Quick answer: 7th grade spelling words include prefixes like inter-, trans- and super-, endings such as -ance/-ence and -ory/-ary, literary terms (metaphor, onomatopoeia), math and science vocabulary (perpendicular, molecule), words borrowed from French (ballet, souvenir) and commonly misspelled words like definitely, argument and guarantee. Most classes practice 15 to 20 words a week.
What Do 7th Graders Learn in Spelling?
Seventh graders read more complex texts and write longer essays, so spelling instruction focuses on academic and literary vocabulary. Students study how prefixes and suffixes change meaning, learn words borrowed from other languages, and work on the "demon" words that cause mistakes well into adulthood.
Every school uses its own program, so treat this list as practice, not an official curriculum. For other ages, see our spelling bee words by grade.
7th Grade Spelling Words by Pattern
The 100 words below are grouped by spelling pattern, because children remember a rule far better than a random list.
Prefixes: anti-, inter-, trans-, sub-, super-
anti = against, inter = between, trans = across, sub = under, super = above.
antibiotic, antisocial, interrupt, international, transform, translate, transparent, submarine, subway, supervise, superior, supernatural
-ance, -ence, -ancy, -ency
These endings sound alike, so link each noun to its related word.
attendance, assistance, tolerance, intelligence, independence, reference, emergency, frequency, vacancy, consistency
-ory and -ary
Both endings sound similar; -ary is more common.
laboratory, territory, mandatory, inventory, contemporary, vocabulary, temporary, imaginary, secretary, voluntary
Literary terms
Words students use when analyzing stories and poems.
metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, protagonist, antagonist, foreshadowing, narrator, dialogue
Math and science words
Subject vocabulary that appears in tests and lab reports.
perpendicular, parallel, isosceles, quadrilateral, coefficient, circumference, molecule, chromosome, friction, gravity
ph and gh for the /f/ sound
The /f/ sound is sometimes spelled ph (from Greek) or gh.
physical, phrase, sphere, pharmacy, laughter, tough, cough, rough
Words from French
These keep French spellings, often with silent endings.
ballet, bouquet, buffet, debut, plateau, brochure, souvenir, boutique
Commonly misspelled words
Everyday words that are easy to get wrong.
definitely, argument, guarantee, maintenance, occasionally, existence, persistent, tomorrow, truly, until, grateful, noticeable
Challenge words
Hard words for strong spellers and spelling bee practice.
acquaintance, entrepreneur, hierarchy, liaison, miscellaneous, pneumonia, silhouette, camouflage, chaos, colleague, dilemma, exhilarate, fluorescent, hygiene, jeopardy, nuisance, sergeant, cemetery, pastime, harass
Key Spelling Rules for 7th Grade
1. Argue drops the e, notice keeps it
Argue loses its e in argument, but notice keeps it in noticeable so the c stays soft.
2. Match -ance and -ence to the related word
Attend → attendant → attendance. Depend → dependent → independence. If you know one form, you can spell the other.
3. Definitely has "finite" inside
Think de + finite + ly. There is no a in definitely.
4. French words keep French spellings
Final t is often silent (ballet, debut), and eau says long o (plateau).
Example Sentences for Tricky 7th Grade Words
Using a word in a sentence shows its meaning, which matters most for words that sound alike or break the usual rules.
| Word | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| definitely | I will definitely come to the game. |
| argument | They had an argument about the rules. |
| guarantee | The store offers a one-year guarantee. |
| maintenance | The pool is closed for maintenance. |
| perpendicular | The two lines are perpendicular. |
| onomatopoeia | "Buzz" is an example of onomatopoeia. |
| silhouette | We saw the silhouette of a cat in the window. |
| cemetery | The old cemetery is next to the church. |
A 10-Week 7th Grade Spelling Plan
Work on one pattern each week and review the hardest words at the end. Most 7th grade classes practice 15 to 20 words a week.
| Week | Focus | Sample words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prefixes | interrupt, transform, supervise |
| 2 | -ance / -ence | attendance, independence, reference |
| 3 | -ory / -ary | laboratory, vocabulary, temporary |
| 4 | Literary terms | metaphor, alliteration, protagonist |
| 5 | Math words | perpendicular, isosceles, circumference |
| 6 | Science words | molecule, chromosome, friction |
| 7 | ph and gh | physical, sphere, laughter |
| 8 | French words | ballet, souvenir, plateau |
| 9 | Misspelled words | definitely, argument, guarantee |
| 10 | Challenge review | acquaintance, silhouette, hierarchy |
Fun Ways to Practice 7th Grade Spelling Words
- ➥Prefix flip: change the prefix on a base word and explain the new meaning, like transport and import.
- ➥Literary term hunt: find a metaphor, a simile and an example of alliteration in a book and label them.
- ➥Error correction: give a paragraph with five misspelled list words and ask students to fix them.
- ➥Origin cards: write the language each French or Greek word comes from on the back of a flashcard.
- ➥Word puzzle games: the daily Spelling Bee puzzle asks players to build words from seven letters. Seventh graders can race to Genius and note any long words they missed.
How to Build a Weekly 7th Grade Spelling Test
Seventh grade tests can combine spelling with usage and editing. Include a short proofreading task alongside the word list.
| Part | Items | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern words | 12 | This week’s prefix, suffix or theme |
| Subject words | 3 | Math, science or literary terms |
| Proofreading | 1 | Find and fix misspelled words in a paragraph |
| Review words | 4 | Words missed in earlier weeks |
Read each word, use it in a sentence and read it again, just as a pronouncer does in a spelling bee. Our spelling practice routine shows how to spread study across the week.
Common 7th Grade Spelling Mistakes
| Student writes | Correct | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|
| definately | definitely | Definite + ly, no a |
| arguement | argument | Argue drops its e |
| garantee | guarantee | A guard gives a guarantee: gu at the start |
| maintainance | maintenance | Main + ten + ance |
| noticable | noticeable | Keep the e so c stays soft |
| cemetary | cemetery | Three e's, like a quiet "eee" |
Proofreading: The Skill That Fixes Most Errors
Many spelling mistakes in seventh grade writing are not caused by not knowing a word, but by rushing. Teach students to proofread in a separate step after writing. Reading the text aloud, or reading it backward one word at a time, makes misspellings easier to spot because the brain stops filling in what it expects to see.
Spell checkers help, but they miss confused words like then/than or loose/lose, because both are real words. That is why learning these pairs still matters, even with technology.
Tips for Parents
At this age, the best help is often a quick quiz at the kitchen table and genuine interest in what your child is studying. Ask them to teach you a literary term or a science word from their list. Explaining a word is one of the strongest ways to remember its spelling.
Using This List for a Class Spelling Bee
Seventh graders are often in the final rounds of school bees. Use prefixes and -ance/-ence words early, then French words and challenge words like silhouette and hierarchy for the final. Our guide on how to host a classroom spelling bee covers rules, roles and tie-breaks.
What Comes Next?
In 8th grade, students study advanced roots, civics and science vocabulary, and pairs like allusion/illusion. Need an easier list? Try our 6th grade spelling words. Ready for more? Move on to our 8th grade spelling words.
Final Thoughts
Seventh grade spelling prepares students for high school reading and writing. Focus on word parts, subject vocabulary and the everyday words that trip people up. With a few minutes of practice each day, these words become automatic.