As an Australian and also a regular visitor to the US over last 15 years, I have never heard the expresion "my bad" until a few months ago. Now I often see it in emails and posts from theUS.

I understand it to mean "my mistake", "my error" or "sorry".

Where did it come from? Did it appear in a recent episode of South Park or something like that?

 

"my bad" was derived from hip-hop culture, where using rap as a medium, it was strewed unto the masses, and thus unto you.

 

I can also add that it's been around for a long time. I remember hearing/using it back about 8 or 9 years ago.

 

dave must be old because as an aussie i have used "my bad" for a while, but im hip to the lingo, im down witit, you know wat im saying.
wassssup!!!!!!

 

I think it's a dumb expression.

But that's just me, Mr. Vegas...

 

The last time I noticed it was when a coworker in Massachussets who is 53 (2 years older than me) used it in an email last week.

 

u old homeboy!!! my peeps and i have been uzin it since back in the day u know wat im sayn cuz.
no but seriously it is fairly old and the younger generation use it all the time.
eg.
dude 1: check out that hottie!!!
dude 2: man that's a prawn (keep the body but throw away the head)
dude 1: my bad bro, my bad.

one that got me in stitches is "testie pop" as in testicle pop. this is used to explain that high voice breaking sound young adolescent males make when talking and also experiencing puberty.
i always used to know it as voice breaking but apparently the younger generation say "testie pop"

word out boyz and if u have any more questions just drop a dime.