- An informal expression used to admit fault or acknowledge a small mistake.
- It means My mistake or It was my fault.
Explanation
Origin
- Originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) likely in the 1970s or 1980s.
- Popularized through sports (particularly basketball, where players would admit fault for a turnover or foul) and spread into wider youth and mainstream slang in the 1990s (notably via the movie *Clueless*).
- It's a simple possessive construction (my) applied to the concept of bad (fault, error).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- (My bad is already very slangy)
- My fault, G. (Adding 'G' for extra slang feel)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- My fuck up. (Admits a significant error, vulgar)
- Yeah, I fucked up.
Milder / More Formal:
- I apologize.
- Please excuse my error.
- That was my responsibility.
- I take full responsibility.
Situational Appropriateness
- Very informal. Suitable for minor errors among peers, friends, or in casual settings.
- Generally inappropriate for serious mistakes or in formal/professional contexts. Using My bad after a major error can sound flippant and insufficient. Use I apologize or I take responsibility instead.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Some non-native speakers or older speakers might find the grammar odd (My modifying an adjective bad). Explain it functions as a set phrase meaning My fault.
- The main risk is using it for a mistake that's too serious, making the speaker seem dismissive of the consequences.
Examples
- Oops, I bumped into you. My bad.
- I forgot to send the email. That's my bad.
- You brought the wrong book? My bad.
Dialogue
Alex: Hey, did you grab my coffee order too?
Jamie: Oh shoot, I only got mine. Totally forgot. My bad.
Alex: Ah, okay. No worries, I'll grab one later.
Social Media Examples
- Reply to correcting info: Oh right, got the date wrong. My bad!
- Chat message: Sent that to the wrong chat lol. My bad.
- Comment: Whoops, double post. My bad, guys.
Response Patterns
- Acceptance/Downplaying: No problem., It's okay., Don't worry about it., No worries.
- Acknowledgment: Okay., Alright.
- Annoyance (if the mistake was significant): Yeah, it is your bad., Try not to let it happen again.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After saying My bad:
- Offering to fix the mistake: My bad. Let me correct that.
- Moving on quickly.
After hearing My bad:
- Often, the conversation just moves on if the mistake was minor.
- If necessary, confirming the correction: Okay, can you send the right email now?
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a response to making or being called out on a mistake.
Intonation
- Usually said quickly and casually, often with a slightly apologetic or sheepish tone.
- Stress often equal on both words, or slightly more on bad. My BAD.
- Can sometimes sound dismissive if said too casually after a significant mistake.
Generation Differences
- Strongly associated with Millennials and Gen Z, who popularized it.
- Understood by Gen X.
- Older generations (Boomers) might find it overly casual or grammatically strange, preferring My mistake or My fault.
Regional Variations
- Originated in the US (AAVE) but now widely understood and used in other English-speaking countries, especially among younger people influenced by American media.