How to spell fruit
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
fruit
F-R-U-I-T
The part to watch: ui says "oo". The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
You hear "froot", but the "oo" sound is spelt ui, as in juice and suit.
Fruit is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a vowel that makes a surprising sound. In these words a vowel, or a pair of vowels, makes a sound it does not usually make, such as the u in busy or the o in women.
Common mistakes with fruit
- Wrong: fruteRight: fruit
- Wrong: fruiteRight: fruit
A way to remember it
Fruit, juice and suit all have ui. Fruit juice is easy to remember.
Fruit in syllables
fruit
Fruit has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
An apple is a healthy fruit.
Fruit on the statutory list
Fruit 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 fruit, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a vowel that makes a surprising sound
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as fruit.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is the plural fruit or fruits?
Usually fruit: "I bought some fruit." Fruits is used for different kinds: "tropical fruits". Fruity and fruitful keep the ui.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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