Skip to content
0 of 7 daysNothing due

Phrase · 🙇 Apologies & excuses

Fui pego de surpresa.

I was caught off guard.

B1explaining you weren’t preparedAudio · coming soon
Practise this phrase

Why every word is where it is

Fui1verbI wasser · past · 1st sing.pego2verbcaughtpegar · participle · masc. · sing.de3prepositionbysurpresa3nounsurprisefem. · sing..
  • Fui → pego: periphrasis
  • pego → de: preposition
  • de → surpresa: fixed phrase

Word for word: “(I) was caught of surprise.”

Why it's built this way

The notes match the numbers above.

  1. 1
    Fui pego: passive with ser. A woman says fui pega: the participle agrees. Passive voice with ser (and estar / ficar + participle) →
  2. 2
    pego (open é): short participle of pegar, normal in Brazil next to pegado. Double participles (aceitado / aceito) →
  3. 3
    de surpresa = by surprise, off guard. Spelled with u: surpresa.

Variations

  • Fui pega de surpresa.
  • Isso me pegou de surpresa.
  • Eu não esperava por isso.