Basic Details
Word: Condolence
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Sympathy that you express to someone when a person close to them has died. It is often used in the plural: my condolences.
Synonyms: sympathy, commiseration, comfort
How to Spell Condolence
Syllables: con - do - lence
Tricky part: The ending is -ence, not -ance or -ense, and there is one l. Students write condolance or condolense.
Watch out for: condolance, condolense, condollence
Memory tip: Inside is dol, as in doleful, which means sad. Write con + dol + ence: one l, and the -ence of patience.
Usage Examples
Example 1: We sent a card of condolence to our neighbours when their grandfather passed away.
Example 2: Hundreds of people signed the condolence book at the town hall.
Example 3: Please accept my sincere condolences on your loss.
Fun Fact
Condolence comes from Latin condolere, to suffer together with someone, from com-, with, and dolere, to grieve.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
cond_l_nce
a) o, e
b) a, e
c) o, a
d) o, i
Show answer
a) o, e. The vowel after d is o, and the word finishes with -ence, as patience does.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. condolence 2. bereavment 3. memorail 4. funerel
a) sympathy expressed when someone has died
b) a ceremony held for a person who has died
c) the loss of a close relative or friend through death
d) something built to help people remember a person or event
Show answer
a) sympathy expressed when someone has died. Funeral and bereavement are easy to misspell by ear and memorial by a slip of the pen; condolence is the one left as it should be.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word condolence as used in the sentence:
After the floods, the chief minister conveyed her condolence to every family that had lost a relative.
a) sympathy
b) apology
c) thanks
d) invitation
Show answer
a) sympathy. A letter of condolence offers sympathy to people who are grieving.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When would you offer someone your condolences?
a) when they get married
b) when it is their birthday
c) when a loved one has died
d) when they win a prize
Show answer
c) when a loved one has died
2. A message of condolence should sound ____.
a) gentle and sincere
b) proud and boastful
c) cheerful and jokey
d) angry and harsh
Show answer
a) gentle and sincere
