Spelling Word Lists by Grade

Find the right spelling words for your level. Free lists for every grade, from early readers to adults, organized so you can focus on what matters most.

1st Grade Spelling Words

Simple, everyday words first graders are learning to read and spell.

bat
tooth
spin
fox
sick
pig
ran
your
cut
Browse 1st grade words

2nd Grade Spelling Words

Common, mostly short words second graders read and write.

four
plan
paid
bright
rise
food
sold
height
went
Browse 2nd grade words

3rd Grade Spelling Words

Familiar words with longer spellings as third graders gain confidence.

close
person
pardon
am
particle
stone
near
shirt
value
Browse 3rd grade words

4th Grade Spelling Words

Multi-syllable words for fourth graders building fluency.

friends
fugitive
pineapple
perhaps
speed
choir
fountain
goose
hammer
Browse 4th grade words

5th Grade Spelling Words

Richer, more varied vocabulary for confident upper-elementary readers.

scissors
naughty
freight
afraid
feast
Saturn
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6th Grade Spelling Words

Two- and three-syllable words sixth graders meet in everyday reading.

complain
negative
importance
encouragement
shelves
mixture
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7th Grade Spelling Words

A wider range of words for seventh graders to master.

capital
inherit
cinnamon
culminate
heroic
elementary
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8th Grade Spelling Words

A broad mix of longer words for eighth graders.

vessel
equilibrium
newsstand
parachute
epidemic
belligerent
Browse 8th grade words

9th Grade Spelling Words

Substantial words for students entering high school.

diurnal
poignant
odor
animosity
renovate
situated
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10th Grade Spelling Words

Everyday vocabulary every high schooler should be able to spell.

emboss
genteel
morale
beguiled
maternal
cumulative
Browse 10th grade words

11th Grade Spelling Words

Familiar, useful words to keep eleventh graders sharp.

convivial
abdicate
querulous
guile
pernicious
nebulous
Browse 11th grade words

12th Grade Spelling Words

Everyday spelling words to carry out of high school.

rostrum
appreciate
bogus
corresponding
consummate
revert
Browse 12th grade words

Sight Words

The most common words in English, learned by sight before sounding out. Dolch and Fry lists plus the Top 150, for beginning readers.

first
going
by
his
again
kiss
her
then
from
Browse Sight Words

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between spelling words and sight words?

Sight words are the most common words in English, the ones readers learn to recognize instantly because they turn up constantly and often aren't spelled the way they sound (like "the," "was," or "could"). Spelling words are the broader, grade-level vocabulary students learn to read, write, and spell as they move up. Beginning readers usually start with sight words, then grow into the grade lists. Both are here, free to browse.

How are these different from spelling bee words?

These are everyday, grade-level words students read and write in school, built for steady classroom practice. Spelling bee words are curated to be harder, climbing toward the long, uncommon words used in competitions. If you're preparing for a bee, the Spelling Bee Words lists are the better fit; for grade-level practice, you're in the right place.

How should I practice these spelling words?

Start with the grade that matches your level, then work through one list at a time instead of all at once. Reading each word, writing it out, and saying it aloud all help, since spelling sticks best through repetition across different senses. You can study any grade's lists on SpellQuiz for free, and when you're ready to check yourself, the Spelling Test gives instant feedback on what you got right and what to review. A little each day beats one long session.