Apologies refers to expressions of regret or sorrow for having done something wrong or caused inconvenience. It functions as a polite confession or acknowledgment of fault, often accompanied by a request for forgiveness. In everyday speech, it can also function as a formal apology used in professional settings to mitigate conflicts or restore goodwill.
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US/UK/AU differences in 'apologies' center on vowel length, rhoticity, and final vowel quality. US tends to a slightly broader ‘a’ in the first vowel and a shorter final vowel; UK often features a shorter 'o' and a longer final vowel, with non-rhotic tendencies in many speakers; AU tends to flatter vowels with less distinction in rhotics and a neutralized 'ɪ' in the final syllable. Focus on maintaining primary stress on the second syllable and crisp /dʒ/; ensure the last syllable lands as either /ɪz/ (US short i) or /iːz/ (UK longer i). Use IPA anchors to maintain accuracy between accents.
"She offered her apologies for missing the meeting and promised to catch up on what was discussed."
"The spokesperson issued apologies to customers for the delays in service."
"He muttered a quick apology as he bumped into the chair in a crowded room."
"During the debate, several participants bowed their heads in apologies for interrupting others."
Apologies originates from the Old French word apology, which derives from Latin apologia meaning 'a defense, a speech in support of someone or something.' In English, the term evolved to convey a formal statement of sorrow or remorse rather than a defense. The root apologia combines Greek roots anti- with logos historically but in practice the word entered English via Old French in the medieval period. Over time, apologies broadened from a formal defense in rhetoric to a voluntary expression of regret for personal fault or wrongdoing. The modern sense emphasizes contrition and request for pardon, rather than justification. First recorded use in English traces to the 14th century, aligning with legal and social rituals of accountability, with the meaning gradually expanding to include both personal and institutional expressions of regret. The plural form ‘apologies’ is commonly used in apology statements where multiple expressions or varieties of regret are conveyed, or as a conventional formula in written or spoken English to acknowledge fault and seek forgiveness.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "apologies" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "apologies"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say a·po·l o·g ies with stress on the second syllable: /əˈpɒ.lə.dʒiz/ (UK) or /əˈpɑː.lə.dʒɪz/ (US). Start with a schwa, then a strong 'P' followed by a short 'o' in unstressed position, a light 'l' and a soft 'dʒ' for the 'g' sound, and finish with 'iz.' In fast speech, the middle syllable can reduce: /əˈpɒ.lə.dʒɪz/ or /əˈpɑː.lə.dʒɪz/.
Mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable (AH-PO-lee-jez vs. uh-POH-luh-jeez), mispronouncing the 'g' as a hard 'g' instead of the 'dʒ' sound, and pronouncing the final '-ies' as 'eez' with a long i in some dialects. Correct by stressing the second syllable: uh-POL-uh-jeez, ensure the 'dʒ' is a voiced palato-alveolar affricate, and end with a clear 'iz' or 'eez' sound depending on the accent.
US: /əˈpɑː.lə.dʒɪz/ with r-less non-rhotic vowel in many regions and a tense first syllable. UK: /əˈpɒ.lə.dʒiːz/ with shorter 'o' in 'apo' and a longer final vowel for final syllable. AU: /əˈpɒ.lə.dʒiz/ similar to UK but with Australian vowel coloration and less rhoticity; vowels often less centralized and with a flatter intonation. The key is the 'dʒ' sound and the rhythm: primary stress on the second syllable across varieties.
Because it contains a cluster around 'pol' followed by the 'dʒ' sound, which is a palato-alveolar affricate not always present in all languages. The sequence '-o-l-ə-' can reduce quickly in natural speech, obscuring syllable boundaries. Additionally, stress on the second syllable can feel unnatural if you're accustomed to a different rhythm. Practice the 'dʒ' as a single sound, and maintain a clear 'lə' before it to avoid merging into an 'l' or 'j' blend.
The nuance is the 'pol' cluster followed by 'ə' and the 'dʒ' at the end of the syllable; it's common to mispronounce as 'ap-oll-oh-jeeze' or 'ap-ol-oh-jees'. The correct articulation is a two-step 'l' with a short schwa, then a crisp 'dʒ' into the final 'iz' or 'iːz' depending on accent. Focus on keeping the 'dʒ' as a single sound rather than 'd' and 'ʒ' separately.
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