How to spell bicycle
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
bicycle
B-I-C-Y-C-L-E
The part to watch: bi + cycle, with a y after the first c. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Bicycle is "cycle" with bi, meaning two, in front. The i in bi says "eye", and the y after the first c says a short i, as in gym. The word ends -le, not -el.
Bicycle is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a smaller word behind it. Each of these words is built from, or related to, a smaller word you may already know. Find the smaller word and most of the spelling follows.
Common mistakes with bicycle
- Wrong: bicycelRight: bicycle
- Wrong: bycicleRight: bicycle
- Wrong: bicicleRight: bicycle
A way to remember it
A bicycle has two wheels: bi means two, and cycle comes from the Greek word for wheel.
Bicycle in syllables
bi · cy · cle
Bicycle has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
She rode her bicycle to the park.
Bicycle on the statutory list
Bicycle is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 3 and 4, when they are 7 to 9.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with bicycle, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a smaller word behind it
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as bicycle.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell cycling and cyclist?
Drop the e of cycle before a vowel ending: cycling, cyclist. Both keep the y after the c.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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