order—and choose one detail for another careful repetition. Stop before practice becomes rushed. Short, attentive rounds build a more reliable memory than saying the phrase many times without listening to yourself or your partner.
Practice dialogue
- Scene prompt (English)
- Learner A accidentally knocks over Learner B’s small block tower.
- Role-play cue (English)
- Learner A stops, helps rebuild, and says the target apology.
- Portuguese target speaking turn — Learner A
- Desculpa
- Role-play reply/action (English) — Learner B
- Thank you for helping rebuild it.
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