Italian Phrase
Scusa, è successo un imprevisto.
Meaning
Literally “Sorry, an unexpected thing has happened.” It is a polite way to apologize for a sudden change, a delay, or a cancellation caused by something you did not anticipate.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to explain why you’re late, why you have to change plans, or why you can’t do something you previously agreed to. It works in informal contexts with friends, classmates, or colleagues you know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Scusa,èsuccessounimprevisto.
Scusa (imperative)
Scusa is the informal imperative of scusare, used to say “sorry” or “excuse me” when speaking to friends or peers.
è (present of essere)
è is the third‑person singular present of the verb essere (“to be”), required before the past participle in the passato prossimo of intransitive verbs.
successo (past participle)
Successo is the past participle of succedere (“to happen”). In the construction è successo, it forms the passato prossimo meaning “has happened”.
un imprevisto (indefinite article + noun)
Un is the masculine singular indefinite article; imprevisto means “unexpected event” or “unforeseen circumstance”.
🗨In Conversation
Scusa, è successo un imprevisto.
Sorry, something unexpected happened.
Capisco, succede. Vuoi rimandare?
I understand, it happens. Do you want to reschedule?
✕Common Mistakes
Scusa, succede un imprevisto.
Use the passato prossimo “è successo” instead of the present “succede” to refer to a completed event.
Scusa, è successo lo imprevisto.
The noun imprevisto is masculine singular, so the correct indefinite article is “un”, not “lo”.
Scusi, è successo un imprevisto.
“Scusi” is formal; using it in a casual setting can sound stiff. Match the level of formality to your relationship.
↔Alternatives
Mi dispiace, è capitato un imprevisto.
I’m sorry, an unexpected thing occurred.
Scusami, è avvenuto un imprevisto.
Excuse me, an unexpected event has taken place.
Scusa, ho avuto un imprevisto.
Sorry, I had an unexpected situation.
Cultural Tip
In Italy punctuality is appreciated, so a brief apology followed by a clear reason (like an imprevisto) is considered courteous. Use “Scusa” with people you know well; switch to the formal “Scusi” when speaking to strangers, teachers, or older adults.