Skip to main content

How to spell environment

A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.

The answer

environment

E-N-V-I-R-O-N-M-E-N-T

The part to watch: environ + ment, keeping the n. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.

The tricky part

Environment is environ + ment. Quick speech drops the n before -ment, so people write "enviroment".

Environment 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 environment

  • Wrong: enviromentRight: environment
  • Wrong: enviormentRight: environment

A way to remember it

There is "iron" in the environment: env-IRON-ment.

Environment in syllables

en · vi · ron · ment

Environment has 4 syllables. Say each one as you write it.

In a sentence

We should look after the environment.

Environment on the statutory list

Environment 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.

See all the Year 5 and 6 words

Test yourself

A short spelling test that starts with environment, 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 environment.

More words

Questions parents ask

How do you spell environmental?

Environmental is environment + al. It keeps the n before -ment.

Spelling is one part of the picture

The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.