Portuguese Phrase
Desculpa te incomodar.
Meaning
A polite, informal way to apologize for potentially bothering someone. It conveys that you recognize you might be interrupting or asking for a favor and you don’t want to be a nuisance.
When to use
Use it right before you ask a question, make a request, or interrupt a conversation—especially with friends, colleagues, or anyone you have a casual relationship with.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Desculpateincomodar
Desculpa (imperative)
‘Desculpa’ is the informal imperative of the verb ‘desculpar’ and is used like ‘sorry’ or ‘excuse me’ in casual conversation.
te (object pronoun)
‘te’ is the second‑person singular clitic pronoun meaning ‘you’; it attaches before the infinitive when the verb is not conjugated.
incomodar (infinitive)
‘incomodar’ means ‘to bother, to disturb’; the infinitive follows the pronoun and the apology verb.
Omission of ‘por’
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese the preposition ‘por’ is often dropped (Desculpa te incomodar) but the full form ‘Desculpa por te incomodar’ is grammatically safer.
🗨In Conversation
Desculpa te incomodar, mas você pode me ajudar com o relatório?
Sorry to bother you, but could you help me with the report?
Claro, sem problema!
Sure, no problem!
✕Common Mistakes
Desculpa te incomodar.
Missing the preposition ‘por’; the complete form ‘Desculpa por te incomodar’ is grammatically preferred, especially in writing.
Desculpa, senhor, posso entrar?
Using ‘Desculpa’ with strangers can sound too informal; switch to ‘Desculpe’ for a more polite tone.
Desculpa incomodar‑te.
Placing the pronoun after the infinitive (incomodar‑te) is correct in European Portuguese but sounds odd in Brazilian Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
Desculpe incomodar.
Sorry to bother you.
Desculpa por te incomodar.
Sorry for bothering you.
Desculpa te atrapalhar.
Sorry to trouble you.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil ‘desculpa’ is the everyday, informal apology, while ‘desculpe’ sounds a bit more formal. Dropping the preposition ‘por’ is common in casual speech, but learners should know the full form ‘Desculpa por te incomodar’ for written or polite contexts. Also, remember that tone and a friendly smile go a long way when apologizing.