Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Tens razão, desculpa.

Tens razão, desculpa.

You are right, sorry.

Breakdown of Tens razão, desculpa.

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Questions & Answers about Tens razão, desculpa.

Why does the sentence use tens (to have) instead of a verb for 'to be'?

In English, a person is right, but in Portuguese, a person has reason. The set phrase is ter razão. Since the speaker is talking to someone informally, they use tens, the informal 'you' form of ter.

Why is the word for sorry desculpa here and not desculpe?

The apology has to match the formality of the rest of the sentence. Because tens is informal, you use the informal apology desculpa. If you were speaking to someone formally, both words would change: Tem razão, desculpe.

Could I say estás certo instead of tens razão to mean 'you are right'?

You can, but ter razão is much more natural when admitting a person's opinion or argument is correct. Estar certo is more commonly used to say that a specific fact, answer, or calculation is correct.