excuse
nounA reason you give to explain why you did something wrong or why you cannot do something.
verbTo say that someone is not responsible or to forgive them for something they did.
verbTo let someone go or be free from something they have to do.
verbTo give a reason why something bad or wrong happened.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Short E
The letter E makes a short sound, like in 'bed' and 'red'.
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound /ɛ/. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says /ɛ/ like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter X
The letter X usually makes the /ks/ sound, like in 'fox', 'box', and 'mix'.
X is unusual — it represents two sounds blended together: /k/ + /s/ = /ks/. At the start of a word it sometimes makes a /z/ sound (xylophone). At the end of words it reliably says /ks/.
Tip
X says /ks/ — like a fox in a box!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Hard C
C makes the /k/ sound before A, O, U, or a consonant, like in 'cat' and 'cup'.
The letter C makes the hard /k/ sound when followed by A, O, U, or a consonant. This is the default C sound. Examples: cat, cup, coat, cold, crab, class.
Tip
C says K before A, O, U — cat, cup, coat!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with U — /juː/ (Magic E)
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the U say its name with a /j/ glide — like 'cute' and 'use'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the silent E makes U say /juː/ by default. After L, R, S, or J, see the companion rule silent_e_u_e_oo for the /uː/ pronunciation.
Tip
Magic E makes U say YOO!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter S
The letter S usually makes the /s/ sound, like in 'sun', 'sit', and 'sock'. Air hisses through a small gap.
S is a voiceless alveolar fricative when it makes the /s/ sound. At the end of many words it can also make a /z/ sound (as in 'dogs' or 'has'). At the start of a word it is always /s/.
Tip
S hisses like a snake — sssssun!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with U — /juː/ (Magic E)
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the U say its name with a /j/ glide — like 'cute' and 'use'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the silent E makes U say /juː/ by default. After L, R, S, or J, see the companion rule silent_e_u_e_oo for the /uː/ pronunciation.
Tip
Magic E makes U say YOO!
Examples
What is SnapPhonics?
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