How to spell government
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
government
G-O-V-E-R-N-M-E-N-T
The part to watch: govern + ment, keeping the n. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Government is govern + ment. Quick speech drops the n, so people write "goverment".
Government 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 government
- Wrong: govermentRight: government
- Wrong: govenmentRight: government
A way to remember it
The government governs: govern + ment.
Government in syllables
gov · ern · ment
Government has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
The government makes laws for the country.
Government on the statutory list
Government 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 government, 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 government.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell governor?
Governor is govern + or. It ends -or, not -er.
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.