Is spelt a word in the english language


Asked by: Zora Goyette

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Yes, spelts is in the scrabble dictionary.

Is spelt the past tense of spell?

The verb spell commonly means to write or name the letters making up a word in the right order. Spell is a verb with irregular and regular forms. Spelled and spelt are both common forms of the past tense and the past participle of spell, though with geographical differences.

Is Glas a scrabble word?

No, glas is not in the scrabble dictionary.

Is bridged a scrabble word?

Yes, bridged is in the scrabble dictionary.

How do you use spelt in a sentence?

Spelt sentence example. Wheat, barley and spelt were the leading crops. It may be added that Retz himself always spelt his designation «Rais.»

39 related questions found

Is it GREY or gray?

Gray and grey are both common spellings of the color between black and white. Gray is more frequent in American English, whereas grey is more common in British English. … Of the two, gray occurs more frequently in American English, while grey has historically been the spelling preferred by British English publications.

Is it correct to say smelt or smelled?

Smelled is the past tense of smell in both North American and British English. Smelt is also used as the past tense of smell in British English. Brits use smelled and smelt interchangeably, but speakers in North America rarely use smelt. Smelt also has meanings unrelated to smelling.

Is Learnt a real word?

Both versions of the word are actually correct and widely used in the English-speaking world, but there is one small difference between the two words. ‘Learned’ is the preferred way of spelling in the US and Canada, while ‘learnt’ is favoured in British English.

Is it spelled or spelt UK?

Is it spelt or spelled? No need to argue; they’re both allowed! Spelled is by far the most common past tense form in America, and spelt used to be the most common past tense form in Britain and still gives spelled a run for its money.

Is Learnt Old English?

These are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Both are acceptable, but learned is often used in both British English and American English, while learnt is much more common in British English than in American English.

What is the synonym of Learnt?

In this page you can discover 35 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for learnt, like: unearthed, determined, taught, discovered, studied, acquired, mastered, memorialized, memorized, read and assimilated.

Was Learnt in a sentence?

I have never learnt the art of sailing. If I never learnt nothing else out of pap, I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way. For I am a plodding kind of fellow, Copperfield, and had learnt the way of doing such things pithily.

What type of verb is smelled?

“ Smells” is a linking verb in this sentence. It connects the subject, cake, with information about that subject—it smells good.

Why is grey spelled gray?

“Gray” and “grey” are two different ways of spelling the word; neither is technically “right.” There’s no difference in its meanings, and each comes from the same word: the Old English “grǽg.” Throughout the 14th century, examples appear of the word being spelled as both “greye” and “graye” in prominent works of …

Is grey a color or a shade?

Grey or gray (American English alternative; see spelling differences) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral color or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is a color «without color», because it can be composed of black and white.

Is gray spelled with an A or an E?

When it comes to whether it is “gray” or “grey,” it depends on where you live. If you live in the United States, you will use the spelling “gray” with an “a” in American English. If you write and speak British English, you’ll spell the color as “grey” with an “e.”

What is the word misspelled mean?

transitive verb. : to spell incorrectly The name of the town was misspelled on the map.

What is the meaning of Spelt word?

Spelt is a grain that’s closely related to wheat. … The word spelt is as ancient as the grain itself, going back to Proto-Indo-European language and the word spel, meaning «to split or break off,» possibly because of the way spelt husks split during threshing.

How do you write the word weird?

Summary: Weird or Wierd? “Weird” is an adjective that means “uncanny or strange.” People often misspell it as “wierd,” perhaps because they want to apply the “i before e” spelling rule. To avoid making this mistake, then, keep in mind that this word has a “weird” spelling!

Has or had meaning?

Has‘ is the third person singular present tense of ‘have’ while ‘had’ is the third person singular past tense and past participle of ‘have. ‘ 2. Both are transitive verbs, but ‘has’ is used in sentences that talk about the present while ‘had’ is used in sentences that talk about the past.

What is difference between had and have?

The main fact about have and had is that both are different forms of the verb ‘to have. ‘ Have is a present form while had is the past form. As an auxiliary verb, have is used in the case of present perfect tense. On the other hand, the auxiliary verb had is used in the case of past perfect tense.

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From the verb spell: (⇒ conjugate)
spelt is: Click the infinitive to see all available inflections
v past (Mainly UK)
v past p (Mainly UK)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023

spelt1 (spelt),USA pronunciation v. 

  1. a pt. and pp. of spell 1.

spelt2 (spelt),USA pronunciation n. 

  1. Plant Biologya wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta, native to southern Europe and western Asia, used chiefly for livestock feed.
  • Gmc; compare Old High German spelza (German Spelt)
  • Late Latin spelta, probably
  • Middle English, Old English bef. 1000

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spelt /spɛlt/ vb

  1. a past tense and past participle of spell1

spelt /spɛlt/ n

  1. a species of wheat, Triticum spelta, that was formerly much cultivated and was used to develop present-day cultivated wheats

Etymology: Old English; related to Old Saxon spelta, Old High German spelza

WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023

spell1 /spɛl/USA pronunciation  
v., spelled or spelt/spɛlt/USA pronunciation  spell•ing. 

  1. Linguisticsto name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): [+ object]Did I spell your name right?[no object]How did you learn to spell so well?
  2. Linguistics, (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.):[not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object]Y-e-s spells yes.
  3. to read or say (a word) letter by letter or with difficulty: [+ out + object]Spell out your name for me.[+ object + out]to spell some words out.
  4. to signify;
    amount to;
    mean or signal:[not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object]This delay spells disaster for the business.
  5. spell out, to explain something plainly: [+ object + out]Must I spell it out for you? Our engagement is broken![+ out + object]Would someone spell out for me just what this crisis will do to our company?

spell2 /spɛl/USA pronunciation  
n. [countable]

  1. a word or phrase believed to have magic power;
    an incantation:uttering charms and spells.
  2. a state or period of enchantment caused by magic power:living under a spell.
  3. any strong influence;
    fascination:[usually: singular]under the spell of music.

spell3 /spɛl/USA pronunciation  
n. [countable]

  1. a continuous period of activity:You’ve been driving all day; let someone else take a spell at the wheel.
  2. a bout or fit of anything experienced:a spell of coughing.
  3. an indefinite period:Come visit us for a spell.
  4. a period of weather of a certain kind:a hot spell.

v. [+ object]

  1. to take the place of for a time;
    relieve:Let me spell you at the wheel.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023

spell1 
(spel),USA pronunciation v., spelled or spelt, spell•ing. 
v.t.

  1. Linguisticsto name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.):Did I spell your name right?
  2. Linguistics, (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.):The letters spelled a rather rude word.
  3. to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often fol. by out):She painfully spelled out the message.
  4. to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often fol. by out).
  5. to signify;
    amount to:This delay spells disaster for us.

v.i.

  1. Linguisticsto name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.:He spells poorly.
  2. Linguisticsto express words by letters, esp. correctly.
  3. Education spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.
  4. spell out:
    • to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable:Must I spell it out for you?
    • to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed:The title «Ph.D.» is seldom spelled out.

  • Gmc; compare Old English spellian to talk, announce (derivative of spell spell2), Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjalla, Gothic spillōn
  • Old French espeller
  • Middle English spellen 1250–1300

spella•ble, adj. 

    • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged foretell, portend, mean, promise.



spell2 (spel),USA pronunciation 
n. 

  1. a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power;
    charm;
    incantation:The wizard cast a spell.
  2. a state or period of enchantment:She was under a spell.
  3. any dominating or irresistible influence;
    fascination:the spell of fine music.
  • bef. 900; Middle English spell, Old English: discourse; cognate with Old High German spel, Old Norse spjall, Gothic spill tale; see spell1, gospel

spellful, adj. 
spell-like′, adj. 

spell3 (spel),USA pronunciation 
n. 

  1. a continuous course or period of work or other activity:to take a spell at the wheel.
  2. a turn of work so taken.
  3. a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring:a spell of coughing.
  4. an indefinite interval or space of time:Come visit us for a spell.
  5. a period of weather of a specified kind:a hot spell.
  6. British Terms[Australian.]a rest period.
  7. [Archaic.]a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another.

v.t.

  1. to take the place of for a time;
    relieve:Let me spell you at the wheel.
  2. British Terms[Australian.]to declare or give a rest period to.

v.i.

  1. British Terms[Australian.]to have or take a rest period.
  • 1585–95; (verb, verbal) alteration of earlier spele to stand instead of, relieve, spare, Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spala, gespelia a substitute; (noun, nominal) akin to the verb, verbal (perh. continuing Old English gespelia)

    • 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged while, bit, piece.


Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spell /spɛl/ vb (spells, spelling, spelt, spelled)

  1. to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)
  2. (transitive) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctly: d-o-g spells dog
  3. (transitive) to indicate or signify: such actions spell disaster for our cause


See also spell outEtymology: 13th Century: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen

ˈspellable adj

spell /spɛl/ n

  1. a verbal formula considered as having magical force
  2. any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination
  3. a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; trance: to break the spell
  4. under a spellheld in or as if in a spell

vb

  1. (transitive) rare to place under a spell

Etymology: Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel

spell /spɛl/ n

  1. an indeterminate, usually short, period of time: a spell of cold weather
  2. a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another
  3. Scot Austral NZ a period or interval of rest

vb

  1. (transitive) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily

Etymology: Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure origin

spelt‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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The English language has a lot of irregular verbs. Irregular verbs are verbs that don’t take on the typical past tense spelling pattern.

Talk is an example of a regular verb. It changes from present to past by adding an “ed” to the end of the word.

  • I talk.
  • I talked.

Speak is an example of an irregular verb. It completely changes when it forms the past tense.

  • I speak.
  • I spoke.

Well, the verb to spell is actually an English verb that has both a regular and an irregular form.

  • I spell. (Present)
  • I spelt. (Past)
  • I spelled. (Past)

Both of these forms are correct, but they’re not always interchangeable. Sound confusing? Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything you need to know about spelt vs. spelled below.

What is the Difference Between Spelt and Spelled?

In this post, I will outline the different uses of spelled vs. spelt and when it is correct to use each spelling.

Plus, at the end, I will give you a helpful trick for remembering their different uses.

When to Use Spelt

proper english grammarWhen should I use spelt? Spelt has been, historically speaking, the preferred past tense spelling of to spell in British English.

  • The investigation revealed that Bradbourn’s name was spelt incorrectly on paperwork. –The Guardian

Over the 19th and 20th centuries, spelt was much more commonly seen in British writing than spelled. It wasn’t necessarily considered a mistake to use spelled in Britain, spelt just happened to be the preferred, more common spelling.

This preference seems to be waning, however, as spelled has grown in popularity in Britain in recent years (see below).

spelled versus spelt British English grammar

This chart is not scientific or exhaustive by any means (it only covers English books), but it is helpful in identifying trends, and the trend is clear. Whether or not spelled is actually used more frequently in British English than the once more popular spelt, we can’t be sure.

But it is clear that the frequency of spelled is on the rise in Great Britain.

Spelt as a noun. Spelt can also be used as a noun. It refers to a type of wheat that was widely cultivated in southwest Asia, the Near East, and Europe during the Bronze Age. In modern day, it is grown chiefly in Europe.

  • The spelt buns need little time to rise because spelt grain reacts so swiftly with yeast, so they can be made–unusually for bread–alongside the soup. –The Telegraph

Spelt or Spelled in British English

All of this is to say that both forms (spelt and spelled) are accepted in British English. Most British, Irish, and Australian writers don’t seem to make a distinction between them.

This trend is almost certainly a result of American influence spreading (see below).

When to Use Spelled

learning english grammar onlineWhen should I use spelled? Spelled is the preferred past tense spelling of to spell in American English.

  • Icelanders’ pronunciation of place-names is confounding even when you have the words spelled out on paper. –The New Yorker

This preference in American English has been clear for quite some time.

spelt versus spelled American English meaning

As you can see, spelled has been the preferred spelling in American English for some time and the gap between the two is quite large.

In fact, spelt is generally considered a misspelling in American English.

If you are a student in America, or ever find yourself writing to an American audience, spelled is the correct choice.

Spelt out or Spelled out?

The most common use of to spell is, of course, to name or write in order the letters constituting a word.

  • My name is spelled J-O-H-N.

And, as we learned, spelt is more common in British English, spelled is more common in American English.

What about other meanings or phrases using the word?

The phrase to spell out, to make clear or explicit, usually employs spelled.

  • He spelled out the details of his plan.

You can find publications that use spelt out, but they are less frequent.

Similarly, phrases like spelled trouble, spelled disaster, spelled ruin, etc., all use spelled more frequently than spelt—in British and American English.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Still not sure when to use spelled or spelt? Here’s a helpful trick to help you remember.

Spelt is commonly used in British English. Spelt and British both have a letter “T” in them.

Summary

Should I use spelt or spelled? This depends on who your audience is.

Spelt has been the preferred choice in British English for many years, where spelled is also acceptable.

Spelled is the preferred choice in American English, where spelt is viewed as a misspelling.

Contents

  • 1 What is the Difference Between Spelt and Spelled?
  • 2 When to Use Spelt
  • 3 Spelt or Spelled in British English
  • 4 When to Use Spelled
  • 5 Spelt out or Spelled out?
  • 6 Trick to Remember the Difference
  • 7 Summary

In the following sentence, should I say spelled or spelt:

You spelt/spelled «Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis» wrong.

tchrist's user avatar

tchrist

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asked Nov 27, 2010 at 8:31

Mateen Ulhaq's user avatar

Mateen UlhaqMateen Ulhaq

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5

From Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:

spell (FORM WORDS) /spel/
verb [I or T] spelled or UK AND AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH ALSO spelt, spelled or UK AND AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH ALSO spelt

This means that you should say «spelled» in US English and you can use both «spelt» and «spelled» in UK/Australian English.

answered Nov 27, 2010 at 9:20

fiktor's user avatar

7

Spelled vs spelt:

  • In American English, spelt primarily refers to the hardy wheat grown mostly in Europe, and the verb spell makes spelled in the past tense and as a past participle.

  • In all other main varieties of English, spelt and spelled both work as the past tense and past participle of spell, at least where spell means to form words letter by letter or (with out) to make clear. Outside the U.S., the two forms are interchangeable in these uses, and both are common.

  • But when spell carries the sense to temporarily relieve (someone) from work, spelled is the preferred form throughout the English-speaking world. This is a minor point, though, as this sense of spell is rarely used outside the U.S., where it is most common.

  • Spelled is not a recent Americanism as many people assume (including some who have commented on this post). Both spelled and spelt are old, and examples of each are easily found in historical Google Books searches covering the 17th and 18th centuries. It is true, however, that spelt was ascendant everywhere through most of the 19th century. This ended when Americans permanently settled on spelled around 1900.

(grammarist.com)

Community's user avatar

answered Apr 7, 2015 at 19:52

I believe the Guardian and Observer Style Guide has a better answer than just “it’s different between US / UK / AUS”:

spelled is the past tense

“she spelled it out for him”

spelt is the past participle

“the word is spelt like this”

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answered May 30, 2015 at 9:51

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RasmusRasmus

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1

This verb has both an irregular and regular form. You can use both and both are correct. Speakers in North America and Canada use spelled while the rest of the English-speaking world seems to prefer spelt but accept spelled as well.
enter image description here
But which is the most used one, spelt or spelled? Let´s look at Google Ngram Viewer tool which displays a graph showing how phrases have occurred in a corpus of books over the years.
Spelled is more used than Spilt from 1890.

Source: https://en.learniv.com/info/en/irregular-verbs/spelled-or-spelt-what-is-correct-and-how-to-use-it/
enter image description here

answered Feb 6, 2021 at 12:46

Diana Berman's user avatar

1

Mainly a correct British variant. In perhaps the best AmE dictionary:

spell

verb

spelled ˈspeld, ˈspelt (audio pronunciation) or chiefly British spelt ˈspelt (audio pronunciation) ; spelled or
chiefly British spelt
; spell·ing; spells

3 a : to name in order the letters of

Merriam Webster Unabridged Dictionary

answered Apr 7, 2015 at 19:51

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Marius HancuMarius Hancu

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h2g2 Writing Guidelines say

Please use the word spelled rather
than spelt. There was a long-running
discussion about it and ‘spelled’ won
10 votes to 8. Besides, loads of
people thought that ‘spelt’ was a type
of wheat. Schpelled and spellted were
among the other suggestions. But no,
you can’t use them

answered Mar 3, 2011 at 14:53

TRiG's user avatar

TRiGTRiG

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7

spelt 1

 (spĕlt)

n.

A type of wheat (Triticum spelta syn. T. aestivum subsp. spelta) having a tough hull. It was widely cultivated in southwest Asia, the Near East, and Europe during the Bronze Age and is now grown chiefly in Europe.


[Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin spelta, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch spelte, wheat.]


spelt 2

 (spĕlt)

v.

A past tense and a past participle of spell1.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spelt

(spɛlt)

vb

a past tense and past participle of spell1


spelt

(spɛlt)

n

(Plants) a species of wheat, Triticum spelta, that was formerly much cultivated and was used to develop present-day cultivated wheats

[Old English; related to Old Saxon spelta, Old High German spelza]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spelt1

(spɛlt)

v.

spelt2

(spɛlt)

n.

a primitive wheat, Triticum spelta, native to S Europe and W Asia: used chiefly for livestock feed.

[before 1000; Middle English, Old English < Late Latin spelta, probably < Germanic; compare Old High German spelza]

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Translations

espelta

pšenice špalda

spelt

spelto

speltanisu

spelttivehnä

כוסמין

pirprapšenica

tönkölybúza

spelt

pszenica orkisz

pira

прапшеница

dinkel

Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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