How to spell bargain
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
bargain
B-A-R-G-A-I-N
The part to watch: bar + gain. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
The end of bargain sounds like "gin", but it is spelt gain. The ai is hard to hear.
Bargain is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a letter you hardly hear. When we speak quickly, a letter or a whole beat gets swallowed. Say the word slowly, the way it is spelt, so every letter has a sound.
Common mistakes with bargain
- Wrong: barginRight: bargain
- Wrong: barganRight: bargain
A way to remember it
A bargain is a gain for you: bar + gain.
Bargain in syllables
bar · gain
Bargain has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
The jumper was a bargain at half price.
Bargain on the statutory list
Bargain is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with bargain, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a letter you hardly hear
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as bargain.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell bargaining?
Bargaining is bargain + ing, with nothing changed.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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