What does “foi mal” mean in Brazilian Portuguese?

Foi mal literally means “it went badly,” but Brazilians use it as a light, throwaway apology, much like “my bad.” You say it after bumping into someone, answering late, or getting something wrong. It is friendly and quick, so it suits friends and coworkers. It sounds too casual for a serious apology, where you would use desculpa or peço desculpas.

In the clip, a friend calls out the other for staring at a wall to avoid eye contact, and he answers with a sheepish “Foi mal. É que eu tenho vergonha.” The apology shows how naturally foi mal opens an excuse. It works as a reply too: someone says “foi mal!” and you can answer “tranquilo” or “de boa” (“no worries”).