Condolence
/kənˈdoʊləns/
nounB2
Definition
Condolence means showing care and sadness to someone when they have lost a family member or friend. It is often expressed by words or gestures to comfort the person who is sad because of death.
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⚡ See It in Action
An expression of sympathy for someone’s loss
- •I sent my condolences to my friend after her grandmother passed away.
- •The letter of condolence made the family feel supported.
- •People often offer condolences at funerals.
The feeling of sympathy and sadness for someone who is grieving
- •She felt deep condolence for the family in their hard time.
- •His condolence was clear in his kind words and actions.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'condolence' like 'sorry,' but it is used specifically when someone has lost a loved one.
- ✓Picture a quiet moment where you gently say, 'I am sorry for your loss,' to a friend who is crying.
- ✓It is the feeling when you want to help someone feel less alone in their sadness.
- ✓Sounds like 'con-DO-lence' → imagine giving a gentle 'cone' of support to someone in pain.
- ✓In stories or movies, characters often offer condolences at funerals or after sad news.
- ✓NOT like 'congratulations' (happy event), condolence is for sad events.
- ✓NOT like 'apology' (saying sorry for a mistake), condolence is about feeling sorry for someone's loss.
- ✓NOT an action that changes things, but a way to show care and support.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Sympathy: feeling sorry for someone’s pain or sadness (Use when the sadness is not only about death)
- •Commiseration: sharing sadness with someone (Use in formal or literary contexts)
- •Pity: feeling sorry for someone (Use carefully, as it can sound less kind or more distant)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'con-' (with, together) + 'dolere' (Latin for to grieve or feel pain) + '-ence' (noun suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'condolentia,' meaning to suffer pain together or share grief
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century to describe shared feelings of grief or sympathy
- •Modern usage: Mainly used to express sympathy when someone dies, often in formal or polite speech
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do people in your culture show condolence when someone dies? Are there special words or actions?
•Can offering condolence help both the person who is sad and the one giving it? How?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When someone loses a family member, it is kind to offer ___ to show you care.
2.A card of condolence usually contains words that ___ sympathy and support.
3.Unlike a happy message, a condolence message is sent because of ___.
4.People often give condolences ___ funerals or memorial services.
5.Saying "I offer my condolences" means you want to ___ the person's sadness.
6.Condolence is different from apology because it does not admit a ___.
7.When you receive condolences, it means others understand your ___ and pain.