How to spell conscious
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
conscious
C-O-N-S-C-I-O-U-S
The part to watch: con + sc + ious. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Conscious has an s and a c together, which say "sh". It ends -ious. It means awake and aware.
Conscious is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 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 conscious
- Wrong: conciousRight: conscious
- Wrong: consiousRight: conscious
A way to remember it
Conscious and conscience are related to science. All three have sc.
Conscious in syllables
con · scious
Conscious has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
I was conscious of everyone looking at me.
Conscious on the statutory list
Conscious 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 conscious, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a smaller word behind it
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as conscious.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell consciousness?
Consciousness is conscious + ness, so it ends with a double s: c-o-n-s-c-i-o-u-s-n-e-s-s.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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