Basic Details
Word: Apologise
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To say that you are sorry for something you did wrong or for trouble you caused.
Synonyms: say sorry, beg pardon
How to Spell Apologise
Syllables: a - pol - o - gise
Tricky part: There is only one p and only one l, and the vowel after the l is o. Many students double a letter (appologise) or write an a in the middle (apolagise).
Watch out for: appologise, apolagise, apollogise
Memory tip: Hide a polo match inside it: a-POLO-gise. A polo player who fouls must apologise, and polo has just one l.
Usage Examples
Example 1: You should apologise to your sister for breaking her crayons.
Example 2: The airline had to apologise to passengers after a five-hour delay.
Example 3: I apologise for not calling you back yesterday.
Fun Fact
The Greek word apologia meant a speech in defence, not saying sorry. That is why the speech Socrates gave at his trial, as written by Plato, is called the Apology.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. sympathise 2. criticise 3. apolagise 4. recognise
a) to know someone or something from before
b) to share someone's feelings or support them
c) to say sorry for a mistake
d) to point out faults
Show answer
c) to say sorry for a mistake. Apolagise has an a where apologise needs an o, right after the l.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to apologise as used in the sentence:
The bus driver stopped to apologise to the cyclist he had nearly knocked over.
a) argue
b) boast
c) complain
d) say sorry
Show answer
d) say sorry. To apologise is to say sorry for something you did.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
apollogise
a) g
b) o
c) p
d) l
Show answer
d) l. One l is enough, as in polo: a-pol-o-gise.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
After the quarrel, Sameer wrote a note to seiplagoo to his friend.
a) apologist
b) apology
c) apologise
d) apologies
Show answer
c) apologise. Apologies is made of the very same letters, but after to the sentence needs the verb apologise.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which noun goes with the verb apologise?
a) apologetic
b) apologised
c) apology
d) apologising
Show answer
c) apology
2. An American book would most likely spell apologise as ____.
a) apologize
b) apologyse
c) apolagize
d) appologize
Show answer
a) apologize
