How to spell heard
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
heard
H-E-A-R-D
The part to watch: hear + d. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Heard sounds like "herd", a group of cows, but it is spelt with ear because it comes from hear.
Heard is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with the letters ear. The letters ear do not always say "ear". In early, earth, heard and learn they say "ur", and in heart they say "ar".
A way to remember it
You hear with your ear, and heard is just hear + d.
Heard in syllables
heard
Heard has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
I heard a strange noise in the attic.
Heard on the statutory list
Heard 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 heard, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the letters ear
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as heard.
More words
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between heard and herd?
They sound the same. Heard is the past of hear: "I heard a noise." A herd is a group of animals, such as a herd of cows.
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.