mea culpa
Lemma Details
Translation: my fault; my mistake; through my fault
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: Borrowed directly from Latin 'mea culpa' meaning 'through my fault' or 'my fault'. This phrase comes from the Catholic confession prayer 'Confiteor' where sinners acknowledge their sins. The Latin 'mea' means 'my' and 'culpa' means 'fault' or 'blame'. The phrase entered Spanish through ecclesiastical usage and has maintained its original Latin form and meaning, eventually becoming used in secular contexts as well.
Commonality: 40%
Guessability: 80%
Register: formal
Example Usage
Mea culpa por el error en el informe.
My fault for the error in the report.
Debo hacer un mea culpa por mi comportamiento de ayer.
I must acknowledge my fault for my behavior yesterday.
El político hizo un mea culpa público tras el escándalo.
The politician made a public admission of guilt after the scandal.
Mnemonics
- 'Mea' sounds like 'mía' (mine in Spanish), helping remember it means 'my'
- 'Culpa' is related to 'culpable' in English, meaning guilty or at fault
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
While originally from Catholic liturgy, 'mea culpa' is now used in secular Spanish to acknowledge one's mistakes or accept blame. It's considered somewhat formal or educated speech, often used in professional or public contexts when someone wants to formally acknowledge an error. The phrase retains its Latin form and is recognized across many Western languages including English.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'mea culpa' is a Latin phrase used formally to acknowledge fault, 'culpa mía' is the standard Spanish way of saying 'my fault' in everyday conversation.
Notes: 'Mea culpa' is often used in more formal contexts or when making a public admission of fault, while 'culpa mía' is more common in everyday conversation.
Mnemonic: 'Mea culpa' sounds more formal and Latin, while 'culpa mía' sounds more conversational and Spanish.