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Portuguese Phrase

Desculpa, deu um imprevisto.

/desˈku.pa ˈde.u ũ ĩ.pɾeˈvis.tu/
Meaning"Sorry, an unexpected thing happened."
💡

Meaning

A casual apology that explains you couldn’t do something because an unexpected situation arose. It conveys both regret and a brief reason for the inconvenience.

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When to use

Use it in informal conversations with friends, family, or coworkers when you need to cancel, be late, or explain a sudden change in plans. It’s too casual for formal business letters or official apologies.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Desculpa,deuumimprevisto.

1

Desculpa (imperative)

Used as an informal way to say “sorry”; it’s the second‑person singular imperative of the verb “desculpar”.

2

deu (preterite of dar)

In colloquial Portuguese, “deu” + noun expresses that something happened, e.g., “deu um problema” = “a problem occurred”.

3

um (indefinite article)

The masculine singular article that introduces a non‑specific noun.

4

imprevisto (noun)

Means “unexpected event” or “unforeseen circumstance”. It can refer to anything that disrupts plans.

🗨In Conversation

A

Desculpa, deu um imprevisto.

Sorry, something unexpected came up.

Tudo bem, acontece.

No problem, it happens.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Desculpe, deu um imprevisto.

    “Desculpe” is correct but more formal; using it in a casual spoken context can sound stiff.

  • Dava um imprevisto.

    Learners sometimes say “deu um imprevisto” with a wrong verb tense like “dava”. The correct past simple is “deu”.

  • Deu o imprevisto.

    Do not add an article before “imprevisto” when using “deu”. The correct phrase is “deu um imprevisto”, not “deu o imprevisto”.

↔Alternatives

  • Desculpa, aconteceu um imprevisto.

    Sorry, an unexpected event occurred.

  • Foi mal, tive um imprevisto.

    My bad, I had an unexpected issue.

  • Desculpe, surgiu um imprevisto.

    Sorry, an unexpected situation arose.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, “desculpa” is the go‑to informal apology, while “desculpe” sounds a bit more formal. The construction “deu um + noun” is a very common, colloquial way to say that something happened, especially when the event is inconvenient or surprising. Avoid using it in very formal written apologies; opt for “Peço desculpas por…”.