How do you say excuse me in Portuguese?
Say com licença when you need space or a moment (to pass, to enter, to interrupt), and desculpa / desculpe when you need someone's attention.
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| com licença | excuse me | Unit 2 |
| Com licença, uma informação? | Excuse me, can you help me with something? (asking the way) | Unit 33 |
| Desculpe. / Me desculpe. | Sorry. | Unit 18 |
| Com licença, posso passar? | Excuse me, can I get by? | Not in the course |
What is the difference between com licença and desculpa?
Com licença asks permission ("may I?": to pass, to enter, to leave the table), while desculpa apologizes or gets attention ("sorry, excuse me"). On a crowded bus, it's com licença.
| Situation | What to say |
|---|---|
| Getting past someone on a bus | com licença |
| Entering an office or a room | com licença |
| Stopping someone to ask the way | com licença or desculpa |
| Bumping into someone | desculpa |
How do you get a waiter's attention in Brazil?
Raise a hand and say Por favor! or, very commonly, Moço! (to a man) or Moça! (to a woman), which is polite in Brazil whatever the waiter's age.
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| Moço, por favor! | Excuse me! (to a waiter) | Not in the course |
| Moça, por favor! | Excuse me! (to a waitress) | Not in the course |
| A conta, por favor. | The check, please. | Unit 4 |
What mistakes do English speakers make with excuse me?
The common mistake is saying desculpa to get past someone; Brazilians say com licença.
- Desculpa on a crowded bus. To get by, say com licença.
- Walking into an office without a word. A quick com licença at the door is polite.
- Clicking your fingers at a waiter. Raise a hand and say Por favor! or Moço!.
How can you practice saying it out loud?
Say it to someone who answers. In CiaoSpeak's Brazilian Portuguese course, the lessons teach com licença with a recording in a Brazilian accent, and in the Speak tab a character in a real scene (a São Paulo baker, a Rio ride-app driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) talks to you and you answer out loud. The app tells you whether a Brazilian would understand you, with one gentle fix if not. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More phrases: how to say everyday things in Portuguese.