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
2nd Grade Spelling Words
Common, mostly short words second graders read and write.
- four
- plan
- paid
- bright
- rise
- food
- sold
- height
- went
3rd Grade Spelling Words
Familiar words with longer spellings as third graders gain confidence.
- close
- person
- pardon
- am
- particle
- stone
- near
- shirt
- value
4th Grade Spelling Words
Multi-syllable words for fourth graders building fluency.
- friends
- fugitive
- pineapple
- perhaps
- speed
- choir
- fountain
- goose
- hammer
5th Grade Spelling Words
Richer, more varied vocabulary for confident upper-elementary readers.
- scissors
- naughty
- freight
- afraid
- feast
- Saturn
6th Grade Spelling Words
Two- and three-syllable words sixth graders meet in everyday reading.
- complain
- negative
- importance
- encouragement
- shelves
- mixture
7th Grade Spelling Words
A wider range of words for seventh graders to master.
- capital
- inherit
- cinnamon
- culminate
- heroic
- elementary
8th Grade Spelling Words
A broad mix of longer words for eighth graders.
- vessel
- equilibrium
- newsstand
- parachute
- epidemic
- belligerent
9th Grade Spelling Words
Substantial words for students entering high school.
- diurnal
- poignant
- odor
- animosity
- renovate
- situated
10th Grade Spelling Words
Everyday vocabulary every high schooler should be able to spell.
- emboss
- genteel
- morale
- beguiled
- maternal
- cumulative
11th Grade Spelling Words
Familiar, useful words to keep eleventh graders sharp.
- convivial
- abdicate
- querulous
- guile
- pernicious
- nebulous
12th Grade Spelling Words
Everyday spelling words to carry out of high school.
- rostrum
- appreciate
- bogus
- corresponding
- consummate
- revert
Adult Spelling Words
Long, uncommon words for adult spellers ready for a challenge.
- deplorable
- demagnetize
- barista
- cathode
- encomium
- euphony
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
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.