Learning the hardest word

How confident are you of your spelling skills? We asked top academics and writing experts to give us their top 100 hardest words to spell they’ve seen in students’ writing assignments. Spellings is extremely importnant, not less than grammar. This is what they came up with tips and a list of 100 most difficult words.

Tips on How to Spell Hard Words

So by now, you’ve realized that you have made your share of spelling mistakes and are wondering what you need to do to be a better speller. These tips are the same ones we see young students participating in spelling competitions use when they tackle any of several hard English words to spell. Give them all a try to see which tips work best for you:

  • Watch what others do.

    The first thing you may want to consider doing is looking at how others utilize different techniques to spell out difficult words. Start with the kids who compete in national spelling bees to get a sense of all the different things they do spell long or rare words correctly.

  • Use your palms to spell.

    If you have scratch paper at hand you can always spell out the word as close as you can and then make corrections when you see what you feel can be wrong. Other than this, you can

  • Consider the origins.

    The origin of words is a study known as etymology which traces a word’s lineage and existence to the first known use in written form. It is especially helpful to people wanting to learn how to spell words because you can trace root words and syllables.

Hard Words to Spell for 6th Graders

If you want to challenge yourself with very hard words to spell at the sixth-grade level, then this collection might be just what you’re looking for:

  • Noticeable (Correct) / Noticable (Incorrect)
  • Vacuum (Correct) / Vacume (Incorrect)
  • Recommend (Correct) / Recomend (Incorrect)
  • Occasion (Correct) / Ocassion (Incorrect)
  • Beginning (Correct) / Begginning (Incorrect)
  • Government (Correct) / Goverment (Incorrect)
  • Committee (Correct) / Comitee (Incorrect)
  • Mississippi (Correct) / Missisipi (Incorrect)
  • Ancient (Correct) / Ainshent (Incorrect)
  • Culture (Correct) / Culcher (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 7th Graders

In a time when spellcheck comes with every computer writing program, we may lose sight of terms in this list of hard words to spell:

  • Chaos (Correct) / Kaos (Incorrect)
  • Accommodation (Correct) / Accomodation (Incorrect)
  • Strengthen (Correct) / Strengten (Incorrect)
  • Misspelled (Correct) / Mispelled (Incorrect)
  • Deceive (Correct) / Deseave (Incorrect)
  • Receipt (Correct) / Receit (Incorrect)
  • Arithmetic (Correct) / Arithmatic (Incorrect)
  • Embarrass (Correct) / Embaras (Incorrect)
  • Constitution (Correct) / Constatution (Incorrect)
  • Encyclopedia (Correct) / Encyclopaedia (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 8th Graders

Here are hard to spell words spell for middle-school teenagers, particularly those in the 8th grade. Can you spell them without using spell-check?

  • Pneumonia (Correct) / Neumonia (Incorrect)
  • Acknowledgment (Correct) / Acknoledgement (Incorrect)
  • Accidentally (Correct) / Accidentilly (Incorrect)
  • Descendant (Correct) / Desendent (Incorrect)
  • Exaggerate (Correct) / Exagerate (Incorrect)
  • Courageous (Correct) / Corageous (Incorrect)
  • Competent (Correct) / Compitent (Incorrect)
  • Patriarch (Correct) / Patrearch (Incorrect)
  • Pediatrician (Correct) / Pidiatrision (Incorrect)
  • Picturesque (Correct) / Picturesche (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 9th Graders

In your first year of high school, you will likely encounter some of the hardest words to spell ever. Check out this list for 9th grade:

  • Cavalcade (Correct) / Cavacade (Incorrect)
  • Conscientious (Correct) / Consciescience (Incorrect)
  • Fluorescent (Correct) / Florescent (Incorrect)
  • Martyr (Correct) / Marter (Incorrect)
  • Olfactory (Correct) / Ofactory (Incorrect)
  • Facsimile (Correct) / Faximile (Incorrect)
  • Gruesome (Correct) / Grewsome (Incorrect)
  • Incessant (Correct) / Incessent (Incorrect)
  • Reservoir (Correct) / Resavoire (Incorrect)
  • Spasmodic (Correct) / Spasmodick (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 12th Graders

As you advance through educational levels, you will be introduced to more reading assignments and will grow your vocabulary. These are the hardest English words to spell at the 12th-grade level:

  • Acquiesce (Correct) / Aquese (Incorrect)
  • Ambiguous (Correct) / Ambiguus (Incorrect)
  • Stringent (Correct) / Stringint (Incorrect)
  • Evanescent (Correct) / Evansent (Incorrect)
  • Querulous (Correct) / Quarelous (Incorrect)
  • Spontaneity (Correct) / Spontenaity (Incorrect)
  • Tenacious (Correct) / Tenashus (Incorrect)
  • Divergent (Correct) / Divergeant (Incorrect)
  • Resilient (Correct) / Resiliant (Incorrect)
  • Renovation (Correct) / Renovashun (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for College Students

Technology has made learning the hardest words to spell a rare activity. This list of 10 terms is considered to be college-level. See if you’re able to spell them without help:

  • Pharaoh (Correct) / Farow (Incorrect)
  • Intelligence (Correct) / Inteligense (Incorrect)
  • Didactic (Correct) / Didachtik (Incorrect)
  • Pronunciation (Correct) / Pronounsiation (Incorrect)
  • Gobbledegook (Correct) / Gobblydigook (Incorrect)
  • Euphemism (Correct) / Yufamism (Incorrect)
  • Abrogate (Correct) / Abrohgate (Incorrect)
  • Demagogue (Correct) / Demagog (Incorrect)
  • Facetious (Correct) / Faseshus (Incorrect)
  • Hyperbole (Correct) / Hyperboly (Incorrect)

Common Words that Are Hard to Spell

This list includes common hard words to spell for adults. It’s surprising how so many people struggle but all you have to do is check the web for examples of this happening:

  • Thorough (Correct) / Thorogh (Incorrect)
  • Rhythm (Correct) / Rythm (Incorrect)
  • Peculiar (Correct) / Pechuliar (Incorrect)
  • Buffet (Correct) / Bufay (Incorrect)
  • Liaison (Correct) / Liason (Incorrect)
  • Anecdote (Correct) / Anechdote (Incorrect)
  • Anonymous (Correct) / Anonimous (Incorrect)
  • Collaborate (Correct) / Colaborate (Incorrect)
  • Substantiate (Correct) / Substanchiate (Incorrect)
  • Reconciliation (Correct) / Reckonsiliation (Incorrect)

Long Hard Words to Spell

Sometimes multisyllabic words that are hard to spell are difficult because we don’t think about silent letters that may appear anywhere. Check these out below:

  • Grammatically (Correct) / Gramatically (Incorrect)
  • Magnanimous (Correct) / Magnanimus (Incorrect)
  • Metamorphosis (Correct) / Metamofisus (Incorrect)
  • Satisfactorily (Correct) / Satisfactory (Incorrect)
  • Surveillance (Correct) / Surveylance (Incorrect)
  • Unanimous (Correct) / Unianomous (Incorrect)
  • Reconciliation (Correct) / Reconsiliation (Incorrect)
  • Procrastinate (Correct) / Procrastanate (Incorrect)
  • Ostentatious (Correct) / Ostantatious (Incorrect)
  • Camaraderie (Correct) / Comraderie (Incorrect)

Super Hard Words to Spell

These are really hard words to spell, even for the best English spellers in the world. As you can see most are words familiar to medical professionals and scientists, so unless you’re familiar with the field you are likely to have trouble with them:

  • Syllepsis (Correct) / Sylepsis (Incorrect)
  • Antediluvian (Correct) / Antidiluvian (Incorrect)
  • Crustaceology (Correct) / Crustaciology (Incorrect)
  • Epidemiologist (Correct) / Epidimialogist (Incorrect)
  • Ophthalmologist (Correct) / Optamologist (Incorrect)
  • Nephrology (Correct) / Nefrology (Incorrect)
  • Entomology (Correct) / Entimology (Incorrect)
  • Chiaroscurist (Correct) / Chiaraschurist (Incorrect)
  • Logorrhea (Correct) / Logoria (Incorrect)
  • Sacrilegious (Correct) / Sacriligious (Incorrect)

Easy Words that Are Hard to Spell

Finally, this last set includes hard words to spell that is considered easy. Take your time spelling these out because you may find yourself feeling a bit embarrassed if you make a simple mistake:

  • Acquire (Correct) / Akwire (Incorrect)
  • Argument (Correct) / Arguement (Incorrect)
  • Maintenance (Correct) / Maintanence (Incorrect)
  • Gauge (Correct) / Ghage (Incorrect)
  • Memento (Correct) / Mamento (Incorrect)
  • Occurrence (Correct) / Ocurrance (Incorrect)
  • Questionnaire (Correct) / Questionaire (Incorrect)
  • Sergeant (Correct) / Sargeant (Incorrect)
  • Weather (Correct) / Wheather (Incorrect)
  • Awkward (Correct) / Awkwerd (Incorrect)

What did you think of our list? Did you manage to spell the majority of them? As you can see, a lot of the mistakes come from simple mispronunciations of the words or syllables. This, of course, can be fixed with time and patience. We’re always available to assist you, so just get a hold of our customer support team and we’ll provide you with more tips and tricks to improve your spelling skills and get better writing jobs.

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There are so many words with spellings that just don’t appear to make sense in the English language. Many students have many worries when writing an essay or paper with so many hard words to spell. Although we live in an age where autocorrect is the new fad, the importance of spelling correctly can not be denied. It is always hard to spell words that do not appear the way they sound.

To aid school graders, college students, and adults alike, we have some of the hardest words to spell. This list of hard words to spell spans across words that are hard to spell for all categories of students and adults. Are you ready to go through our list of very hard words to spell? Here’s our list of top 100 hardest words to spell. Let’s explore!

Hardest Words To Spell Ever

The English language could be a real pest, even for native speakers. Sometimes, the spelling of some words seems to slip out of our heads the very times we need them, while sometimes, we just don’t know how to spell some words and make funny typos.

There are many hard English words to spell. A word may be difficult to spell for many reasons. It could be because it is from a language very different from the English language, e.g., Afrikaans, Sanskrit, etc., or because the pronunciation is very different from the spelling. A word can also be difficult if it has a silent letter or more or a peculiar double letter. Here’s a list of some super hard word to spell!

  1. Abacaxi
  2. Abgesang
  3. Aitch
  4. Autochthonous
  5. Chiaroscurist
  6. Coelacanth
  7. Kierkegaardian

Long Hard Words To Spell

  1. Antidisestablishmentarianism
  2. Floccinaucinihilipilification
  3. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis
  4. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
  5. Psychoneuroendocrinological
  6. Hepaticocholangiogastrostomy
  7. Spectrophotofluorometrically

Easy Words That Are Hard To Spell

Surprisingly, some of the easiest words to spell in the English language often get misspelled. The words are usually so common and have been used so commonly that it’s unbelievable to know that many can’t spell it correctly – including you! So here’s a list of common words that are hard to spell.

  1. Misspell
  2. Pharaoh
  3. Weird
  4. Intelligence
  5. Pronunciation
  6. Handkerchief
  7. Logorrhea

Hard Words To Spell For 6th Graders

If you are looking for a nice spelling challenge for a 6th grader, you’re in the right place. Take a look at these hardest English words to spell for 6th graders.

  1. Noticeable
  2. Vacuum
  3. Recommend
  4. Chaos
  5. Accommodation
  6. Accidentally
  7. Strengthen
  8. Pneumonia
  9. Acknowledgment
  10. Occasion
  11. Descendant
  12. Liaison

Hard Words To Spell For 7th Graders

Looking for a 7th grade selling challenge, here are some really hard words to spell for 7th graders.

  1. Association
  2. Atmosphere
  3. Bicycle
  4. Corollary
  5. Confetti
  6. Defalcation
  7. Bizarre
  8. Braggadocio
  9. Echelon
  10. Gelatinous
  11. Panache
  12. Xylem

Hard Words To Spell For 8th Graders

  1. Condescend
  2. Discernible
  3. Concede
  4. Assuage
  5. Contemptuous
  6. Imprudent
  7. Conscience
  8. Bazaar
  9. Ferocious
  10. Pistachio
  11. Eloquent
  12. Lucrative

Hard Words To Spell For 9th Graders

  1. Stretch
  2. Substantial
  3. Superintendent
  4. Pageant
  5. Pamphlet
  6. Parachute
  7. Nuisance
  8. Omitted
  9. Tyranny
  10. Unanimous
  11. Vengeance
  12. Villain

Hard Words To Spell For 12th Graders

  1. Absolution
  2. Acerbic
  3. Adumbrate
  4. Dearth
  5. Encumber
  6. Expunge
  7. Insidious
  8. Penurious
  9. Resplendent
  10. Saccharine
  11. Scurrilous

Hard Words To Spell For College Students

  1. Arctic
  2. Australia
  3. Caribbean
  4. Euclidean
  5. Presbyterian
  6. Teutonic
  7. Abysmal
  8. Boulevard
  9. Bouillon
  10. Bourgeois

Hard Words To Spell For Adults

  1. Acquiesce
  2. Andragogy
  3. Criterion
  4. Holistic
  5. Incongruous
  6. Juxtaposition
  7. Malapropism
  8. Obfuscate
  9. Onomatopoeia
  10. Soliloquy

There are many spelling rules in the English language that often, it’s difficult to remember which applies. Learning how to spell hard words is a bane to students and adults alike. But don’t fret, we have some proven techniques that will make you conquer most words and spell them with ease.

It may be considered rather unfortunate that the old-fashioned rote memorization method remains the best way to learn how to spell the hardest words. However, memorization techniques have gotten better, making the learning process much more bearable.

There are several mnemonic training techniques and methods used by champion spellers worldwide, such as kinetic learning. This learning technique is the association of mental concepts with a series of movements which make learning much fun and retentive than mere repetition. So here are some tips for learning how to spell hard words!

  1. Trace the Letters

    With one hand, track the letters on your palm as you pronounce them. This method is an easy way to apply kinetic learning. You use three learning pathways that reinforce the words in the memory. These are:

    • The motion of your mouth and lips
    • The movement of the fingers of one hand moving
    • The feeling of the motion on the other palm

    For a more active learning experience, you can engage the larger body. Also, movement makes more blood flow to the brain, making it more active and receptive.

  2. Vocalize the Letters

    Another useful tool is to vocalize the letters of the words as you learn them. Repetition words by vocalization give those words a melodic feel, imprinting them more firmly on your mind, just like nursery rhymes. If used appropriately, this leaning method will help you recall words when other methods fail.

  3. Design Short Study Sessions

    Short study sessions are usually more effective for long-term memorization. When you take breaks, the brain can refresh itself and get ready to take a new set of words without becoming overwhelmed.

  4. Use Repetitive Drills

    It usually takes more than one repetition to get spelling correct consistently. Repeat the words you want to learn many times until it sinks into your mind and becomes melodic.

  5. Group The Words

    This is another effective strategy for learning how to spell hard words. Grouping words imply that you put words that follow the same spelling pattern in a group. For example, words with “-ei-“combinations will follow the same pattern. Learning all similar words at the same time will help you build association and reinforce spellings. This method will help you to categorize words, which makes memorization much more manageable.

  6. Read, Read, Read

    One of the best methods to learn how to spell words is to increase your reading. By merely reading and consuming a wide variety of books like wildfire, you’ll become a spelling champion without knowing it. Reading simply makes all the above rules much less confusing. You’ll also be able to build your intuition level and know just when a spelling looks wrong.

  7. Have Fun

    Learning becomes easier if you can apply fun to it. Take the words you want to memorize and see how you can weave fun into it!

So here we are! 100 hard words to spell and how to learn to spell hard words. Wishing you luck in your spelling bee and life in general! If you need homework help, just contact our English assignment helpers.

Hardest Words: The English language is a funny, complicated and yet useful language that has thousands of words in its kitty. While some are very easy to learn, speak, and write, a few others are mind-numbingly hard to even understand, and don’t even get us started on pronouncing such words. And those words, which are difficult in their very nature, are rarely used by people in general. Such difficult words are only used by academicians and literature graduates.

However, keep in mind that most difficult words have much simpler and simplistic meanings, which when used in your communication can dramatically improve their meaning, tone, and texture. In this particular article on the hardest words to spell, we are going to discuss the following topics that are going to help students, teachers, writers, and general English enthusiasts learn about the hardest words in the English language:

  • Why is it necessary to learn hard words in English?
  • The hardest words in English to spell
  • The hardest words in English to pronounce
  • List of 100 hardest words in the English language
  • How to teach and learn the hardest words in the English language?
  • FAQs on the hardest words in the English language

Improve your English Grammar Faster with English Grammar Notes.

Why Is It Necessary To Learn Hard Words in English?

Below are a few reasons why one should learn about the hardest words in the English language:

  • If you want to become a serious writer, it is practically mandatory for you to know about the hard words in the English language.
  • Interviews: if you want to impress HR, great vocabulary can take you places.
  • Brand communication: branding and marketing are all about communication, and the usage of sensible words can help a brand connect with its target group.
  • Corporate environment: whether it’s internal customers or external, the usage of great vocabulary will always create a great impression within the office environment and it can bode well for your image.
  • Entrance examinations: Exams like CAT, UPSC CSE, GMAT, XAT, NMAT, or MAT will demand good vocabulary from students to clear them. Knowing such difficult words can help them answer English grammar and comprehension questions correctly and score well.
  • Now that we have understood why we should know about the hardest words in the English language, let us understand which words are the hardest words in the English language.

The Hardest Words To Spell in English

Below is a long difficult English word to spell:

  1. Vivisepulture
  2. Pococurante
  3. Acquiesce
  4. Demitasse
  5. Laodicean
  6. Chauffeur
  7. Liaison
  8. Gobbledegook
  9. Euonymus
  10. Smaragdine
  11. Unconscious
  12. Chiaroscurist
  13. Pharaoh
  14. Eudaemonic
  15. Ursprache
  16. Idiosyncracies
  17. Foreign
  18. Neighbour
  19. Psoriasis
  20. Canonical
  21. Xanthosis
  22. Equipage
  23. Dulcimer
  24. Soubrette
  25. Maculature
  26. Orient
  27. Suntech
  28. Asterisk
  29. Deterioration
  30. Wrinkle
  31. Library
  32. Honest
  33. Listen
  34. Fuchsia
  35. Onomatopoeia
  36. Paraphernalia
  37. Brocolli
  38. Weird
  39. misspell
  40. Bourgeois
  41. Necessary
  42. Increase
  43. Sandal
  44. Island
  45. Mischievous
  46. Miniscule
  47. Pastime
  48. Vacuum
  49. Kinkajou
  50. Releasable
  51. Cataclysm
  52. Coalescent
  53. Archetypes
  54. Idealist
  55. Primaeval
  56. Ozone
  57. Exhumation
  58. Occipital
  59. Longeron
  60. Oligopoly

Hardest English Words To Pronounce

Below is a list of the hardest words in English to pronounce:

  1. Worcestershire
  2. Draught
  3. Brewery
  4. Derby
  5. Phenomenon
  6. Droit
  7. Detroit
  8. Fille
  9. Heure
  10. February
  11. Hour
  12. Maintenant
  13. Oil
  14. Portefeuille
  15. Pneus
  16. Greenwich
  17. Although
  18. -Fortunate
  19. Quinoa
  20. Sixth
  21. Anemone
  22. Anime
  23. Colonel
  24. Kernel
  25. Asterisk
  26. Massachusetts
  27. Temperature
  28. Onomatopoeia
  29. Penguin
  30. Two
  31. Honest
  32. Colonel
  33. Irritable
  34. Bridge
  35. Numb
  36. Dumb
  37. Columns
  38. Isle
  39. Design
  40. Anchor
  41. Ascend
  42. Design
  43. Psychological
  44. Chaos
  45. Apostle
  46. Apostille
  47. Autumn
  48. Palm
  49. Bridge
  50. Budge
  51. Swift
  52. Seize
  53. Pneumoniae
  54. Talk
  55. Bomb
  56. Plumber
  57. Clothes
  58. Whistle
  59. Almond
  60. Knee

If you observe, in both the difficult words to pronounce and the difficult to spell in the English language, certain letters are silent, and that is what makes them tricky, especially for beginners and average-level English speakers.

List of 100 Hardest Words in the English Language

Below is a list of the 100 hardest words in the English language:

  1. Languid
  2. Poise
  3. Isle
  4. Frolic
  5. Disabuse
  6. Exponential
  7. Iconoclast
  8. Ascetic
  9. Inert
  10. Avalanche
  11. Feet
  12. Boulevard
  13. Mauve
  14. Hegemony
  15. Disparate
  16. Beguile
  17. Jolt
  18. Abeyance
  19. Vilify
  20. Fracas
  21. Knell
  22. Emblem
  23. Licence
  24. Naturally
  25. Shindler
  26. Canine
  27. Famine
  28. Library
  29. Fathom
  30. Echoes
  31. Inching
  32. Fawn
  33. Often
  34. Knowledge
  35. Wrinkle
  36. Grasp
  37. occurred
  38. Literally
  39. Finally,
  40. Laconic
  41. February
  42. Embarrassed
  43. Height
  44. business
  45. Foreign
  46. Beginning
  47. Magazine
  48. Schedule
  49. Arctic
  50. Architectural
  51. Grammar
  52. Consent
  53. Define
  54. Demonstration
  55. Deviate
  56. Diminish
  57. Integrated
  58. Contract
  59. Priorities
  60. Piece
  61. Succedaneum
  62. Soubrette
  63. Equipage
  64. Vignette
  65. Hydrophyte
  66. Crustaceology
  67. Ratoon
  68. Detect
  69. Thrifty
  70. Absurd
  71. Accord
  72. Shine
  73. Impede
  74. Rural
  75. Misery
  76. Urban
  77. Eulogy
  78. Echoed
  79. Wiggle
  80. Shaky
  81. Buttress
  82. Explicit
  83. Unique
  84. Blown
  85. Brown
  86. Guile
  87. Placate
  88. Alias
  89. Increase
  90. Staid
  91. epitome
  92. Espresso
  93. Fork
  94. Follicles
  95. Zephyr
  96. Nauseous
  97. Accommodation
  98. Miniscule
  99. Onomatopoeia
  100. Synchronous

How To Teach and Learn the Hardest Words in the English Language?

The number of ways to improve one’s vocabulary and learn the hardest words in the English language is not limited in any sense. One can follow the below methodologies to learn the hardest words in English:

  • Learn and write one new word every day.
  • Keep reading editorials of newspapers such as the Hindu New Indian Express or the Live Mint. These newspapers provide quality content with a high vocabulary.
  • Read novels written by Nobel laureates and people from different walks of life and geography so that your mental horizon expands.
  • Start writing articles and blogs yourself and use the vocabulary that you have learnt in these articles so that you get to practise the same.

The above mentioned are a few of the methodologies that one can adopt to learn the hardest words in the English language. There are other methods as well that people adopt, but one should never memorise these words because memorising them is of no value and you will not learn how, when, where, and how much to use.

FAQs on the Hardest Words in the English Language

The frequently asked question regarding the hardest words in the English Language are given below:

1. Is it necessary to learn hard words in English?
Answer: 
Yes, learning hard words in English will help you improve your vocabulary and communication skills.

2. How to Learn the Difficult English Words?
Answer: By reading and writing every day, one can improve their vocabulary and learn the hardest words in the English language.

3. Where are hard words in the English language used?
Answer: Hard words in the English language are mostly used in academic papers, literary works, novels, editorials, and columns in newspapers and magazines.

4. What makes a few words hard in English?
Answer: Silent letters, double letters, and long spelling can make a few words hard in the English language.

Conclusion

Most of us opt for an easier way out in life, and that is exactly what we do with English vocabulary also. All the usage of simple words can be made easier. One should start inculcating usage of difficult vocabulary in the English language so that it improves their hold and grasp of the language.

There are thousands of difficult words in the English language and you can’t learn all the difficult words, but knowing a few can help you make a good impression in interviews, essay writing competitions and entrance examinations.

While speaking or writing in English, you might find some world’s hardest words to pronounce. In this blog, you will learn how to pronounce these hard words and write them without any mistakes

Table of Contents
  1. Hardest 5 letter words | A little about the English language
  2. What are hard words to pronounce or spell?
    1. 1. Adieu
    2. 2. Tares
    3. 3. Rural
    4. 4. Ducat
    5. 5. Ouija
    6. 6. Carom
    7. 7. Ergot
    8. 8. Craic
    9. 9. Squab
    10. 10. Enoki
    11. 11. Azure
  3. Hardest English words to pronounce or spell 
    1. 1. Sesquipedalian
    2. 2. Phenomenon
    3. 3. Onomatopoeia
    4. 4. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
  4. Tips to learn the hard words to pronounce or spell
    1. 1. Build a Learning System
    2. 2. Establish Your Learning Objectives
    3. 3. Learn Correct Pronunciation
    4. 4. Look for its synonyms
  5. Key takeaways
  6. FAQ

Hardest 5 letter words | A little about the English language

Every language has millions of words, and you might have learned a small part of it. Not all of these words are used all the time, and there are many alternative words you can use for them. When you run across new terms that you don’t understand, you might have trouble pronouncing them or you might even forget how they are spelled. When you are learning a new language, the human brain interprets it through the lens of your native tongue. As a result, you judge it based on the standards of your native tongue. Let’s look at the hardest 5 letter words.

What are hard words to pronounce or spell?

There are some words in English that make you think about whether you are pronouncing and spelling them correctly. Such words are known as hard words. Difficulty in pronouncing or writing certain words depends on your command and knowledge of that language. 

Here are some of the common 5-letter hard words to pronounce or spell

1. Adieu

Adieu means goodbye. It also has four vowels, which makes this one of the most interesting words in English.

2. Tares

Any of the vetch plants, such as Vicia hirsute (hairy tare) of Eurasia and North Africa, are called tares. These plants are often used as a fodder crop.

3. Rural

It is one of the simplest words that many people have trouble pronouncing.

Since this word is frequently mispronounced, people avoid using it.

4. Ducat

Any of the former European gold or silver coins, especially those used in Italy or the Netherlands.

5. Ouija

A board on which letters of the alphabet are marked; answers to questions are spelled out by a pointer or glass held by the fingertips of the players, and are supposedly formed by supernatural forces.

6. Carom

In snooker and billiards, a shot in which the cue ball makes contact with one object ball after another is called carom.

7. Ergot

It is a disease of cereals and other grasses caused by fungi.

8. Craic

If you are talking about something that you did and you say, ‘the craic was great, or ‘it was a good craic’, then it means that you had a good time because everyone was talking, joking, and laughing.

9. Squab

It is a word for a young unfledged bird. It can also be a pigeon.

10. Enoki

It is an edible mushroom with a long, slender stem and a small yellowish cap.

11. Azure

Azure is used for describing things that are bright blue. 

Hardest English words to pronounce or spell 

hardest 5 letter words
The algorithm generates a random five-letter word daily for players to guess and can often catch people out with obscure words.

1. Sesquipedalian

This word means ‘long-winded’ words, such as Sesquipedalian. It is a rarely used word that simply means long. 

2. Phenomenon

Some words are hard to pronounce and spell. The phenomenon is one of them. Some might find it difficult to pronounce and spell. By saying it slowly and stressing each syllable, you can practice saying the word to get the pronunciation right.

3. Onomatopoeia

It means words for sounds or noises. The word onomatopoeia is very long and hard to pronounce. One can understand the word and how it is pronounced, then try to write or use it.

4. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

This term is a fun word to describe anything that you find to be extraordinarily good. First used in the Mary Poppins movie, it later became popular. Ever since fans have been using this word as a way to express happiness and excitement. This word can be learned by humming or splitting it into 3 parts.

Tips to learn the hard words to pronounce or spell

hardest 5 letter words
The English language is full of words that seem overstuffed with unnecessary letters, feel like they should be spelled a different way, or just don’t make sense.

1. Build a Learning System

Try adopting a learning approach that works for you to ensure that the term sticks in your brain and you won’t forget it. Learning systems can be used to comprehend, retain, and use a hard word. You can first break the word up into syllables and memorize it. You can make an effort to understand the word’s meaning before repeatedly using it. Your decision or creation of a learning system will determine everything.

2. Establish Your Learning Objectives

Why do you want to learn this language?

What are the advantages of learning these new words?

Knowing your learning goals will improve your learning and help you avoid wasting time while learning.

If you are learning this particular language for your line of work, then you can use this method to learn hard words. As a result, any challenging word will be simpler to learn when you use it in your daily speech since you’re not just studying for the sake of it, but you are learning with a purpose.

3. Learn Correct Pronunciation

Not only uttering the letters in the correct order is considered pronunciation, but saying it in a way that the listener understands is also important. Every word has a unique pronunciation, and there are ways to emphasize the appropriate parts of the words.

Where you place the stress in words determines how your accent differs from that of the indigenous. To make it simple for you to say the word correctly, you must ensure that you listen to it.

Syllables are another element in addition to stress. Whether a term has two or ten syllables, you must be aware of its syllable count. Then you won’t have to pause for a while to think about the word’s letters and components because of this recurrent word division.

4. Look for its synonyms

Every word has a synonym. Finding its synonyms can help you grasp words that are difficult to understand since you will know what to use in their place.

You can use a word, then swap it with one of its synonyms, and then repeat the process. You’ll see that you understand it more thoroughly and that you can apply it to everyday circumstances without much difficulty.

Key takeaways

  • We know only a part of the language that we speak. Hence, pronouncing or spelling some words might be a little difficult.
  • Practising the hardest 5 letter words in English can help in improving vocabulary and pronunciation. 
  • Some obsolete words are hard to spell and pronounce. These hard English words have many easy alternatives that can be incorporated into your speech. You must use English words according to their relevance.
  • You can follow a learning system to learn and understand hard English words.
  • By stressing how each syllable is pronounced, you will be able to use English words that you find hard, as well as understand the pronunciation of syllables. 

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, reach out to us or drop a comment below!

Liked this blog? Read next: Top 10 English speaking courses you can take online!

FAQ

Q1. Which is the hardest word in English to say?

Answer- Squirrel is among the most challenging words in the English language to pronounce, particularly for non-native speakers. Although it is not the hardest word in the world, by adding the extra ‘uh’ sound, non-native speakers might mispronounce it.

Q2. Which is the hardest English word to spell? 

Answer-‘nauseous’ is challenging to spell due to the number of vowels in the word and how it is pronounced. It lacks the letters “s” and “h” yet has a ‘sh’ sound. Some people also believe that it ought to be ‘nauscous,’ since it sounds more like ‘conscious.’

Q3. How can I improve my vocabulary?

Answer- By following the steps given below, you can improve your vocabulary

  • Develop a reading habit
  • Use a dictionary and thesaurus
  • Use flashcards
  • Practice using new words in conversations

Looking to build your vocabulary? Then practice this list of 300 «hard words» — the kind that used to be tested on the SAT before 2016. If you’re a high school student prepping for the SAT, check out Vocabulary.com’s
Roadmap to the SAT, which focuses on the vocabulary you’ll need to ace today’s SAT test.

300 words

33,669 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities

Full list of words from this list:

  1. abject

    of the most contemptible kind

  2. aberration

    a state or condition markedly different from the norm

  3. abjure

    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief

  4. abnegation

    the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief

  5. abrogate

    revoke formally

  6. abscond

    run away, often taking something or somebody along

  7. abstruse

    difficult to understand

  8. accede

    yield to another’s wish or opinion

  9. accost

    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently

  10. accretion

    an increase by natural growth or addition

  11. acumen

    shrewdness shown by keen insight

  12. adamant

    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason

  13. admonish

    scold or reprimand; take to task

  14. adumbrate

    describe roughly or give the main points or summary of

  15. adverse

    in an opposing direction

  16. advocate

    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea

  17. affluent

    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

  18. aggrandize

    embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of

  19. alacrity

    liveliness and eagerness

  20. alias

    a name that has been assumed temporarily

  21. ambivalent

    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

  22. amenable

    disposed or willing to comply

  23. amorphous

    having no definite form or distinct shape

  24. anachronistic

    chronologically misplaced

  25. anathema

    a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication

  26. annex

    attach to

  27. antediluvian

    of or relating to the period before the biblical flood

  28. antiseptic

    thoroughly clean and free of disease-causing organisms

  29. apathetic

    showing little or no emotion or animation

  30. antithesis

    exact opposite

  31. apocryphal

    being of questionable authenticity

  32. approbation

    official acceptance or agreement

  33. arbitrary

    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference

  34. arboreal

    of or relating to or formed by trees

  35. arcane

    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge

  36. archetypal

    of an original pattern on which other things are modeled

  37. arrogate

    seize and take control without authority

  38. ascetic

    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

  39. aspersion

    a disparaging remark

  40. assiduous

    marked by care and persistent effort

  41. atrophy

    a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse

  42. bane

    something causing misery or death

  43. bashful

    self-consciously timid

  44. beguile

    influence by slyness

  45. bereft

    lacking or deprived of something

  46. blandishment

    flattery intended to persuade

  47. bilk

    cheat somebody out of what is due, especially money

  48. bombastic

    ostentatiously lofty in style

  49. cajole

    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

  50. callous

    emotionally hardened

  51. calumny

    a false accusation of an offense

  52. camaraderie

    the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability

  53. candor

    the quality of being honest and straightforward

  54. capitulate

    surrender under agreed conditions

  55. carouse

    engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking

  56. carp

    any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae

  57. caucus

    meet to select a candidate or promote a policy

  58. cavort

    play boisterously

  59. circumlocution

    an indirect way of expressing something

  60. circumscribe

    draw a geometric figure around another figure

  61. circumvent

    surround so as to force to give up

  62. clamor

    utter or proclaim insistently and noisily

  63. cleave

    separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument

  64. cobbler

    a person who makes or repairs shoes

  65. cogent

    powerfully persuasive

  66. cognizant

    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization

  67. commensurate

    corresponding in size or degree or extent

  68. complement

    something added to embellish or make perfect

  69. compunction

    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed

  70. concomitant

    following or accompanying as a consequence

  71. conduit

    a passage through which water or electric wires can pass

  72. conflagration

    a very intense and uncontrolled fire

  73. congruity

    the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate

  74. connive

    form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner

  75. consign

    give over to another for care or safekeeping

  76. constituent

    one of the individual parts making up a composite entity

  77. construe

    make sense of; assign a meaning to

  78. contusion

    an injury in which the skin is not broken

  79. contrite

    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow

  80. contentious

    showing an inclination to disagree

  81. contravene

    go against, as of rules and laws

  82. convivial

    occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company

  83. corpulence

    the property of excessive fatness

  84. covet

    wish, long, or crave for

  85. cupidity

    extreme greed for material wealth

  86. dearth

    an insufficient quantity or number

  87. debacle

    a sudden and complete disaster

  88. debauch

    a wild gathering

  89. debunk

    expose while ridiculing

  90. defunct

    no longer in force or use; inactive

  91. demagogue

    a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions

  92. denigrate

    attack the good name and reputation of someone

  93. derivative

    a compound obtained from another compound

  94. despot

    a cruel and oppressive dictator

  95. diaphanous

    so thin as to transmit light

  96. didactic

    instructive, especially excessively

  97. dirge

    a song or hymn of mourning as a memorial to a dead person

  98. disaffected

    discontented as toward authority

  99. discomfit

    cause to lose one’s composure

  100. disparate

    fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind

  101. dispel

    cause to separate and go in different directions

  102. disrepute

    the state of being held in low esteem

  103. divisive

    causing or characterized by disagreement or disunity

  104. dogmatic

    pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative

  105. dour

    showing a brooding ill humor

  106. duplicity

    the act of deceiving or acting in bad faith

  107. duress

    compulsory force or threat

  108. eclectic

    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas

  109. edict

    a formal or authoritative proclamation

  110. ebullient

    joyously unrestrained

  111. egregious

    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

  112. elegy

    a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

  113. elicit

    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response

  114. embezzlement

    the fraudulent appropriation of funds or property

  115. emend

    make corrections to

  116. emollient

    a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin

  117. empirical

    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

  118. emulate

    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating

  119. enervate

    weaken physically, mentally, or morally

  120. enfranchise

    grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude

  121. engender

    call forth

  122. ephemeral

    anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day

  123. epistolary

    written in the form of letters or correspondence

  124. equanimity

    steadiness of mind under stress

  125. equivocal

    open to two or more interpretations

  126. espouse

    choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.

  127. evanescent

    short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear

  128. evince

    give expression to

  129. exacerbate

    make worse

  130. exhort

    spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts

  131. execrable

    unequivocally detestable

  132. exigent

    demanding immediate attention

  133. expedient

    appropriate to a purpose

  134. expiate

    make amends for

  135. expunge

    remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line

  136. extraneous

    not belonging to that in which it is contained

  137. extol

    praise, glorify, or honor

  138. extant

    still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost

  139. expurgate

    edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

  140. fallacious

    containing or based on incorrect reasoning

  141. fatuous

    devoid of intelligence

  142. fetter

    a shackle for the ankles or feet

  143. flagrant

    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

  144. foil

    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire

  145. forbearance

    good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence

  146. fortuitous

    lucky; occurring by happy chance

  147. fractious

    easily irritated or annoyed

  148. garrulous

    full of trivial conversation

  149. gourmand

    a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess

  150. grandiloquent

    lofty in style

  151. gratuitous

    unnecessary and unwarranted

  152. hapless

    unfortunate and deserving pity

  153. hegemony

    the dominance or leadership of one social group over others

  154. heterogenous

    consisting of elements that are not of the same kind

  155. iconoclast

    someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions

  156. idiosyncratic

    peculiar to the individual

  157. impecunious

    not having enough money to pay for necessities

  158. impetuous

    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought

  159. impinge

    infringe upon

  160. impute

    attribute or credit to

  161. inane

    devoid of intelligence

  162. inchoate

    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

  163. incontrovertible

    impossible to deny or disprove

  164. incumbent

    necessary as a duty or responsibility; morally binding

  165. inexorable

    impossible to prevent, resist, or stop

  166. inimical

    tending to obstruct or cause harm

  167. injunction

    a judicial remedy to prohibit a party from doing something

  168. inoculate

    inject or treat with the germ of a disease to render immune

  169. insidious

    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way

  170. instigate

    provoke or stir up

  171. insurgent

    in opposition to a civil authority or government

  172. interlocutor

    a person who takes part in a conversation

  173. intimation

    a slight suggestion or vague understanding

  174. inure

    cause to accept or become hardened to

  175. invective

    abusive language used to express blame or censure

  176. intransigent

    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason

  177. inveterate

    habitual

  178. irreverence

    a mental attitude showing lack of due respect

  179. knell

    the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death

  180. laconic

    brief and to the point

  181. largesse

    liberality in bestowing gifts

  182. legerdemain

    an illusory feat

  183. libertarian

    an advocate of freedom of thought and speech

  184. licentious

    lacking moral discipline

  185. linchpin

    a central cohesive source of support and stability

  186. litigant

    a party to a lawsuit

  187. maelstrom

    a powerful circular current of water

  188. maudlin

    very sentimental or emotional

  189. maverick

    someone who exhibits independence in thought and action

  190. mawkish

    very sentimental or emotional

  191. maxim

    a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits

  192. mendacious

    given to lying

  193. modicum

    a small or moderate or token amount

  194. morass

    a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

  195. mores

    the conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group

  196. munificent

    very generous

  197. multifarious

    having many aspects

  198. nadir

    the lowest point of anything

  199. negligent

    characterized by undue lack of attention or concern

  200. neophyte

    a participant with no experience with an activity

  201. noisome

    offensively malodorous

  202. noxious

    injurious to physical or mental health

  203. obdurate

    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing

  204. obfuscate

    make obscure or unclear

  205. obstreperous

    noisily and stubbornly defiant

  206. officious

    intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

  207. onerous

    burdensome or difficult to endure

  208. ostensible

    appearing as such but not necessarily so

  209. ostracism

    the act of excluding someone from society by general consent

  210. palliate

    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

  211. panacea

    hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases

  212. paradigm

    a standard or typical example

  213. pariah

    a person who is rejected from society or home

  214. partisan

    a fervent and even militant proponent of something

  215. paucity

    an insufficient quantity or number

  216. pejorative

    expressing disapproval

  217. pellucid

    transparently clear; easily understandable

  218. penchant

    a strong liking or preference

  219. penurious

    excessively unwilling to spend

  220. pert

    characterized by a lightly saucy or impudent quality

  221. pernicious

    exceedingly harmful

  222. pertinacious

    stubbornly unyielding

  223. phlegmatic

    showing little emotion

  224. philanthropic

    of or relating to charitable giving

  225. pithy

    concise and full of meaning

  226. platitude

    a trite or obvious remark

  227. plaudit

    enthusiastic approval

  228. plenitude

    a full supply

  229. plethora

    extreme excess

  230. portent

    a sign of something about to happen

  231. potentate

    a powerful ruler, especially one who is unconstrained by law

  232. preclude

    make impossible, especially beforehand

  233. predilection

    a predisposition in favor of something

  234. preponderance

    exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight

  235. presage

    a foreboding about what is about to happen

  236. probity

    complete and confirmed integrity

  237. proclivity

    a natural inclination

  238. profligate

    unrestrained by convention or morality

  239. promulgate

    state or announce

  240. proscribe

    command against

  241. protean

    taking on different forms

  242. prurient

    characterized by lust

  243. puerile

    displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity

  244. pugnacious

    ready and able to resort to force or violence

  245. pulchritude

    physical beauty, especially of a woman

  246. punctilious

    marked by precise accordance with details

  247. quaint

    attractively old-fashioned

  248. quixotic

    not sensible about practical matters

  249. quandary

    state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options

  250. recalcitrant

    stubbornly resistant to authority or control

  251. redoubtable

    inspiring fear

  252. relegate

    assign to a lower position

  253. remiss

    failing in what duty requires

  254. reprieve

    postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal

  255. reprobate

    a person without moral scruples

  256. rescind

    cancel officially

  257. requisition

    an authoritative demand

  258. rife

    excessively abundant

  259. sanctimonious

    excessively or hypocritically pious

  260. sanguine

    confidently optimistic and cheerful

  261. scurrilous

    expressing offensive, insulting, or scandalous criticism

  262. semaphore

    an apparatus for visual signaling

  263. serendipity

    good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries

  264. sobriety

    the state of being unaffected or not intoxicated by alcohol

  265. solicitous

    full of anxiety and concern

  266. solipsism

    the philosophical theory that the self is all that exists

  267. spurious

    plausible but false

  268. staid

    characterized by dignity and propriety

  269. stolid

    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility

  270. subjugate

    make subservient; force to submit or subdue

  271. surfeit

    indulge (one’s appetite) to satiety

  272. surreptitious

    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy

  273. swarthy

    naturally having skin of a dark color

  274. tangential

    of superficial relevance if any

  275. tome

    a large and scholarly book

  276. toady

    a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage

  277. torpid

    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation

  278. travesty

    a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style

  279. trenchant

    having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought

  280. trite

    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

  281. truculent

    defiantly aggressive

  282. turpitude

    a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice

  283. ubiquitous

    being present everywhere at once

  284. umbrage

    a feeling of anger caused by being offended

  285. upbraid

    express criticism towards

  286. utilitarian

    having a useful function

  287. veracity

    unwillingness to tell lies

  288. vestige

    an indication that something has been present

  289. vicissitude

    a variation in circumstances or fortune

  290. vilify

    spread negative information about

  291. virtuoso

    someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

  292. vitriolic

    harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone

  293. vituperate

    spread negative information about

  294. vociferous

    conspicuously and offensively loud

  295. wanton

    a lewd or immoral person

  296. winsome

    charming in a childlike or naive way

  297. yoke

    join with stable gear, as two draft animals

  298. zephyr

    a slight wind

  299. wily

    marked by skill in deception

  300. tirade

    a speech of violent denunciation

Created on September 30, 2012
(updated August 18, 2021)

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