Both come from the root mluv- (“to speak”), but one means dodging blame and the other means owning up. Don’t mix them!
1. Making excuses: vymlouvat se
vymlouvat se (imperfective) / vymluvit se (perfective) = to make excuses, to talk your way out of something. The noun is výmluva — “an excuse.”
On se pořád vymlouvá!
He’s always making excuses! (= On má pořád nějaké výmluvy!)
2. Apologising: omluva
omluva is “an apology,” and the verb is omluvit se — “to apologise.” It can also mean “to excuse oneself” (to send your apologies for not attending).
On se omluvil, protože má zkoušku.
He sent his apologies, because he has an exam.
Omlouvám se, dnes nepřijdu, protože musím k doktorovi.
I’m sorry, I won’t come today, because I have to go to the doctor.
Keep them apart: vymluvit se = to make an excuse (dodge responsibility), while omluvit se = to apologise (accept it). One vy-, one o-, opposite attitudes.
Bonus: the mluv- family
Once you spot the root mluv-, a whole cluster opens up:
- mluvit — to speak
- mluva — speech / a manner of speaking
- rozmluva — a conversation
- domluvit se — to communicate / reach an agreement
- přemluvit — to talk someone into something / persuade
So: vymluvit se to get out of it, omluvit se to make it right — and everything in between comes from good old mluvit.
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