Basic Details
Word: Aptitude
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A natural ability to learn or do something well.
Synonyms: talent, ability, gift, flair
Antonyms: inability
Sounds like: attitude (the way you think or feel about something)
How to Spell Aptitude
Syllables: ap - ti - tude
Tricky part: It starts with apt, so the letters are p then t. Students mix it up with attitude, which has tt, and sometimes end it with tute.
Watch out for: aptitute, apptitude, aptetude
Memory tip: An apt pupil learns quickly, and aptitude is built on apt. Attitude has two t's together; aptitude has p and t.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Leela has a real aptitude for music; she picked up the tabla in a month.
Example 2: Our school gives an aptitude test before students choose their subjects.
Example 3: He showed little aptitude for cooking and burnt the rice twice.
Fun Fact
Many entrance and job exams in India, such as bank recruitment tests, have an aptitude section that checks reasoning and number skills rather than memory.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. aptitude 2. gratitute 3. solitood 4. magnitute
a) the state of being alone
b) great size or importance
c) a feeling of being thankful
d) a natural ability to do something well
Show answer
d) a natural ability to do something well. All four should end in tude; only aptitude does, so it is the word to define.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to aptitude as used in the sentence:
Even as a child, Srinivasa Ramanujan showed an extraordinary aptitude for numbers.
a) attitude
b) dislike
c) weakness
d) talent
Show answer
d) talent. Aptitude here is a natural skill, which is a talent; attitude only looks similar.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The coach noticed her uiapttde for long-distance running.
a) aptitude
b) attitude
c) altitude
d) amplitude
Show answer
a) aptitude. Spot the p in the jumble: attitude and altitude have none, and amplitude would also want an m and an l, so the letters make aptitude.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A student with an aptitude for languages ____.
a) dislikes reading
b) cannot hear well
c) learns new languages easily
d) speaks only one language
Show answer
c) learns new languages easily
2. Which word sounds close to aptitude but means your way of thinking or behaving?
a) altitude
b) latitude
c) attitude
d) gratitude
Show answer
c) attitude
