How to Say Sorry in Portuguese (and Is It Sinto or Cinto?)

If you're wondering how to say sorry in Portuguese, the most common answer is "sinto muito", but here in Brazil we don't use it for everything. If you bump into someone on the bus, we say "desculpa". If you messed up with a friend, we say "foi mal". And "sinto muito" is the one we save for sad news or a truly heartfelt apology. So "desculpa" in Portuguese is your everyday sorry, while "sinto muito" carries more weight.

Then comes the tricky part: sinto comes from the verb sentir (to feel), sento comes from the verb sentar (to sit) and cinto means belt. "Sinto" and "cinto" sound exactly the same, just like "there" and "their" in English, so the sinto vs cinto mix-up is super common. That's why so many learners (and plenty of us Brazilians too) end up writing "cinto muito" without even noticing.

In this lesson I'll show you how to say I'm sorry in Portuguese depending on the situation, how to know when it's sinto or cinto without second-guessing yourself, and I'll leave you real sentences, including ways to offer condolences, so you can practice sorry in Brazilian Portuguese the way we actually say it here.

Keep This in Mind When Apologizing in Portuguese

To apologize in Portuguese, "sinto muito" isn't always the right fit: in Brazil we pick the word based on how serious the situation is and who we're talking to. These are the ones you'll hear the most, from the most casual to the most serious.

• Foi mal: the "my bad" you say between friends, super informal. Example: "Foi mal, esqueci de te responder."
• Desculpa / Me desculpa: the everyday apology for small mistakes. Example: "Desculpa o atraso!"
• Desculpe / Me desculpe: the more polite version, ideal with strangers or at work. Example: "Me desculpe pelo transtorno."
• Perdão / Me perdoa: for when you really messed up and want to ask for forgiveness for real. Example: "Me perdoa, eu não devia ter falado aquilo."
• Sinto muito: more than an apology, it's empathy; we say it after bad news, a loss, or when we truly regret something we did. Example: "Sinto muito, eu sei que você estava esperando essa vaga."
• Lamento / Lamento muito: more formal, very common in emails and official statements. Example: "Lamentamos o ocorrido."
• Com licença: the "excuse me" you use to get past someone or interrupt, not to apologize. Example: "Com licença, posso passar?"

Keep this in mind: if you step on someone's foot on the subway and say "sinto muito", it sounds over the top, almost dramatic; a quick "desculpa" is the natural choice there. And when you write it, remember it's "sinto muito" with an S, because "cinto muito" would mean something like "belt a lot".

And if what you want is to show empathy without apologizing, check out how to say "poor thing" and "what a shame" in Portuguese, because we Brazilians have expressions for that you won't find in any translator.

Video: How to Use Sento, Sinto and Cinto Correctly in Portuguese

The difference is simple: sinto (from the verb sentir, to feel) and cinto (belt) sound identical in Portuguese, while sento (from the verb sentar, to sit) is pronounced with an "e". In this video I explain it with examples so you never mix them up again.

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Portuguese Sentences: Sento, Sinto, Cinto

Sinto or cinto? You write sinto with an S when you're talking about feeling something, as in "sinto muito", and cinto with a C only when you mean a belt. And sento is for when you sit down on a chair. Here's how we use them in real sentences.

Sinto - Verb Sentir (I Feel)

"Sinto" is the first person of the verb sentir: "eu sinto" means "I feel". We use it for emotions, physical sensations and even to give an opinion, just like in English when you say "I feel like this isn't going to work".

• Eu sinto que eles tão se dando muito bem nessa relação, arriscaria até dizer que vão se casar em breve.
• Algumas semanas depois ela me contou que disse pra ele "sinto muito, mas essa relação não tem futuro", foi aí que me dei conta que tinha quebrado a cara.

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Sento - Verb Sentar (I Sit)

"Sento" is the first person of the verb sentar: "eu sento" means "I sit (down)" on a chair. Heads up: in everyday conversation we Brazilians almost always drop the "me", so "eu sento" sounds more natural than "eu me sento".

• Sempre que vou de carona em algum carro eu sento no lado direito.
• Eu nunca sento pra amarrar o cadarço do meu tênis.

Sinto and Sento (in the Same Sentence)

When they show up together is where you notice the difference the most: "sento" describes your body's position and "sinto" is what you perceive or think. In English it's "I sit" versus "I feel", so the meaning is easy to keep apart; the real challenge is that the two words differ by just one vowel.

• Sempre que sento pra conversar com você sinto que temos muito em comum.
• Eu sinto que sento com uma boa postura, e você? sente dores nas costas?

“Porque eu sou do tamanho daquilo que sinto, que vejo e que faço, não do tamanho que as pessoas me enxergam.”
― Carlos Drummond de Andrade

"I'm so sorry" in Portuguese would be "Eu sinto muito".

Article in Portuguese: Maneiras de enviar condolências após a morte de entes queridos.

Cinto (Belt)

"Cinto" means belt in Portuguese, both the one you wear with your pants and the "cinto de segurança" (seat belt) in the car. It's a noun and has nothing to do with the verb sentir, which is why it never goes in "sinto muito".

Now let's use all 3 words in the same sentence.

• Sempre que sento no banco do teu carro sinto que o cinto não é confortável.

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Speaking of "CINTO", it reminded me of "apanhar de cinto" (getting spanked with a belt).

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Condolence Phrases in Portuguese Using the Word "SINTO"

To offer condolences in Portuguese, the most common phrase is "sinto muito pela sua perda", which means "I'm so sorry for your loss". Here "sinto muito" is no longer an apology, it's empathy, and that's how we say it in Brazil in messages, at wakes and on social media.

• Queria muito estar aí para segurar a sua mão nesta hora de luto. Sinto muito pela sua perda.
• Sinto muito pela sua perda, mas lembre-se que a saudade é uma forma de manter vivo quem já se foi.
• Não tenho palavras nem gestos que ajudem você nesta hora difícil, mas estarei sempre aqui. Sinto muito sua perda.
• É com pesar no coração que ofereço minhas condolências pela sua perda. Sinto muito.
• Seja forte, tenha coragem e lembre-se que estarei ao seu lado sempre. Sinto muito pela sua perda.
• Nesse momento de dor, ofereço minha ajuda para o que for preciso e meus mais sinceros pêsames pela sua perda. Sinto muito.

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