Tricky Spellings to Remember
Learn common tricky words that don't follow the rules, like said, friend, because and beautiful. A spelling lesson for ages 6-8 with games and a quiz.
Key takeaways
- Some common words don't follow the usual spelling rules
- Words like said, friend and because must be learned by heart
- Use a fun trick or saying to remember each one
Words that break the rules
Most words follow spelling rules. But a few common words are rule-breakers! 🧩 We just have to remember them. The good news: a fun trick makes each one stick.
- said 🗣️ — spelled s-a-i-d, but sounds like "sed".
- friend 👬 — your fri-END is there to the END.
- because 🤔 — Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants. 🐘
Tricky words to read
Say each word, then look closely at the surprising part.
- they 👫 (the 'ey' says 'ay')
- some 🍪 (the 'o' says 'u')
- love ❤️ (the 'o' says 'u')
- people 🧑🤝🧑 (the 'eo' says 'ee')
- one 1️⃣ (starts with a 'w' sound!)
A word list to remember
| Word | Tricky part | Trick |
|---|---|---|
| said 🗣️ | ai says 'e' | s-a-i-d |
| friend 👬 | i before e | fri-END |
| because 🤔 | a-u-s-e | Big Elephants... |
| beautiful 🌸 | b-e-a-u | Big Elephants Are Ugly |
| people 🧑🤝🧑 | eo says 'ee' | peo-ple |
How to learn a tricky word
- Look at the word and find the surprising part.
- Say it slowly and spell it out loud.
- Cover it, then write it from memory.
- Check it. Did you get it right? Try again!
A little saying or picture helps the spelling stick. 🌟
Well done!
Now you have some clever tricks for the hardest words. Keep practising said, friend and because!
Next, try Tricky Words and Exceptions and Homophones: There, Their, They're.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
Which spelling is correct?
Said is tricky: it is spelled s-a-i-d but sounds like 'sed'. 🗣️
How do you spell the word for a person you like to play with?
Friend has an i before the e: fri-END. 👬
Which spelling is correct?
Because is b-e-c-a-u-s-e. Try: Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants. 🐘
Play & learn
Build the tricky word +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
Tricky-word memory cards +5 XP
Completed ✓ +5 XP
FAQ
Some common English words came from old languages and don't follow the usual rules, so we learn them by heart, like said, friend and because.
Use a saying or picture for each word, like 'fri-END' for friend, and practise reading and writing them often.
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