How to spell imagine
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
imagine
I-M-A-G-I-N-E
The part to watch: imag + ine, with a silent e at the end. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Imagine sounds like it ends "in", but it is spelt ine with a silent e. It starts with image, a picture.
Imagine is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a silent e at the end. Each of these words ends in an e you do not hear. Remember to write it, and remember it drops before -ing or -ed: complete, completing, completed.
Common mistakes with imagine
- Wrong: imaginRight: imagine
- Wrong: emagineRight: imagine
A way to remember it
When you imagine, you make an image in your head: imag-ine.
Imagine in syllables
im · ag · ine
Imagine has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Can you imagine flying like a bird?
Imagine on the statutory list
Imagine 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 imagine, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a silent e at the end
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as imagine.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell imagination?
Drop the e of imagine before a vowel ending: imagination, imaginary, imagining.
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.