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How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in Portuguese

Com licença

kohng lee-SENG-suh

[kohng lee-SENG-suh]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: [Com licença] is the polite all-purpose choice for getting past someone, interrupting, or politely getting attention. It is often better than [desculpe] when you are not really apologising for a mistake.

Phrase Breakdown

Com

[kohng]

with

Part of the polite fixed expression 'Com licença', used to get attention or pass by.

Example

Com licença, posso entrar?

Excuse me, may I come in?

licença

[lee-SENG-suh]

permission / excuse

Literally 'permission'; the full phrase means 'excuse me'.

Example

Diga Com licença ao passar.

Say excuse me when passing by.

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