Spelling Bee Words by Grade (1–8): 150+ Word List + Practice Tips (2026)

Spelling bees build confidence, vocabulary, and listening skills—not just spelling. This guide includes 150+ spelling bee words by grade (1st–8th) plus teacher-friendly strategies to help learners practice smarter and improve faster.

What Are Spelling Bee Words?

Spelling bee words are vocabulary terms used in competitions and structured practice. They help learners improve pronunciation, spelling patterns, and language understanding—not just memorization.

Where Do Spelling Bee Words Come From?

Many spelling bee words come from Latin, Greek, French, German, and other languages. Learning origin patterns helps students predict spellings and meanings more confidently.

How Are Words Selected?

Teachers and organizers usually choose words based on:

  • Grade-level vocabulary expectations
  • Word structure and complexity
  • Irregular spelling patterns
  • Pronunciation challenges
  • Root languages and meaning

150+ Spelling Bee Words by Grade

Each grade section contains 25+ words designed to match learning level and boost confidence.

1st Grade Spelling Words

These simple spellings help young learners build early reading and phonics foundations.

Examples:

2nd Grade Spelling Words

Second-grade words introduce longer spellings and additional syllables to strengthen fluency.

3rd Grade Spelling Words

Third-grade words build confidence with multi-syllable spelling and stronger vocabulary.

4th Grade Spelling Words

Fourth-grade spelling adds trickier patterns and more academic vocabulary.

5th Grade Spelling Words

Fifth-grade words include more prefixes, suffixes, and less common patterns.

6th Grade Spelling Words

Advanced words for competition practice and structure-based spelling.

7th Grade Spelling Words

Challenging vocabulary to prepare for regional competitions and higher academics.

8th Grade Spelling Words

Competition-level words that benefit from etymology knowledge and structured practice.

Tips for Learning Spelling Bee Words

Make practice easier with these techniques:

  • Break words by syllables: spell in chunks.
  • Learn roots: prefixes/suffixes predict spelling.
  • Practice aloud: listening + spelling improves accuracy.
  • Review mistakes: repeat missed words every few days.

Free Platform for Spelling Practice

Want spelling practice that feels like play? spellingbeegame.us lets learners practice spelling for free—no account required.

Final Thoughts

With grade-wise lists and smart practice habits, students can build strong vocabulary and become competition-ready. Start small, practice consistently, and track progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can find them online, inside this guide, or through school spelling bee books and teacher-approved study resources.

Words like “acquiesce,” “quintessential,” and “zealous” are commonly challenging due to tricky patterns and roots.

Use word packs, practice pronunciation, review roots, and do short mock rounds to build confidence.

Turn practice into games, mini quizzes, and fun challenges. Keep sessions short and reward consistency.