How to spell disastrous
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
disastrous
D-I-S-A-S-T-R-O-U-S
The part to watch: disaster drops its e (disast-rous). The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Disastrous comes from disaster, but the e of disaster is dropped. Many people write "disasterous".
Disastrous is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with the -ous ending. The ending that sounds like "us" at the end of a describing word is spelt -ous. It is never -us or -ouse.
Common mistakes with disastrous
- Wrong: disasterousRight: disastrous
- Wrong: disasterusRight: disastrous
A way to remember it
A disaster loses its e when it turns into disastrous: disastr + ous.
Disastrous in syllables
dis · as · trous
Disastrous has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
The cake was a disastrous mess when it came out of the oven.
Disastrous on the statutory list
Disastrous 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 disastrous, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the -ous ending
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as disastrous.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell disaster?
Disaster ends -er: d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. Only disastrous drops that e.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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