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"Excuse" is a noun which is often translated as "la excusa", and "apologize" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "disculparse". Learn more about the difference between "excuse" and "apologize" below.
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
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
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
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
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.
apologize(
uh
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pa
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luh
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jayz
)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.
