How to spell vehicle
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
vehicle
V-E-H-I-C-L-E
The part to watch: a silent h, and it ends -cle. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Vehicle has an h in the middle that most people do not say. It ends -cle, not -cal.
Vehicle is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a silent letter. These words have a letter you write but do not say. Many were said long ago and the spelling kept them.
Common mistakes with vehicle
- Wrong: vehicalRight: vehicle
- Wrong: vechicleRight: vehicle
- Wrong: veicleRight: vehicle
A way to remember it
A vehicle carries people: v + e + h + icle. Keep the h in, like a hidden passenger.
Vehicle in syllables
ve · hi · cle
Vehicle has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
A fire engine is an emergency vehicle.
Vehicle on the statutory list
Vehicle 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 vehicle, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a silent letter
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as vehicle.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it vehicle or vehical?
Vehicle. It ends -cle, like bicycle and article, not -cal.
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.