1st Grade Spelling Bee Words | Word Lists & Study Tips

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1st Grade Spelling Bee Word List

Parents and teachers looking for a 1st grade spelling bee list need words that are age-appropriate, engaging, and educational. The list below includes common sight words, phonics-based words, and slightly more challenging words for young learners.

Word	Part of Speech	Origin	Definition + Example Sentence
gel	noun	Latin	A thick, jelly-like substance. She used hair gel to style her curls.
train	noun/verb	Old French	A connected series of railroad cars or to teach a skill. The train arrived on time. / She trained her dog to sit.
sport	noun	Old French	An activity involving physical exertion. Soccer is my favorite sport.
rich	adjective	Old English	Having abundant wealth. The rich man donated to charity.
eel	noun	Old English	A long, snake-like fish. An eel slithered through the water.
fans	noun	Latin	People who enthusiastically support something. The fans cheered for their team.
dome	noun	Latin	A rounded roof or ceiling. The building had a golden dome.
tall	adjective	Old English	Having great height. The tall tree reached the sky.
better	adjective	Old English	Of a higher quality. This cake tastes better than the last one.
hit	verb	Old English	To strike forcefully. He hit the ball with the bat.
peanut	noun	Spanish	A small, edible legume. She packed peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.
cake	noun	Old Norse	A sweet baked dessert. We had chocolate cake for dessert.
bite	verb	Old English	To cut with teeth. He took a bite of the apple.
noon	noun	Latin	Twelve o’clock in the daytime. Lunch is served at noon.
gummy	adjective	English	Soft and chewy. The gummy candy stuck to my teeth.
sting	verb	Old English	To cause pain with a sharp object. The bee sting made her arm swell.
ray	noun	Latin	A beam of light. A ray of sunshine warmed the room.
dusk	noun	Old English	The time after sunset before it gets dark. The sky turned orange at dusk.
mops	noun/verb	Dutch	Cleaning tools or the action of cleaning with a mop. She mops the floor every evening.
thanks	noun	Old English	A polite expression of gratitude. She said thanks for the gift.
dash	verb/noun	Old Norse	To run quickly or a small amount. He made a dash for the finish line.
skin	noun	Old Norse	The outer layer of the body. She has smooth skin.
star	noun	Old English	A celestial body emitting light. The star twinkled in the night sky.
began	verb	Old English	Past tense of begin. She began her homework after dinner.
grew	verb	Old English	Past tense of grow. The plant grew taller every day.
fine	adjective	Latin	Of high quality. She wore a fine silk dress.
day	noun	Old English	A 24-hour period. It was a sunny day.
upset	verb/adjective	Old English	To be disturbed or to overturn. She was upset about the news.
father	noun	Old English	A male parent. My father taught me how to ride a bike.
jam	noun/verb	Old French	A fruit spread or to get stuck. She spread jam on her toast. / The printer jammed.
mugs	noun	Old English	Large cups for drinking. He drank coffee from a big mug.
fair	adjective	Old English	Just or beautiful. The judge made a fair decision.
dinner	noun	Old French	The main meal of the day. They had pasta for dinner.
rats	noun	Old English	Small rodents. Rats scurried in the alley.
fed	verb	Old English	Past tense of feed. She fed the baby some applesauce.
sir	noun	Old French	A respectful title for a man. Excuse me, sir, do you have the time?
boom	noun	Dutch	A loud explosion or rapid growth. The cannon made a loud boom.
wave	noun/verb	Old English	A movement of water or a hand gesture. The wave crashed on the shore.
trunk	noun	Latin	A large storage box or the main part of a tree. She stored blankets in the trunk.
sleepy	adjective	Old English	Feeling tired. She was sleepy after staying up late.
full	adjective	Old English	Holding as much as possible. His plate was full of food.
huge	adjective	Old English	Very large. The elephant was huge.
born	verb	Old English	To come into existence. She was born in spring.
jumping	verb	Old English	Moving quickly off the ground. He was jumping with joy.
damp	adjective	Old English	Slightly wet. The towel was damp after the rain.
from	preposition	Old English	Indicating a starting point. He moved from New York to California.
hunch	noun/verb	Middle English	A feeling or to bend over. I have a hunch he is right. / He hunched over the table.
each	adjective	Old English	Every one of two or more. Each student received a book.
shade	noun	Old English	Darkness created by blocking light. They sat in the shade under the tree.
ribs	noun	Old English	The curved bones protecting the chest. He injured his ribs in the fall.

For additional structured practice, a printable PDF is available in the 1st grade spelling worksheets section.

How to Practice 1st Grade Spelling Bee Words

Fun Spelling Bee Activities for First Graders

Commonly Misspelled Words by 1st Graders

Certain words are trickier for first graders to spell because they don't follow simple phonetic rules. Here are some commonly misspelled words:

Encouraging children to focus on these words through repetition and fun activities can help them avoid common mistakes. Take a look at more commonly misspelled words.

Printable 1st Grade Spelling Bee Worksheets

Printable spelling worksheets are a great way to reinforce what first graders are learning. These worksheets help children practice spelling in a structured format, focusing on:

For additional practice, spelling lists by grade can help first graders transition smoothly into more advanced spelling challenges.

How Spelly Helps First Graders Master Spelling Bee Words

Spelly provides interactive learning experiences to make spelling practice easier and more effective for young learners.

Using a combination of interactive games, quizzes, and structured learning tools, Spelly makes it easy for first graders to build confidence in their spelling abilities.

More Spelling Bee Word Lists by Grade

As children progress in their spelling journey, they may need more challenging words to prepare for future spelling bees. Here are spelling bee word lists by grade level:

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