By Vahid Alaghehband
These are lists of 20 spelling bee words per grade, from 1st to 8th grade, for school and classroom spelling bees. They start with short words spelled the way they sound (map, fox) and build up to silent letters, Greek and Latin roots, double letters and borrowed words (silhouette). Each word has its part of speech and a short definition. Practice about 10 words a day: listen, say the word, spell it out loud and say it again.
A spelling bee is a contest where a judge says a word and the speller has to spell it out loud, letter by letter. School and classroom bees usually use words matched to each grade, so kids are challenged without being overwhelmed. This guide is about spelling bees for kids and schools, not the daily word puzzle game.
We wrote our own lists to practice the patterns that show up again and again. If your school or contest has an official study list, start with that one and use these lists to reinforce the patterns. For a complete preparation plan, read how to win a spelling bee.
How are these spelling lists organized?
Each grade has 20 words that share a spelling pattern: short vowels in 1st grade, blends and silent e in 2nd, vowel teams and endings in 3rd, silent letters and homophones in 4th, prefixes and suffixes in 5th, Greek and Latin roots in 6th, double letters in 7th and borrowed words in 8th. The lists are original HelloVozi lists, and the grade for each one is a guide.
- Word: in U.S. spelling, which most school spelling bees in the United States use.
- Part of speech: noun, verb, adjective or number. In many contests, spellers can ask the judge for the part of speech when a word could be confusing.
- Definition: a short, simple sentence we wrote so kids learn what the word means, not just how to spell it.
The grade is a reference point: a strong 3rd grader can try the 4th grade list, and an older child who is new to English can start a few grades lower. What matters is mastering one pattern before moving to the next.
Jump to: 1st grade · 2nd grade · 3rd grade · 4th grade · 5th grade · 6th grade · 7th grade · 8th grade
1st grade spelling bee words
Focus: Short vowels. Three- and four-letter words that are spelled the way they sound: consonant, short vowel, consonant (m-a-p).
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| map | noun | A drawing that shows where places are. |
| fox | noun | A wild animal with a bushy tail. |
| wet | adjective | Covered with water. |
| hop | verb | To jump in small, quick jumps. |
| bug | noun | A small insect. |
| nap | noun | A short sleep during the day. |
| lid | noun | The top that covers a pot or a box. |
| mud | noun | Soft, wet dirt. |
| van | noun | A vehicle bigger than a car, used to carry people or things. |
| web | noun | The net a spider spins. |
| zip | verb | To close something with a zipper. |
| sad | adjective | Feeling unhappy. |
| dig | verb | To make a hole in the ground. |
| hug | verb | To hold someone close in your arms. |
| log | noun | A thick piece of a cut tree. |
| jet | noun | A very fast airplane. |
| kid | noun | A child. |
| pot | noun | A deep, round container for cooking. |
| rug | noun | A small carpet. |
| fun | noun | Something you enjoy doing. |
2nd grade spelling bee words
Focus: Blends and silent e. Two consonants blended together (fr, pl, st) and a final e that makes the vowel say its name (brave, globe).
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| frog | noun | A small jumping animal that lives near water. |
| plant | noun | A living thing that grows in soil. |
| snack | noun | A little food eaten between meals. |
| drum | noun | An instrument you hit to make a beat. |
| grape | noun | A small, round fruit that grows in bunches. |
| slide | verb | To move smoothly over a surface. |
| stone | noun | A small piece of rock. |
| flute | noun | An instrument you play by blowing across a hole. |
| crab | noun | A sea animal with a shell and claws that walks sideways. |
| chest | noun | The front of your body between your neck and belly. |
| thick | adjective | Wide from one side to the other; not thin. |
| shell | noun | The hard outer cover of an egg, a nut or some animals. |
| whisk | verb | To beat eggs or cream quickly. |
| spoke | verb | Past tense of speak. |
| brave | adjective | Ready to face danger or pain. |
| plane | noun | A machine with wings that flies. |
| globe | noun | A round model of the Earth. |
| skate | verb | To glide on ice or on wheels. |
| prize | noun | Something you win. |
| twin | noun | One of two children born at the same time to the same mother. |
3rd grade spelling bee words
Focus: Vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, -ed and -ing. Two letters that team up to make one vowel sound (ea, oa, ou), vowels changed by an r, and endings that double a consonant or change y to i.
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| bread | noun | A baked food made from flour, water and yeast. |
| stream | noun | A small, narrow river. |
| toast | noun | Bread made brown and crisp with heat. |
| sway | verb | To move slowly from side to side. |
| chain | noun | A row of metal rings joined together. |
| shadow | noun | The dark shape made when something blocks the light. |
| storm | noun | Bad weather with strong wind and rain. |
| thirteen | number | The number after twelve. |
| purse | noun | A small bag for money and personal things. |
| sharp | adjective | Having an edge or point that can cut. |
| spider | noun | A small animal with eight legs that spins webs. |
| hurried | verb | Past tense of hurry: moved quickly. |
| jogging | verb | The -ing form of jog: running slowly. |
| smiled | verb | Past tense of smile. |
| crayon | noun | A colored wax stick for drawing. |
| peanut | noun | A nut that grows underground. |
| cloud | noun | A white or gray mass of tiny water drops in the sky. |
| mouse | noun | A small animal with a long tail. |
| flower | noun | The colorful part of a plant. |
| joyful | adjective | Very happy. |
4th grade spelling bee words
Focus: Silent letters and homophones. Letters you write but don't say (kn, wr, mb, gh) and words that sound the same but are spelled differently (pair and pear).
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| wrist | noun | The joint between your hand and your arm. |
| knock | verb | To hit a door to let people know you are there. |
| gnome | noun | A small man in fairy tales who lives underground. |
| comb | noun | A tool with teeth for tidying hair. |
| whistle | noun | A small tool that makes a high sound when you blow it. |
| bought | verb | Past tense of buy. |
| caught | verb | Past tense of catch. |
| eight | number | The number after seven. |
| flour | noun | Powder made from grain, used to bake bread. |
| pair | noun | Two things that go together. |
| pear | noun | A sweet fruit, narrow at the top and round at the bottom. |
| tail | noun | The part at the back of an animal's body. |
| tale | noun | A story. |
| rhyme | noun | A word that ends with the same sound as another. |
| thought | noun | An idea in your mind. |
| honey | noun | A sweet, sticky food made by bees. |
| village | noun | A small group of houses in the country. |
| planet | noun | A large, round object that travels around a star. |
| rabbit | noun | A small animal with long ears. |
| doubt | verb | To feel unsure whether something is true. |
5th grade spelling bee words
Focus: Prefixes, suffixes and -tion. Word parts added at the start or the end (un-, dis-, -less, -ment) and the common -tion ending.
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| unusual | adjective | Not common; different from what you expect. |
| disagree | verb | To have a different opinion. |
| preview | noun | A look at something before everyone else sees it. |
| mislead | verb | To make someone believe something that isn't true. |
| careless | adjective | Not paying enough attention. |
| graceful | adjective | Moving in a smooth and elegant way. |
| brightness | noun | The quality of giving a lot of light. |
| agreement | noun | A decision that two or more people accept. |
| motion | noun | The act of moving. |
| lotion | noun | A cream you put on your skin. |
| fraction | noun | A part of a whole, like one half. |
| nation | noun | A country and its people. |
| explore | verb | To travel through a place to learn about it. |
| harvest | noun | The time when crops are gathered. |
| captain | noun | The person in charge of a ship or a team. |
| measure | verb | To find the size or amount of something. |
| treasure | noun | Gold, jewels or other valuable things. |
| volcano | noun | A mountain that can throw out hot, melted rock. |
| calendar | noun | A chart of the days, weeks and months of a year. |
| recycle | verb | To use something again or turn it into something new. |
6th grade spelling bee words
Focus: Greek and Latin roots, -ible, -able and -ous. Roots such as bio (life), tele (far), graph (write) and port (carry) help you spell long words you have never seen.
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| biology | noun | The science of living things. |
| telescope | noun | A tool that makes faraway objects look closer. |
| autograph | noun | A person's signature, often a famous person's. |
| microphone | noun | A device that picks up sound to record it or make it louder. |
| geography | noun | The study of the Earth's land, seas and people. |
| transport | verb | To carry people or goods from one place to another. |
| spectator | noun | A person who watches an event. |
| audience | noun | The people who watch or listen to a show. |
| portable | adjective | Easy to carry. |
| visible | adjective | Able to be seen. |
| flexible | adjective | Able to bend without breaking. |
| comfortable | adjective | Relaxed and free from pain. |
| nervous | adjective | Worried and a little afraid. |
| enormous | adjective | Extremely large. |
| generous | adjective | Happy to give time, help or money. |
| century | noun | A period of one hundred years. |
| triangle | noun | A shape with three sides. |
| predict | verb | To say what will happen in the future. |
| signature | noun | Your name written in your own way. |
| chronicle | noun | A record of events in the order they happened. |
7th grade spelling bee words
Focus: Double letters, -ance and -ence. Words where it's easy to forget a double letter (committee) or to mix up the endings -ance and -ence.
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| accommodate | verb | To provide room or what someone needs. |
| occasion | noun | A special event or a particular time. |
| committee | noun | A group of people chosen to make decisions. |
| parallel | adjective | Running side by side at the same distance. |
| appearance | noun | The way someone or something looks. |
| performance | noun | A show, or how well someone does something. |
| confidence | noun | A feeling of trust in yourself. |
| silence | noun | Complete quiet. |
| existence | noun | The state of being real or alive. |
| guidance | noun | Help or advice. |
| rhythm | noun | A regular, repeated pattern of sounds or beats. |
| exaggerate | verb | To make something seem bigger than it really is. |
| mischievous | adjective | Playful in a way that causes small trouble. |
| fascinate | verb | To attract strong interest. |
| cemetery | noun | A place where people are buried. |
| privilege | noun | A special right or advantage. |
| pursue | verb | To follow, or to work toward a goal. |
| recommend | verb | To suggest something as good. |
| schedule | noun | A plan that lists times for activities. |
| tongue | noun | The soft part in your mouth that helps you taste and speak. |
8th grade spelling bee words
Focus: Borrowed words and advanced spelling. Words borrowed from French, Greek and other languages that keep their original spelling (silhouette, psychology).
| Word | Part of speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| conscientious | adjective | Careful to do tasks well and thoroughly. |
| bureaucracy | noun | A system of officials and rules that runs an organization. |
| silhouette | noun | The dark outline of something against a light background. |
| rendezvous | noun | A planned meeting at a set time and place. |
| pneumonia | noun | A serious illness that affects the lungs. |
| psychology | noun | The science of the mind and behavior. |
| entrepreneur | noun | A person who starts and runs a business. |
| camouflage | noun | Colors or shapes that help something blend into its surroundings. |
| questionnaire | noun | A set of written questions used to collect information. |
| liaison | noun | A connection, or a person who links two groups. |
| miniature | adjective | Very small; made as a small copy of something larger. |
| acquaintance | noun | A person you know, but not well. |
| conscience | noun | Your inner sense of right and wrong. |
| lieutenant | noun | An officer in the army, navy or police. |
| maneuver | noun | A skillful movement or action (U.S. spelling). |
| phenomenon | noun | Something that happens and can be observed, often unusual. |
| millennium | noun | A period of one thousand years. |
| reminiscent | adjective | Making you remember something. |
| surveillance | noun | Close watching of a person or place. |
| colleague | noun | A person you work with. |
How to practice spelling bee words
The most effective way to practice is out loud and in short sessions: about 10 words a day, following the contest format (say the word, spell it, say it again), and reviewing the words you miss more often. Writing the word once after spelling it helps it stick.
- Hear the word and its definition. If the meaning isn't clear, use it in a sentence.
- Say the word out loud before spelling it, just like in the contest.
- Spell it letter by letter, slowly and clearly.
- Say the word again when you finish. This tells the judge you're done.
- Set aside the words you missed and review them the next day and again a few days later. Spacing out review helps kids remember more.
Knowing where a word comes from also helps with spelling: many long words make sense once you know their roots. We explain how in how word origins help with spelling.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Keep it short and daily. Fifteen minutes a day works better than one long session on the weekend.
- Mix old and new words. Add a few words from earlier lists to every session so patterns stay fresh.
- Practice the real format. Stand up, say the word, spell it and say it again. It builds confidence for contest day.
- Talk about meaning. Ask kids to use each word in their own sentence. Words they understand are easier to spell.
Practice with the real contest format
In Vozi Bee, kids hear each word, learn its meaning, hear it in a sentence and spell it by voice or by typing, following the say, spell, say protocol. They receive feedback on their spelling. It works in the browser without downloading an app; check Vozi Bee and the access conditions for your account.
Discover Vozi Bee →Frequently asked questions
What words are used in a school spelling bee?
It depends on the contest: the school or organizer usually shares an official study list. School bees use words matched to each grade, from short, regular words in the early grades to long words with tricky patterns in middle school. Our lists help kids practice the patterns that come up most often.
How many spelling words should a child practice a day?
About 10 new words a day, plus a review of the words missed before, is a manageable amount for most kids. A little practice every day works better than many words on a single day.
What can you ask the judge in a spelling bee?
In many contests, spellers can ask the judge to repeat the word, give its definition, use it in a sentence or say its part of speech. Always check your contest's rules, because they vary.
Are these the official lists for a spelling bee?
No. These are original HelloVozi lists made for practice. If your contest has its own study list, learn that one first and use these lists to reinforce spelling patterns.
How can I help my child get ready for a spelling bee?
Read the words out loud, have your child spell them in the contest format (say, spell, say) and write down the ones they miss to review the next day. Keep sessions short, positive and regular.