How to spell surprise
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
surprise
S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E
The part to watch: sur + prise, with an r in each half. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Most people say "suh-prize", so the first r goes missing. The end is always spelt -ise, even in American English.
Surprise is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 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 surprise
- Wrong: supriseRight: surprise
- Wrong: surprizeRight: surprise
A way to remember it
The forgotten letter is the r in sur. Say "sur" as in surface, then "prise".
Surprise in syllables
sur · prise
Surprise has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
We planned a surprise party for Mum.
Surprise on the statutory list
Surprise 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 surprise, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a letter you hardly hear
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as surprise.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell surprising?
Drop the e of surprise before -ing or -ed: surprising, surprised. The r after the u stays.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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