How to spell secretary
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
secretary
S-E-C-R-E-T-A-R-Y
The part to watch: secret + ary. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Secretary is secret + ary. Quick speech hides the a, so people write "secretery" or "secertary".
Secretary 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 secretary
- Wrong: secreteryRight: secretary
- Wrong: secrataryRight: secretary
- Wrong: secertaryRight: secretary
A way to remember it
A secretary keeps secrets: secret + ary.
Secretary in syllables
sec · re · tar · y
Secretary has 4 syllables. Say each one as you write it. Often said "sek-re-tree". Saying all four beats keeps the a.
In a sentence
The school secretary answered the phone.
Secretary on the statutory list
Secretary 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 secretary, 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 secretary.
More words
Questions parents ask
What is the plural of secretary?
Secretaries. The y changes to i before -es.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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