How to spell queue
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
queue
Q-U-E-U-E
The part to watch: q, then ueue. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Queue sounds like the letter q, but it is spelt q, u, e, u, e. It came into English from French.
Queue is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a spelling from another language. These words came into English from French or Dutch. Their spellings do not follow English sound patterns, so learn them by sight.
Common mistakes with queue
- Wrong: queRight: queue
- Wrong: queuRight: queue
- Wrong: qeueRight: queue
A way to remember it
A queue is a line of people waiting their turn: q, then u, e, u, e taking turns.
Queue in syllables
queue
Queue has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
We waited in a long queue for the rollercoaster.
Queue on the statutory list
Queue 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 queue, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words from other languages
Other words on the Year 5 and 6 list that came into English from another language.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it queuing or queueing?
Both are accepted in British English. Queuing, without the second e, is the more common spelling.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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