How to spell group
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
group
G-R-O-U-P
The part to watch: ou says "oo". The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Group sounds like "groop", but the "oo" is spelt ou, as in soup and you.
Group 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 group
- Wrong: groopRight: group
- Wrong: gruopRight: group
A way to remember it
A group of you having soup: you, soup and group all use ou.
Group in syllables
group
Group has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
Work with your group to solve the problem.
Group on the statutory list
Group 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 group, 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 group.
More words
Questions parents ask
Which other words spell the "oo" sound ou?
You, soup and youth also spell the "oo" sound with ou, as group does.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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