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"Apologize" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "disculparse", and "excuse" is a noun which is often translated as "la excusa". Learn more about the difference between "apologize" and "excuse" below.
apologize()
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. disculparse
Did I step on your foot? I apologize, sir. It was an accident.¿Le pisé? Me disculpo, señor. Fue sin querer.
Jorge apologized for arriving late to class.Jorge se disculpó por haber llegado tarde a clase.
c. pedir disculpas
If you insulted her, you should apologize.Si la insultaste, debes pedirle disculpas.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
2. (pretext)
b. el pretexto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I think Clara was just looking for an excuse to come round.Creo que Clara solo buscaba un pretexto para venir aquí.
3. (colloquial) (poor specimen)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
The following examples show ways to translate this word or phrase without using a direct equivalent.
Why do we have to live in this sorry excuse for a house?¿Por qué tenemos que vivir en esta porquería de casa?
Your brother-in-law is a poor excuse of a man.Tu cuñado no es digno de llamarse hombre.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to pardon)
a. no direct translation
The following examples show ways to translate this word or phrase without using a direct equivalent.
Please excuse me. I have a flight to catch.Con permiso. Tengo que tomar un vuelo.
Sheena excused herself and went out to make a phone call.Sheena pidió permiso y salió a hacer una llamada.
a. justificar
I know Alex was ill, but that doesn't excuse his rudeness.Sé que Alex estaba enfermo, pero eso no justifica su falta de educación.
