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How to Say ‘Sorry, I don't want to bother you.’ in Portuguese

Desculpe, não quero incomodar.

des-koo-lpe NOWN KEH-roo een-koo-moo-DAR

[des-koo-lpe NOWN KEH-roo een-koo-moo-DAR]

Phrase Breakdown

Desculpe,

des-koo-lpe

Excuse me / Sorry,

Polite form of 'sorry'. In Portugal the first 'e' is almost silent: 'dshkulp'.

Example

Desculpe, onde fica a estação?

Excuse me, where is the station?

Words in this phrase

Desculpe

[des-koo-lpe]

sorry

A polite expression used to forgive or ask for forgiveness.

Example

Eu estou desculpado.

I am forgiven.

não quero incomodar.

NOWN KEH-roo een-koo-moo-DAR

I don't want to bother you.

'Não' goes before the verb to negate it. Stress the end of 'incomodar'.

Example

Não quero incomodar agora.

I don't want to bother you now.

Words in this phrase

não

[NOWN]

not

Used to negate the meaning of a word or group of words.

Example

Não quero comer agora.

I don't want to eat now.

quero

[KEH-roo]

I want

First-person present of 'querer', to want.

Example

Quero um café.

I want a coffee.

incomodar

[een-koo-moo-DAR]

to bother

Verb meaning to disturb or inconvenience someone; polite when approaching strangers.

Example

Não quero incomodar, mas tenho uma pergunta.

I don't want to bother you, but I have a question.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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