The hardest word in english to spell

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.

Whether you’re a learner or a native speaker, you’re probably well aware that the rules of English spelling sometimes make very little sense. If you’re not a natural-born speller, this can be grounds for a massive headache. Just when you think you’ve gotten the hang of how one sound is spelled, a rhyming word pops up with an entirely different spelling—take “meat” and “greet” for example—and your world comes crumbling down. Below, we’ll take you through ten of the hardest English words to spell, discussing what they mean, why they’re so challenging and how you can use them in a sentence.

  1. Nauseous
  2. Dilate
  3. Fuchsia
  4. Minuscule
  5. Ingenious
  6. Sacrilegious 
  7. Orangutan
  8. Paraphernalia
  9. Epitome
  10. Slough

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1. Nauseous

What it means: Having the feeling that you’re going to vomit

Why it’s hard: Starting off our list of most difficult words to spell is “nauseous.” Despite looking like it might be pronounced “NAW-see-us,” this word is actually pronounced “NAW-shus.” Everyday words that contain a “sh” sound in the middle more commonly use a “ti” as in “cautious” (“CAW-shus”—which rhymes with “nauseous”) or “nation” (“NAY-shun”), so this “eous” business might trip you up. Why can’t it be “nautious”?

How to use it: “I can’t go on sailboats. The swaying up and down always makes me feel nauseous.”

2. Dilate

What it means: To become or make something wider or larger

Why it’s hard: For some reason, many English speakers pronounce this as a three-syllable word, “DI-a-late”—but that’s not it. Don’t be tempted to add that extra “a” in there!

How to use it: “Your pupils dilate to let in more light so you can see when it’s dark.”

3. Fuchsia

What it means: A vibrant red-purple color

Why it’s hard: The spelling of this word, which is pronounced “FEW-sha,” makes no sense—it looks like it says “FEWCH-sia” or “FUCH-see-uh.” Why isn’t it just “fucia”? 

How to use it: “You’ll see me. I’ll be standing outside the coffee shop wearing a bright fuchsia dress.”

4. Minuscule

What it means: Very small

Why it’s hard: You might associate this word with “mini,” derived from “miniature,” another word that refers to something tiny. So it would be understandable if you wanted to spell this one “miniscule.” But that’s not the case! Make sure you spell this one with a “u.” 

How to use it: “Even if you can only save a minuscule amount of money every day, it can add up in the long run.”

5. Ingenious

What it means: Extremely clever; a very smart idea

Why it’s hard: Why does “ingenious” contain an “o” when “genius” doesn’t? This may surprise you, but the two words don’t share the same roots! Their meanings may seem similar, but “ingenious” doesn’t actually describe a genius-level idea. Once you can get your head around that, you’ll have an easier time remembering the spelling of this word.

How to use it: “Using two pancakes in place of sandwich bread? Ingenious!”

6. Sacrilegious 

What it means: Disrespectful toward something holy or sacred—this word is sometimes used humorously

Why it’s hard: Because it’s connected to the idea of anti-holiness, many people hear the word “religious” in this one; therefore, they want to spell it “sacreligious.” However, this word actually comes from the noun “sacrilege,” and has no “religious” roots.

How to use it: “You’re Canadian and you don’t like maple syrup? That’s sacrilegious!”

7. Orangutan

What it means: A large ape with brownish-red hair

Why it’s hard: Is this a typo? Why wouldn’t there be a “g” at the end of this word? Well, contrary to popular belief, this animal is not called an “orangutang.” We’re not sure exactly where that pronunciation came from, but it’s quite widespread—and so is the misspelling of the word.

How to use it: “Did you know that orangutans spend almost their whole lives in trees?”

8. Paraphernalia

What it means: Particular objects needed for a certain activity

Why it’s hard: If you don’t think this one belongs on our list of the hardest words to spell in the English language, maybe you’re spelling it wrong! Many people mistakenly pronounce this word “para-fa-NEEL-ia” leaving the second “r” silent and changing the second-last “a” (a long “a” sound) to a long “e” instead. As a result, you might be tempted to write “paraphenelia.” 

How to use it: “The trunk of my car is such a mess—all of my workout paraphernalia is in there.”

9. Epitome

What it means: The best example of something; a perfect representation

Why it’s hard: If you’ve only ever heard this word before and have never seen it written, you may have thought it was spelled “epitomy”—after all, it ends with a long “e” sound, so using a “y” seems like the logical choice. But, just like the word anemone, that final sound is represented by the letter “e.” This is far less common than using a “y,” and is, therefore, a little confusing. 

How to use it: “My ex-boyfriend is the epitome of selfishness.” 

10. Slough

What it means: 1. To shed something (e.g., skin) 2. A wet, swampy area

Why it’s hard: We chose this word to end our list because, no matter what the definition, the spelling could be so much more straightforward than it is. If you’re referring to the first definition, the act of shedding, “slough” is pronounced “sluff.” The swampy definition, however, is commonly pronounced “slew” in American English, but also sometimes rhymes with “wow.” Who decided that two words that are pronounced completely differently should share this unintuitive spelling?


English spelling: The epitome of confusion

If this list of the hardest English words to spell has your head spinning, you’re not alone; lots of others feel the same way. We suggest having some fun by memorizing these words, challenging your friends to a spell-off and impressing everyone with your skills!

Ready to start learning with Lingoda?


Andrea is a Canadian freelance writer and editor specializing in English, e-learning, EdTech, and SaaS. She has a background as an ESL teacher in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. In her free time, Andrea loves hanging out with her husband and children, creating recipes in the kitchen, and reading fiction. She also loves camping and jumping into lakes whenever possible. Learn more about Andrea on LinkedIn or check out her website.

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Living in the age of auto-correct and Google search, there is less of an emphasis on spelling as there once was. But its importance can’t be denied.

When writing a resume, a proposal or a school assignment, a misspelled word can be the difference between getting a job and missing out or getting the marks needed to pass an assignment or not.

We don’t recommend trying to use any of the words below in your next important document, they are some of the hardest words to spell in the English language.

10. Misspell 

Let the misspelling begin with the misspelled word misspell. While this is number ten in our list of misspelled words, it’s certainly number one in most ironic misspelled words that occur in a spelling bee. Misspelling misspell is like forgetting your phone number, you have seen it all the time and yet when you stop and think about it, it slips your mind.

9. Pharaoh 

This misspelled word falls into the error category of ‘you spell it like it sounds’. This term is used to refer to the ruler of ancient Egypt and like an ancient Egyptian ruler, this word will play a tyrant in your mind as it controls your every thought after you have been eliminated for spelling it “pharoh”.

8. Weird  

Fear the confusing power of the’ I before E’! This literary rule is viewed as an absolute but there are exceptions. Fitting of the many exceptions to the rule that weird is one of them, as that is what is often thought of the word weird when it is misspelled.

7. Intelligence 

The word that can be a shot to the ego when misspelled, intelligence being misspelled often creates the most reflection of intellectual state than any other. Its definition of being a measurement of one’s mental ability tends to relate to the fact that you struggled to use your intelligence to spell intelligence.

blog-spelling-bee-words-list

100+ Spelling Bee Words That Can Make Every Student Feel Like a Spelling Champion

Read it here

6. Pronunciation

A term related to the thing that brings the marriage of words and spelling, pronunciation is the act in which a word is spoken. This is a trap in a spelling bee (both the word itself and its meaning) as the manner in which a word is spoken can be misleading compared to how the word is written out. That’s why the nifty trick of using your finger in the air to write out the word is often used.

5. Handkerchief

Whether used as a decorative pocket accessory or as a tissue you don’t throw out, the handkerchief is useful as a versatile fashion statement and a spelling bee hurdle. Wipe away the emotional highs and lows of spelling competition in style with this handy tool of cleanliness.

4. logorrhea 

Do you have a chatter monster in your class? Next time they participate in a spelling bee, try to slip this word into their spelling bee to see if their babble is up to par. logorrhea is a term used when an individual is excessive and incoherent in talkativeness and wordiness.

3. Chiaroscurist 

A term used to describe an artist who specialises in chiaroscuro (pictorial representation of light and dark and its effect on composition). Much like the term itself, contrast the dark and the light by shedding some light on someone’s literary ability with a word that is so difficult to spell it’s dark.

2. Pochemuchka

A Russian term used when a person asks too many questions. One can’t help but think that maybe if I were more pochemuchka, I would have been informed on how to spell this word.

1. Gobbledegook

Gobbledegook is incoherent babbling in a fashion that makes no sense amounting to random words and noises to your listeners. Gobbledegook is a word that in fact sounds like complete gobbledegook, but in actuality is a word that has deep meaning for anyone who has ever heard an infant speak or watched a TV show in another language.

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14 of the hardest words to spell

In English, there are many hard words to spell, but some are more difficult than most. We’ve collected 14 of the most commonly misspelled words you need to learn.

Even native English speakers can struggle with the variations of the English language. That’s why ProWritingAid is such a useful tool for catching the spelling and grammatical errors that can create a poor impression. ProWritingAid can spot differences between American and British spelling rules, find commonly confused words, and help you learn more about the English language.

These 14 words are fiendishly tricky. Using them correctly is a great way to level-up your writing abilities.

Word 1: Accommodate

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British English: uh·ko·muh·dayt

  • American English: uh·kaa·muh·dayt

What Does It Mean?

  • 1: To fit in with the needs or preferences of someone.
  • 2: Provide sufficient space for a specific amount of people (typically buildings).

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Verb

Example in a Sentence

  • The wide doorways accommodate those with limited mobility.
  • The holiday home accommodates four people.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

ProWritingAid's spelling checker screenshot

Accommodate is hard to spell because it can be tricky to remember which letters you need to double. It’s common to see it misspelled as «acommodate,» «accomodate,» and «acomodate».

An easy way to remember that both the «c» and «m» need to be doubled is to think about the meaning of the word. «Accommodate» means making room, so you need to make space for those double letters!

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Accommodating: She was very accommodating.
  • Accommodated: Students may be accommodated in the halls of residence.
  • Accommodation: The accommodation was disappointing.

Word 2: Acquiesce

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: a·kwee·es

What Does It Mean?

  • To accept something without protest but reluctantly.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Verb

Example in a Sentence

  • She had to acquiesce to the demands of the business.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell aquiesce

Acquiesce is a truly challenging word, for native English speakers as well as those learning it as an additional language. The first letter «c» isn’t pronounced, which makes it hard to remember. Then there’s the letter «i» making an «ee» sound. Finally the end «ce» isn’t pronounced at all.

So how can you remember it?

  • Queens are born to rule! Remember the «qu» is dominant in this spelling.
  • Spot the sound separation between the letters «ie». They are not making the same vowel sound.
  • Think of the «sc» spelling in words like «scent» to remember the silent letter «c».

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Acquiesced: She finally acquiesced to the request.
  • Acquiescing: She would not be acquiescing, no matter what they offered.
  • Acquiescent: He was acquiescent.

Word 3: Bureaucracy

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British English: byuor·ro·kruh·see
  • US English: byoo·raa·kruh·see

What Does It Mean?

  • 1: A system of government in which most important decisions are taken by state officials.
  • 2: Excessively complicated administrative procedure (often called «red tape»).

What Type Of Word Is It?

  • Noun

Example in a Sentence

  • The bureaucracy is divided into departments.
  • All this bureaucracy stops us from making decisions.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell bureaucracy

This is a hard word to spell and would have many native English writers reaching for their dictionary.

Splitting the word into two parts can help. The first section «bureau» means an office or department. Look at the «eau» sounds. This is unusual, but it’s also found in the word «beauty.»

At the end of the word, the «cy» is making a «see» sound. That’s commonly used in English; think of words like «emergency,» «frequency,» and «democracy» that all end in the same way.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Bureau: I work for the Citizens Advice Bureau.
  • Bureaucratic: This system is too bureaucratic.
  • Bureaucrat: We’re fed up with bureaucrats making decisions.

Word 4: Conscientious

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British English: kon·shee·en·shuhs
  • American English: kaan·shee·en·shuhs

What Does It Mean?

  • 1: Someone who works thoroughly and well.
  • 2: Relating to someone’s conscience (moral sense of right and wrong).

What Type Of Word Is It?

  • Adjective

Example in a Sentence

  • He was a conscientious worker.
  • Conscientious objectors refuse to perform military service.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell conscientious

This word is difficult to spell because of the combination of vowels used both in the middle and end of the word.

Look at the «scien» part and think about the spelling of the word «science,» but remember they are pronounced differently. The «tious» spelling is one of two ways to spell the «shuhs» sound (the alternative is «cious» as used in «delicious»).

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Conscience: The decision weighed on her conscience.
  • Conscientiously: The painter was known for working conscientiously.

Word 5: Definitely

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: deh·fuh·nuht·lee

What Does It Mean?

  • Without doubt.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Adverb

Example in a Sentence

  • We are definitely going out tonight.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell Definitely

This word looks simple enough, but it’s deceptive because the vowels don’t match the pronunciation of the word. You’ll often spot people adding «a» instead of «i» in error.

It’s helpful to look at a word hidden within this one: «finite». The word «finite» means a specific, measurable amount.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Definite: We had definite plans for the weekend.
  • Define: The gate defines the park boundary.
  • Definitive: We have come to a definitive decision.

Word 6: Embarrass

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British English: ihm·ba·ruhs
  • American English: uhm·beh·ruhs

What Does It Mean?

  • Make someone feel self-conscious or ashamed.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Verb

Example in a Sentence

  • He wanted to embarrass her.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell embarrass

Another deceptively simple word, «embarrass» is often misspelled because the vowels sound closer to an «ee» than an «ay.» Add to that the confusion of which letters need to be doubled.

Look at the end of the word and spot the hidden «ass.» The emotion of embarrassment makes you feel like an ass! It definitely helps you remember the spelling too.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Embarrassment: The embarrassment was too much to bear.
  • Embarrassing: It was an embarrassing situation.
  • Embarrassed: He felt so embarrassed by his mistake.

ProWritingAid

Word 7: Entrepreneur

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British English: on·truh·pruh·nuh
  • US English: aan·truh·pruh·noor

What Does It Mean?

  • A person who sets up a business.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Noun

Example in a Sentence

  • She was a keen entrepreneur.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell entrepreneur

We often think of the word «entrepreneur» as being a French word, but looking back further into its etymology can help us remember the spelling.

The word «entrepreneur» means «to swim out» and «to capture.» What a great way to describe someone starting out in a new business.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Entrepreneurial: She showed entrepreneurial instincts.
  • Entrepreneurship: The booming economy encourages entrepreneurship.

Word 8: Ingenious

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: ihn·jee·nee·uhs

What Does It Mean?

  • 1: A clever or inventive person.
  • 2: A clever machine or idea well suited to its purpose.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Adjective

Example in a Sentence

  • What an ingenious man he is!
  • The machine was ingenious, yet simple.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell ingenious

Most people go wrong with the spelling of «ingenious» when they wrongly assume it’s the word «genius» with an «in» at the start. Don’t get tricked out! Remember there’s an «o» there, like in the words, «curious» and «anxious.»

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Ingenuity: It will take ingenuity to get the design right.

Word 9: Manoeuvre

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: muh·noo·vuh

What Does It Mean?

  • 1: A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.
  • 2: Large-scale military exercises.
  • 3: To move skilfully or carefully.
  • 4: To carefully manipulate a person or situation to achieve a desired goal.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Noun
  • Verb

Example in a Sentence

  • The manoeuvre was challenging.
  • The artillery were on manoeuvre.
  • She could manoeuvre the box around the corner.
  • It was easy to manoeuvre him in the meeting.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell manoeuvre

The French origins of this word make it hard to spell accurately. The middle of the word contains a tricky «oeu» you’ll need to learn. Don’t forget the final «vre» needs you to flip the common «er» ending more often used in American English.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Manoeuvrable: The ship was manoeuvrable despite its size.

Word 10: Mischievous

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: mis·chuh·vuhs

What Does It Mean?

  • Causing or enjoying causing trouble in a playful way.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Adjective

Example in a Sentence

  • She was a mischievous child.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell mischievous

We can’t blame you for getting this spelling wrong. Originally (up until around 1700 CE) it was also spelled «mischievious» and pronounced slightly differently. You’ll still hear people wrongly saying «mis-CHEE-vee-ous.»

Try remembering the word «chief» to spell the center of this word.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Mischief: He was the source of all mischief.

Word 11: Nauseous

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British English: naw·zee·uhs
  • US English: naa·shuhs

What Does It Mean?

  • Feeling (or causing one to feel) sick and/ or needing to vomit.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Adjective

Example in a Sentence

  • The smell made her feel nauseous.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell nauseous

If you speak with a British accent, you’ll find this word much easier to spell as it’s closer to the pronunciation. When you’re writing it, try over-pronouncing the word «naw-SEE-ous» to help you remember the «se» in the middle of the word.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Nausea: A wave of nausea swept over him.
  • Nauseated: She felt nauseated just looking at him.

Word 12: Occurrence

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: uh·kuh·ruhns

What Does It Mean?

  • An incident or event.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Noun

Example in a Sentence

  • Climate change makes extreme weather a common occurrence.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell occurrence

Most people struggle to remember whether they need a «ence» or «ance» ending for this word. Remember it’s a softer sound so you need an «e» rather than an «a.»

You might also trip up over which letters need to be doubled. You’ll need to double both the «c» and the «r» to get it correct.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Occurring: The meeting will be occurring weekly.

Word 13: Questionnaire

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: kwes·chuh·nehr

What Does It Mean?

  • A written set of questions with a choice of answers used for gathering data.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Noun

Example in a Sentence

  • They used the questionnaire to collect a range of views.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell questionnaire

The word question is commonly used, so is generally spelled correctly, but it’s easy to forget the additional «n» before the «aire» ending.

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Questionnaires: We wrote several questionnaires.

Word 14: Unnecessary

How Do I Pronounce It?

  • British and American English: uhn·neh·suh·seh·ree

What Does It Mean?

  • Not needed or excessive.

What Type of Word Is It?

  • Adjective

Example in a Sentence

  • It was an unnecessary expense.

How Can I Remember the Spelling?

How to spell unnecessary

Many people get confused about which letters need to be doubled when you spell «unnecessary,» but there’s an easy mnemonic to help. Say, «one collar and two sleeves» to remember one «c» and two «s.»

Other Variations of This Word:

  • Unnecessaries: His income was too limited for many unnecessaries.

Resources for Improving Your Spelling

English is a difficult language to spell because it’s been influenced by so many other languages. You might feel there are more «exceptions to the rule» than words that follow a particular spelling pattern.

These resources are all great ways to improve your English writing skills:

  • Vocabulary.com: Learn words using a wide range of question types and systematic practise.
  • English Forward: Explore videos and activities for people learning English as an additional language.
  • The Spelling Blog: Johanna Stirling’s fascinating blog explores how English works, how to learn it, and how to love it!

Whatever your spelling ability, remember accurate spelling creates a positive impression of your overall competence. It’s worth every effort to make certain it’s correct. And if you’re not sure, ProWritingAid’s comprehensive checker will do the heavy-lifting for you to ensure you always get it right.

Try ProWritingAid’s Editor for Yourself

Have you tried  ProWritingAid  yet? What are you waiting for? It’s the best tool for making sure your copy is strong, clear, and error-free!

Hardest Words to Spell in the World in English Language: English language is held to be the most popular language in the world. It is the official language in so many countries of the world. Yet, the language is rife with many linguistic difficulties familiar to many other languages in the world chief of which is spelling. From the double letter predicament to the vowel sound confusion, a lot of factors contribute to controversy associated with correct spelling of English words.

We have fished out twenty of the hardest words to a spell in the world in English, analysing the reasons for their difficult nature and how to get familiar with them so that you wouldd avoid misspelling them in the future.

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Hardest and Commonly Misspelled English Words with silent letters

1. Misspell: There! Misspell is one of the hardest words to spell in the world in English language. Imagine misspelling ‘mispell‘. The irony of it all! The tricky thing about this word is that because the root word, that is, ‘spell‘ starts with the letter ‘s’, it is easy to miss out the mandatory ‘s’ that comes with the prefix ‘mis’.

This is a very common word as it is also commonly misspelled. You come across this word ever so often but you do not register the double ‘s’ maybe because of the double ‘l‘ at the end.

Hardest Words to Spell in the World in English

Hardest Words to Spell in the World in English

2. Weird: Perhaps it is because of the weird nature of the spelling of this word and by this we mean how the vowel ‘e‘ unconventionally comes before the ‘i’ that makes it one of the hardest words to spell in the world in English. To avoid misspelling this word, always have in mind the order of the vowels in the word and you are good to go.

Also see: Most profitable skills to learn in 2022

3. Pronunciation: For a word that means how a word is pronounced, it is not hard to see why this word is often misspelled. The reason for this is not far-fetched. With related words like pronounce, pronouncing, pronouncement having a letter ‘o’ between the the first and second letter ‘n’, one can easily mistake this word, too, to be spelled likewise. Remember that the letter ‘o’ is not included in the spelling of this word.

4. Logorrhea: The problem with spelling this word is defined by it’s meaning– excessively wordy, in this instance though, excessive letters, some of which are silent or pronounced differently.

Tricky words to spell

Tricky words to spell

Also see: Types of sentences according to Function with Examples

5. Goobledegook: Here is a word that sounds like what it means- complicated and hard to understand as it is to spell.

6. Nauseous: With all the vowels everywhere in this word, you might find yourself a bit nauseous while trying hard to keep up with the spelling of this word. It is not only the order of the vowels that is hard to remember, even the consonants, like the letter ‘s‘ poses a slight difficulty as it is pronounced as /sh/ such that one might think that there should be the letter ‘c’ after the ‘s‘ as in words like ‘conscious‘ or ‘precious‘.

7. Chiaroscuro: This words means an interplay of light and shade as the spelling is an interplay of consonants and vowels.

8. Mischievous: Yes, we all pronounce it as /mischeeveeous/. Wrong! The problem starts from pronouncing it as though there’s an ‘i’ after the letter ‘v‘ when there really isn’t. The ‘i‘ only comes after the letters ‘m‘ and ‘h‘ as in the root word, ‘mischief’.

9. Accommodation: The problem of double letters comes to play here. Moreso, in this case, there are two letters that were repeated. It is really a mouthful.

Commonly Misspelled Words

Commonly Misspelled Words

Also see: Differences between a phrase and a clause

10. Minuscule: No, it’s not ‘miniscule‘. Not at all. It is from Latin ‘minus’ which means less. Plus there is no letter ‘k’.

11. Onomatopoeia: This means a word formed from a sound assoiciated with what it is named after. When you pronounce this word, you wonder of what purpose some of the letters between ‘p’ and the last ‘a’ are. The trick lies in committing to memory the order of those silent letters at the end of the word.

12. Pharaoh: This is the title of ancient Egyptian monarchs. Like some other hard to spell words in English, this word does not follow the spelled-as-it-is-pronounced rule. This is no wonder, after all, Pharaohs were know to be stubborn and unyielding.

13. Bellwether: Do not be mistaken. This word is not associated with the weather or climate or any such thing. In fact, it originates from the word wether. A wether is a ram with a bell on its neck which alerts and leads the herd of sheep. A bellwether in the same way is a leader in a particular field, showing the way for the future and what trends will be.

14. Drunkenness: The many letters of this word especially the repeated letters will leave you in stupor after spelling. Too many letters too can make one see double!

Also see: How to become a successful lawyer

15. Exhilarate: It’s hard not to get high on this word, what with the silent letter ‘h’ and the letter ‘a’ both of which are pronounced differently.

16. Experience: It can be a bizzare experience trying to spell this word with all the ‘e’s in it. Luckily, it follows the ‘ie’ rule so no problems about the vowel order.

17. Hierarchy: This one, too follows the ‘ie’ rule unlike its counterparts like ‘weird’  in the list of hardest words to spell in the world in English. It means people order and it follows the order of spelling, great!

18. License: Another tricky word which does not follow through with the pronunciation. The two different letters ‘c‘ and ‘s’ are both pronounced the same as /s/.

Difficult words to spell with silent letters

Difficult words to spell with silent letters

Also see: Differences between a deed and an agreement

19. Liaison: To not mess up the spelling of this word, keep the relationship between the vowels at your fingertips: there is a letter ‘a’ between the the two ‘i’s and there is not letter ‘z‘ just the ‘s’ pronounced as ‘z‘.

20. Quay: There is virtually no relationship between the spelling of this word and its pronunciation. A quay is a structure built on the land next to a body of water where boats, ships and other such vessels can load and let out goods and passengers. It helps to know that the letter ‘q’ is always pronounced as /k/.

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21. Sesquipedalian: The word ‘Sesquipedalian‘ is a difficult word to pronounce and it is equally difficult to spell. This word basically means the use of long words, and it is generally used to refer to a person who uses long and big English words while speaking. For instance: Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon is a Sesquipedalian.

To spell this word, you need to understand it’s pronunciation. If you can pronounce it, you will definitely be able to spell it. You may use Google voice or other software programs to listen and master the pronunciation of this word.

Also see: Hardest Dishes To Make In The World

22. Behaviour: Behaviour is a commonly misspelt English word. This word means the way which a person acts or usually responds to things and it is commonly misspelt as people often type it as Behavior.

What are the hardest common words to spell?

What are the hardest common words to spell?

However using Behavior instead is not wrong in entirely as Behavior is the spelling of Behaviour in American English, but Behaviour is correct spelling in British English and in many other English speaking countries. So therefore in using the word, you need to examine it’s context of use and the country it is being used in; so as to rightfully spell the word.

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Conclusion

Ignorance of correct spelling is a big shame and is no excuse to turn in works swarming with misspelled words. Imagine what that tells of you! Google search and auto correct may come in handy but they cannot always save you as they may not always be readily available or allowed, for example, in a spelling bee or an exam.  A misspelled word might just cost you that precious mark that could seal your victory.

The English language is fraught with many linguistic pitfalls, rules and exceptions to the rules when it comes to spelling. The list above, plus the helpful tips, will help you escape your spelling woes and effectively step-up your spelling game!

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC, is a Law Student and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier.

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.

As any participant in a spelling bee can tell you, correctly spelling words in the English language is not always easy. In most languages, the way words are spelled (graphemes) consistently relate to the way they sound (phonemes). But the English language uses a mix of spellings and pronunciations from Latin, Greek, French, German, and many others. To further confuse matters, words in English have different spellings in different countries. No wonder English is practically the only language spelling competitions are held in!

If you struggle spelling some of these challenging words, just know you are not alone. They are some of the trickiest words to spell in English.

1. necessary

One of the things that makes English hard to spell is that there are letters that can—but don’t always—make the same sounds, such as c and s. This, combined with the use of double consonants that don’t change how the word is pronounced, makes necessary tricky to spell. How do you remember where and how many or s letters you need? Well, take a look at the word. Do you “c” two ss? Ask yourself this to make sure there is first one c and then a double s in necessary.

2. narcissistic

Similar to necessary, narcissistic is challenging to spell because of the c and s letters that make the same sound. It can also be hard to remember where to place the double s. It might help you to know that the word narcissistic ultimately comes from the Greek nárkissos, a plant name associated with narcotics.

3. occasion

The word occasion also features the letters c and s, but here they are not making the same s sound. Part of what makes spelling this word challenging are the hard c (like a k) sounds, spelled with a double c. This double c comes from the Latin origin of the word, the equivalent of the prefix oc- combined with the verb cāsus, meaning roughly “to have befallen.” Also, you may be tempted to add another s, but there is only one in occasion.

⚡️What makes English a difficult language to spell?

Why exactly does English have so many different rules and variations when it comes to spelling? Learn a thing or two about its messy history here.

4. accommodate

The word accommodate also uses a double c … and throws in a double m for good measure. But what makes spelling this word tricky isn’t the consonants, but rather the vowels. The word accommodate [ uhkomuh-deyt ] sounds as if it could be spelled with three os, or maybe there is a u in there? But no, there are no us and the first letter is an a, of all things.

5. vacuum

Speaking of words with double c, one word you might expect to have such a spelling but does not is vacuum. Instead of a double c, vacuum features the rare double u (continuum and muumuu are others with this strange combination). The word comes from the Latin vacuus, meaning “empty.”

6. accessory

The word accessory breaks the pattern we have seen so far (remember what we said about the rules of English spelling being inconsistent?). Unlike accommodate, where the double c makes a single k sound, in accessory, the first c makes a k sound, and the second c makes an s sound. Throw in a double s, and accessory is a real challenge to spell correctly.

7. broccoli

Broccoli also features a double c to make a k sound. Besides this complication, you may be tempted to spell the ending with a y or ee to make the lee sound. However, broccoli is a word that comes from Italian, where the ee sound is represented with the letter i.

8. zucchini

Similar to broccoli, zucchini is a word from Italian that uses an i at the end to make an ee sound and has a double c that makes a k sound. If this spelling trips you up too much, you could try the British English word for zucchini instead, which comes from French: courgette [ koor-zhet ].

9. spaghetti

Another word with Italian origins that is a challenge to spell is spaghetti. The letter i at the end of a word in Italian indicates that it is plural. (Technically, a single spaghetti is a spaghetto.) The nearly-silent h might also throw you off when spelling this word.

Bite into more funny tidbits about words with uncommon singular forms here.

10. embarrass

Another word we aren’t embarrassed to admit can be hard to spell is, well, embarrass. One thing that might trip you up is the ending—it sounds like uhs, but is spelled, well, ass. Another thing that makes spelling embarrass difficult is the double r and double s. What explains both of these tricky elements is that embarrass was adopted into English from the Portuguese embaraçar via the French verb embarrasser.

11. bourbon

Speaking of words that come from French throwing us curveballs, another tricky one is bourbon. In English, we use an anglicized pronunciation of this word: [ bur-buhn ], but we have kept the French spelling. The difference between these two is what makes spelling this word hard—just try to remember there are two os, not just one.

12. charcuterie

The French have a very different system of spelling, which can make it confusing when we adopt their words into English. One example of this is charcuterie. In French, the letters char are pronounced  shahr. That’s why this fancy word for “cooked, processed, or cured cold meats” (like sausage and pâté) is spelled with a ch instead of the sh you might expect.

13. entrepreneur

Yet another word whose French spelling makes it a challenge for English speakers is entrepreneur [ ahn-truh-pruhnur ]. Because it starts with an ah sound, you may think it includes an a, but that’s not the case. Next time you write this word, remind yourself that most of the vowel sounds are es, except for the eu at the very end for the oor sound. 

14. liaison

The word liaison also has French origins. You may be tempted to spell it phonetically: lee-ay-zon. However, much like the i at the end of Italian words, the i in French can make an ee sound. That might help you remember that liaison has two i‘s.

15. Connecticut

Of course, French and Italian are not the only foreign languages whose words have been adopted into English. Many place names in the United States come from the Indigenous languages of those areas, and these spellings can be difficult. One example is Connecticut, which is pronounced [ kuhnet-i-kuht ], but is spelled “Connect I Cut.” The word comes from the Mohegan-Pequot language and means “upon the long river.”

16. Massachusetts

Another example of this is Massachusetts, named for the tribe of Algonquin people who lived there, whose name means “at the large hill.” This word is particularly challenging to spell because you may be tempted to double the second s … especially because there is a double t at the end.

Did you know Massachusetts is a commonwealth? Learn the difference between commonwealth and state here.

17. epitome

Words that come originally from Greek are also challenging to spell. One example is epitome [ ih-pituh-mee ]. The word sounds like it ends in a y or ee, but it doesn’t. One reason for this is because, similar to Italian, all of the vowels from Greek words are pronounced—no silent e here.

18. asthma

Speaking of silent letters, English has a remarkable number of them we use when spelling. There is no way to know these letters ought to be there unless you are familiar with the word. One example of this is asthma, which has a silent th. That’s right, English sometimes will throw in a silent th, just to keep you on your toes.

19. indict

Another word with a deceptive silent letter is indict [ in-dahyt ]. You don’t pronounce the letter c in this word, so you may forget to include it when spelling. The c is a holdover from its late Latin origins, indictāre, related to the English verb dictate.

20. gnaw

We have seen silent th and silent c, but we would be remiss not to mention the silent g that pops up from time-to-time in English. One example of a word with a silent g is gnaw [ naw ].

21. phlegm

Silent g‘s do not only appear at the beginning of words; they can show up in endings as well. One example of this is phlegm [ flem ]. This word is also tricky because it uses the letters ph to make a ff sound. This way of writing the ff sound can be found in words from Greek, such as phlegm and phone.

22. paradigm

Another example of a word from Greek with a silent g is paradigm, from the Greek parádeigma. Based on the way this word is pronounced, you would expect the ending to be spelled dime, not digm.

23. pneumonia

Another silent letter you may come across sometimes is a silent p, as in pneumonia [ noomohn-yuh ]. Even if you remember that silent p, the word pneumonia is still tricky because of the oo sound, spelled with an eu.

24. island

The letter s is also occasionally silent in English. One word you have likely come across that uses a silent s is island. The s was added to the word via isle, a word ultimately derived from Latin and meaning “a small island.”

25. rhythm

The word rhythm is particularly challenging to spell. It has two h‘s, but one is silent and the other is used in the diphthong th. It also sounds as if it should have a u [ rithuhm ], but it doesn’t. Rhythm comes from the Greek rhythmós, a clue that might help you remember its spelling in English.

26. Wednesday

The word Wednesday [ wenz-dey ] is particularly challenging to spell because the d is silent. Wednesday comes from the Old English for “Woden’s day”; Woden is what the pagan Anglo-Saxons called the Norse god Odin. Keeping Woden—or Odin—in mind is a good way to remember that pesky d.

27. eight

The word eight is a homophone of the past participle of “to eat,” ate. That’s not the only thing confusing about this old word. The ending is spelled ight which we associate with words like bright and tight. Here, however, this combination of letters is pronounced [ eyt ] instead.

English is full of homophones galore! Read about some of familiar pairs here.

28. acquiesce

Another word that contains some confusing letter combinations related to how it is pronounced is acquiesce [ ak-wee-es ], a verb meaning “to assent tacitly; agree.” The word comes from the Latin acquiēscere, meaning “to find rest in.” One thing to keep in mind when spelling this word is that ac- is a prefix meaning “toward” or “to.” That means the word breaks down as ac-qui-esce, which may help you spell it correctly.

29. nauseous

The word nauseous [ naw-shuhs ] appears to have just way too many vowels. Like the tricky acquiesce, nauseous comes from Latin. Nauseous means you suffer from nausea, a word that looks practically nautical (nau and sea). If you take the a off of nausea and add the common adjectival ending -ous, you have the correct spelling of nauseous.

30. conscious

A word with the same ending as nauseous that is also tricky to spell is conscious [ kon-shuhs ]. It may help you to spell it if you remember that it comes from the Latin conscius, meaning “sharing knowledge with,” equivalent to con-(with) + sci- (know) + -us (-ous, indicating an adjective).

31. grateful

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to spelling words in English are the number of homophones, or words that sound the same but are spelled differently. That’s why you may be tempted to spell the word grateful with an ea, as in great. However, grateful comes from the obsolete grate, meaning “pleasing,” not the word great, as in “large.”

32. separate

The word separate is tricky because the second vowel sound is spelled with an a and not a u or e, even though in many accents it sounds as if it should be.

33. lightning

Finally, there are some words in English that seem as if they should have more letters than they do. One example of this is lightning [ lahyt-ning ]. The unusual combination of tn may throw you off here. However, adding an e would make the word lightening, which has another meaning altogether.

If you ever get stuck on one of these words, or any others, you can always look up how to spell them here. Do your best to sound it out, and our algorithm will suggest the words you might be looking for. You can also use this handy word list to test yourself on these words. Whether you struggle to spell these words or others, keep in mind that the English language is a real challenge to spell!

English is an amazing language that has both simple and complex words. Even the language has certain words with the same pronunciation and different spellings. Also, some words sound different from how they should be spelled. Likewise, in English, you can find a variety of hard words to spell. Here, especially for all those who frequently get caught in spelling errors, we have presented a list of some hardest words to spell in the English Language.

Recently, in the age of autocorrect, many people have ignored the importance of spelling and experience difficulties only at the time of writing an essay or academic paper. Particularly, if you are a participant in a Spelling Bee competition, then you must have strong knowledge of English words and their spellings. Mostly, in the competition, you will be asked to write words that are hard to spell.

100 Hard Words to Spell in the English Language

Take a look at the list and improve your vocabulary.

Read More – Learn and Understand the Common English Techniques

Why some words are hard to spell?

Have you ever thought about why some English words are misspelled often and are even hard to spell? Basically, in English, there are a few spelling rules. If you are unaware of it, then chances are there for you to get locked in spelling errors out of confusion. Find here, some common reasons why certain words are hard to spell.

  • Differences in American and British English.
  • Lengthy words with many vowels.
  • Words with silent letters.
  • Double consonants.
  • Homophones [words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings]
  • Homographs [words with the same spelling but different pronunciation, meaning, and origin.]
  • Homonyms[words that have the same spelling and sound but different meanings]
  • Confusion with ‘e’ and ‘i’.
  • The similar sounding of ‘c’ and ‘k’.
  • A complication in the sound ‘y’, ‘ee’, and ‘lee’.
  • Double vowels.
  • Confusion with ‘ea’ and ‘ae’.

List of Hard Words to Spell in the English Language

Generally, the English language uses a mix of spellings and pronunciations from Latin, Greek, French, German, and many others. Also, certain words have different spellings in different countries. Hence, it is common for users to get confused.

To help you, here, we have categorized and listed some hardest words to spell in the English Language. Just Explore!

Long hard words to spell

English is a beautiful yet complex language, even for native Speakers. Apart from the typos, at certain times, people with good fluency also find it difficult to spell words that are long. The following are some long words that are hard to spell.

  1. Antidisestablishmentarianism
  2. Spectrophotofluorometrically
  3. Floccinaucinihilipilification
  4. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
  5. Hepaticocholangiogastrostomy
  6. Psychoneuroendocrinological
  7. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis
  8. Tergiversation
  9. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
  10. Trichotillomania

Super hard words to spell

In English, you can find several hardest words to spell. At times, the spelling and pronunciation of certain words will mismatch. So, possibilities are there for you to get held in trouble. Here is a list of some hardest words to spell.

  1. Abacaxi
  2. Abgesang
  3. Logorrhoea
  4. Pochemuchka
  5. Autochthonous
  6. Aitch
  7. Gobbledegook
  8. Chiaroscurist
  9. Coelacanth
  10. Minuscule
  11. Kierkegaardian
  12. Fuchsia
  13. Sacrilegious
  14. Nauseous
  15. Playwright

Easy words that are hard to spell

In English, certain commonly used easy words often get misspelled. Here, let us take a look at the list of the easiest words that are hard to spell.

  1. Misspell
  2. Pharaoh
  3. Cemetery
  4. Weird
  5. Accommodate
  6. Intelligence
  7. Occasion
  8. Calendar
  9. Pronunciation
  10. Handkerchief

Tricky Homophones to Spell

Typically, homophones sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. The following are some homophones that are hard to spell.

  1. Week and weak
  2. Hair and hare
  3. Flour and flower
  4. Dear and deer
  5. Die and dye
  6. Blue and blew
  7. Fair and fare
  8. Witch and which
  9. Hole and whole
  10. Profit and prophet
  11. Hear and here
  12. Morning and mourning
  13. Knot and not
  14. Peace and piece
  15. Complement and compliment

Hard Words to Spell for School Students

The following are some English words that school students commonly find difficult to spell

  1. Chaos
  2. Pneumonia
  3. Liaison
  4. Corollary
  5. Confetti
  6. Defalcation
  7. Bizarre
  8. Braggadocio
  9. Echelon
  10. Panache

Hardest Words to Spell for College Students

Here is a list of hard words that college students find difficult to spell.

  1. Condescend
  2. Discernible
  3. Unanimous
  4. Contemptuous
  5. Parachute
  6. Vengeance
  7. Acerbic
  8. Expunge
  9. Penurious
  10. Insidious
  11. Resplendent
  12. Bouillon
  13. Saccharine
  14. Presbyterian
  15. Scurrilous
  16. Boulevard
  17. Superintendent
  18. Teutonic
  19. Abysmal
  20. Bourgeois

Hard Words to Spell for Adults

The following is a list of the hardest 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
  11. Colloquial
  12. Ubiquitous
  13. Courvoisier
  14. Rhythm
  15. Cnemidocoptes
  16. Surveillance
  17. Narcissistic
  18. Questionnaire
  19. Connoisseur
  20. Embezzlement

The Bottom Line

Basically, English is a tricky language that contains several catches and exceptions in spelling rules. If you follow the rules properly, you can escape from committing errors. Some traps to ignore are silent letters, homophones, geographic variations, double consonants, and more. But note that, the more your read and practice, the better you will be at spelling the words in the English language.

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