Question

Idiom - Identify the meaning of the idiom: Mea culpa

Answer 1

Step 1 — Origin of the idiom:
The phrase Mea culpa comes from Latin. It literally means “through my fault” and was traditionally used in prayers and confessions to admit wrongdoing.

Step 2 — Meaning in English usage:
In modern English, Mea culpa is used as an expression where someone admits their mistake and accepts responsibility. It is equivalent to saying “I am to blame” or “It’s my fault.”

Step 3 — Example usage:
- After submitting the wrong report, the manager said, “Mea culpa, I should have checked the data carefully.”
- “The error in the article was my mea culpa.”

Step 4 — Conclude:
Thus, the meaning of the idiom Mea culpa is I am to blame.

Answer: The correct answer is I am to blame.

Answer 2

Rather than explaining the idiom's history first, it can be solved by breaking the Latin phrase into its two parts and translating each one directly.

1. Break down "Mea": This word is the Latin possessive meaning "my."
2. Break down "Culpa": This word is the Latin noun meaning "fault" or "guilt."
3. Combine the parts: Put together, "mea culpa" literally reads as "my fault," which in everyday English is expressed as admitting responsibility for a mistake.
4. Test against rival meanings: Meanings such as "it is not my fault" or "I do not care" would require entirely different Latin words, so they can be ruled out on the direct translation alone.

A literal word-by-word translation of the Latin phrase leads directly to an admission of personal fault.

Hence, the correct answer is I am to blame.