How to spell parliament
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
parliament
P-A-R-L-I-A-M-E-N-T
The part to watch: parl + ia + ment, with an i you do not hear. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
You say "par-luh-ment", but there is an i after the l that is not sounded.
Parliament is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a letter you hardly hear. When we speak quickly, a letter or a whole beat gets swallowed. Say the word slowly, the way it is spelt, so every letter has a sound.
Common mistakes with parliament
- Wrong: parlimentRight: parliament
- Wrong: parlamentRight: parliament
A way to remember it
I am in parliament: the silent i sits in the middle, after parl.
Parliament in syllables
par · lia · ment
Parliament has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Parliament meets in London to discuss new laws.
Parliament on the statutory list
Parliament 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 parliament, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a letter you hardly hear
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as parliament.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell parliamentary?
Parliamentary is parliament + ary. It keeps the silent i after the l.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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