Phrase · 🙇 Apologies & excuses

Fiquei preso numa reunião.

I got stuck in a meeting.

B1explaining why you are lateAudio · coming soon

Why every word is where it is

Fiquei1verbI gotficar · past · 1st sing.preso2verbstuckprender · participle · masc. · sing.numa3prepositionin aem · fem. · sing. · indefinitereuniãonounmeetingfem. · sing..

Fiquei → preso: periphrasis
preso → numa: preposition
numa → reunião: contraction

Word for word: “(I) stayed held in-a meeting.”

Why it's built this way

The notes match the numbers above.

1
ficar + participle = to end up in a state. A woman says fiquei presa. Passive voice with ser (and estar / ficar + participle) →
2
preso = stuck, held up: short participle of prender. Not only "prisoner". Double participles (aceitado / aceito) →
3
numa = em + uma, very common in speech. Contractions: preposition + article/pronoun →

Variations

Fiquei presa numa reunião.
A reunião atrasou, desculpa!
Fiquei preso no trânsito.