4th Grade Spelling Bee Words

Introduction: Helping 4th Graders Excel in the Spelling Bee

Spelling bees are a fantastic way to boost a child’s vocabulary, confidence, and cognitive skills. If your 4th grader is preparing for a spelling bee, whether at school or beyond, you’re in the right place!

This guide provides:

Let’s get started!

4th Grade Spelling Bee Word List (Common & Challenging Words)

Here’s a list of essential words for 4th graders participating in a spelling bee. Words are divided into easy, intermediate, and challenging levels to help students progress gradually. You may also find our 4th grade spelling words list useful.

Easy words

Word	Part of Speech	Origin	Definition + Example Sentence
motion	noun	Latin	Movement or change in position. Example: The motion of the ocean waves was soothing.
terror	noun	Latin	A feeling of extreme fear. Example: She screamed in terror when she saw the spider.
murky	adjective	Latin	Dark and gloomy. Example: The murky waters hid the fish from sight.
harvest	noun	Latin	The gathering of crops. Example: The farmer celebrated the successful harvest.
quill	noun	Latin	A feather used for writing. Example: The poet wrote with a quill.
patio	noun	Latin	An outdoor space next to a house. Example: We had breakfast on the patio.
braids	noun	Latin	Strands of hair woven together. Example: She wore her hair in braids.
castle	noun	Latin	A large fortified building. Example: The king lived in a grand castle.
costume	noun	Latin	Clothes worn for disguise or a special event. Example: She wore a princess costume.
wagon	noun	Latin	A four-wheeled vehicle. Example: The farmer used a wagon to carry goods.
wrench	noun	Latin	A tool for gripping and turning objects. Example: He used a wrench to fix the pipe.
indeed	adverb	Latin	Without a doubt. Example: She was indeed the best player on the team.
gerbils	noun	Latin	Small burrowing rodents. Example: The gerbils ran around their cage.
village	noun	Latin	A small town. Example: The village was located by the river.
critters	noun	Latin	Small animals. Example: The forest was full of critters.
stifle	verb	Latin	To stop or hold back. Example: He tried to stifle his laughter.
dimple	noun	Latin	A small indentation in the skin. Example: Her smile revealed a dimple.
brother	noun	Latin	A male sibling. Example: My brother is older than me.
mistake	noun	Latin	An error. Example: He made a mistake on his test.
harbor	noun	Latin	A sheltered port for ships. Example: The boat entered the harbor safely.
reunion	noun	Latin	A gathering of people who have been apart. Example: The family reunion was joyful.
balloon	noun	Latin	An inflatable object. Example: She held onto her balloon tightly.
promise	noun	Latin	A commitment to do something. Example: He made a promise to help his friend.
uproar	noun	Latin	A noisy disturbance. Example: The crowd was in an uproar after the decision.
Wednesday	noun	Latin	The third day of the week. Example: Our meeting is on Wednesday.
exactly	adverb	Latin	Precisely or correctly. Example: That is exactly what I meant.
severe	adjective	Latin	Very harsh or serious. Example: The storm caused severe damage.
twinkle	verb	Latin	To shine with flickering light. Example: The stars twinkle at night.
snicker	verb	Latin	To laugh quietly and disrespectfully. Example: He snickered at the joke.
stumble	verb	Latin	To trip or fall slightly. Example: She stumbled on the uneven sidewalk.
smock	noun	Latin	A loose dress or covering. Example: The artist wore a smock to protect his clothes.
natural	adjective	Latin	Found in nature. Example: The park had a natural beauty.
childhood	noun	Latin	The time of being a child. Example: He had a happy childhood.
nonsense	noun	Latin	Something that makes no sense. Example: His explanation was complete nonsense.
bandits	noun	Latin	Robbers or outlaws. Example: The bandits attacked the travelers.
champion	noun	Latin	The winner of a competition. Example: She was the chess champion.
superb	adjective	Latin	Excellent or outstanding. Example: The meal was superb.
tinge	noun	Latin	A small amount of color. Example: The sky had a tinge of pink.
outcome	noun	Latin	The result of an action. Example: The outcome of the test was positive.
groves	noun	Latin	Small groups of trees. Example: The orchard had several orange groves.
ghostly	adjective	Latin	Resembling a ghost. Example: The abandoned house looked ghostly.
convince	verb	Latin	To persuade someone. Example: He convinced his friend to join the team.
biology	noun	Latin	The study of living things. Example: She loved her biology class.
captive	noun	Latin	A person or animal that is imprisoned. Example: The captive bird was set free.
streamers	noun	Latin	Long, narrow decorations. Example: The party room was filled with streamers.
speckled	adjective	Latin	Covered with small spots. Example: The dog had a speckled coat.
hopscotch	noun	Latin	A children's jumping game. Example: They played hopscotch during recess.
jumbled	adjective	Latin	Mixed up or disordered. Example: The papers were all jumbled together.
naughty	adjective	Latin	Mischievous or bad. Example: The naughty puppy chewed the shoes.
dodgy	adjective	Latin	Risky or unreliable. Example: The deal seemed a bit dodgy.

Medium words

Word	Part of Speech	Origin	Definition + Example Sentence
bronze	noun	Latin	A metal alloy of copper and tin. Example: The statue was made of bronze.
flea	noun	Latin	A small insect that jumps. Example: The dog was scratching because of a flea.
buckeye	noun	Latin	A tree with large brown seeds. Example: The buckeye tree stood tall in the park.
sudsy	adjective	Latin	Full of foam or lather. Example: The dishwater was very sudsy.
antlers	noun	Latin	The branched horns of a deer. Example: The moose had large antlers.
dapper	adjective	Latin	Neat and stylish in appearance. Example: He looked very dapper in his suit.
stroll	verb	Latin	A leisurely walk. Example: We took a stroll in the park.
cress	noun	Latin	A plant used in salads. Example: She added cress to her sandwich.
bestie	noun	Latin	A best friend. Example: She spent all day with her bestie.
cereal	noun	Latin	A grain used for food. Example: He ate cereal for breakfast.
silence	noun	Latin	The absence of sound. Example: The library was in complete silence.
fury	noun	Latin	Extreme anger. Example: His fury was evident in his voice.
howdy	interjection	Latin	An informal greeting. Example: He waved and said, 'Howdy!'
important	adjective	Latin	Having great significance. Example: This decision is very important.
popovers	noun	Latin	A light, hollow pastry. Example: She made fresh popovers for breakfast.
thousand	noun	Latin	The number 1,000. Example: There were a thousand stars in the sky.
razor	noun	Latin	A tool for shaving. Example: He used a razor to trim his beard.
roughly	adverb	Latin	Approximately or not smoothly. Example: He estimated roughly 50 people attended.
drawl	noun	Latin	A slow manner of speaking. Example: His Southern drawl was charming.
oddity	noun	Latin	Something unusual. Example: The oddity of the situation made them laugh.
insult	noun	Latin	A rude remark. Example: His words were taken as an insult.
valley	noun	Latin	A low area between hills. Example: The river flowed through the valley.
gather	verb	Latin	To bring together. Example: We gather around the table for dinner.
dessert	noun	Latin	A sweet dish after a meal. Example: Ice cream is my favorite dessert.
stagecoach	noun	Latin	A horse-drawn vehicle. Example: They traveled by stagecoach in the old days.
peaceful	adjective	Latin	Free from disturbance. Example: The lake was peaceful in the morning.
ailment	noun	Latin	A minor illness. Example: She had a common cold, a minor ailment.
combat	noun	Latin	A fight or battle. Example: The soldiers prepared for combat.
rotten	adjective	Latin	Decayed or spoiled. Example: The fruit was rotten and smelled bad.
expressway	noun	Latin	A highway. Example: We took the expressway to save time.
practice	noun	Latin	Repeated action for improvement. Example: Daily practice makes perfect.
squash	noun	Latin	A type of vegetable. Example: She made soup with fresh squash.
amused	adjective	Latin	Entertained or pleased. Example: The joke made everyone amused.
pouch	noun	Latin	A small bag. Example: The kangaroo carried its baby in a pouch.
outfits	noun	Latin	Clothes worn together. Example: She picked out her outfits for the trip.
sewing	noun	Latin	The act of stitching fabric. Example: She enjoyed sewing her own clothes.
transform	verb	Latin	To change in form. Example: The caterpillar will transform into a butterfly.
marble	noun	Latin	A type of smooth rock. Example: The countertop was made of marble.
gallon	noun	Latin	A unit of liquid measure. Example: We bought a gallon of milk.
flitting	verb	Latin	Moving quickly. Example: The bird was flitting from branch to branch.
plaza	noun	Latin	An open public space. Example: The city had a beautiful plaza with fountains.
yesterday	noun	Latin	The day before today. Example: We went to the park yesterday.
nighttime	noun	Latin	The period of night. Example: Owls are active during nighttime.
putty	noun	Latin	A soft substance used to seal cracks. Example: He used putty to fix the window.
glumly	adverb	Latin	In a sad manner. Example: She walked glumly after losing the game.
ignore	verb	Latin	To refuse to notice. Example: He tried to ignore the noise.
improve	verb	Latin	To make better. Example: She wants to improve her grades.
Internet	noun	Latin	A global network. Example: The Internet provides vast information.
pantry	noun	Latin	A storage space for food. Example: The pantry was stocked with snacks.
hungrily	adverb	Latin	In a starving manner. Example: He ate his meal hungrily.

Hard words

Word	Part of Speech	Origin	Definition + Example Sentence
thorax	noun	Latin	The chest part of an animal’s body. Example: The insect’s thorax was covered in fine hairs.
tostones	noun	Latin	Twice-fried plantain slices. Example: She enjoyed eating crispy tostones.
bunions	noun	Latin	A painful swelling on the big toe. Example: He had surgery to remove his bunions.
bamboozled	verb	Latin	Tricked or deceived. Example: The magician bamboozled the audience with his tricks.
Oman	noun	Latin	A country in the Middle East. Example: Oman has beautiful desert landscapes.
flummox	verb	Latin	To confuse or perplex. Example: The difficult question flummoxed the student.
inscrutable	adjective	Latin	Difficult to understand. Example: His expression was inscrutable.
serenity	noun	Latin	The state of being calm. Example: She enjoyed the serenity of the quiet beach.
congregation	noun	Latin	A gathering of people, often for religious purposes. Example: The congregation met for Sunday service.
sentinel	noun	Latin	A guard or watchman. Example: The sentinel stood at the castle gates.
Arctic	adjective	Latin	Relating to the North Pole. Example: The Arctic is extremely cold in winter.
fluke	noun	Latin	A stroke of luck. Example: Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
captain	noun	Latin	The leader of a ship or team. Example: The captain navigated through the storm.
delegation	noun	Latin	A group chosen to represent others. Example: The delegation traveled to the conference.
verve	noun	Latin	Energy and enthusiasm. Example: She danced with great verve.
Vaseline	noun	Latin	A brand of petroleum jelly. Example: He applied Vaseline to his dry lips.
gastritis	noun	Latin	Inflammation of the stomach lining. Example: He suffered from gastritis after eating spicy food.
platypus	noun	Latin	A semiaquatic egg-laying mammal. Example: The platypus is unique to Australia.
salute	verb	Latin	To show respect by raising the hand. Example: The soldiers salute their commander.
mantel	noun	Latin	A shelf above a fireplace. Example: Family photos were placed on the mantel.
amphitheater	noun	Latin	A circular open-air venue. Example: The play was performed in an amphitheater.
desecration	noun	Latin	The act of disrespecting something sacred. Example: The desecration of the temple angered many.
diode	noun	Latin	A semiconductor device. Example: The circuit contained a small diode.
mischievous	adjective	Latin	Naughty or playful in a bad way. Example: The mischievous cat knocked over the vase.
bionic	adjective	Latin	Having artificial body parts. Example: He had a bionic arm.
syllables	noun	Latin	Units of pronunciation in a word. Example: The word 'banana' has three syllables.
sultanate	noun	Latin	A territory ruled by a sultan. Example: The sultanate was known for its rich culture.
turban	noun	Latin	A head covering worn in some cultures. Example: He wore a turban as part of his tradition.
sausage	noun	Latin	A meat product encased in a skin. Example: He had sausage and eggs for breakfast.
disgruntled	adjective	Latin	Unhappy or dissatisfied. Example: The disgruntled employee resigned.
terrify	verb	Latin	To cause great fear. Example: The horror movie will terrify you.
quip	noun	Latin	A witty remark. Example: He made a clever quip during the meeting.
information	noun	Latin	Knowledge or facts. Example: The internet provides a vast amount of information.
incubator	noun	Latin	A device to keep babies or eggs warm. Example: The premature baby was placed in an incubator.
droll	adjective	Latin	Funny in an odd way. Example: His droll humor made everyone chuckle.
vultures	noun	Latin	Large birds that eat dead animals. Example: The vultures circled the carcass.
Arabic	adjective	Latin	Relating to the language or culture of Arabia. Example: He is fluent in Arabic.
Brooklyn	noun	Latin	A borough of New York City. Example: She grew up in Brooklyn.
sacred	adjective	Latin	Holy or deeply respected. Example: The temple is considered sacred.
reindeer	noun	Latin	A deer species found in cold regions. Example: Santa's sleigh is pulled by reindeer.
disclaimer	noun	Latin	A warning about responsibility. Example: The product came with a disclaimer.
quotation	noun	Latin	A group of words taken from another source. Example: He included a famous quotation in his speech.
superior	adjective	Latin	Better than others. Example: His work was superior to the rest.
privilege	noun	Latin	A special right or advantage. Example: Education is a privilege.
fallow	adjective	Latin	Unused but capable of growing crops. Example: The farmer left the field fallow.
replica	noun	Latin	A copy of an original. Example: The museum had a replica of the famous statue.
provision	noun	Latin	A supply of necessary things. Example: The ship was stocked with provisions.
reference	noun	Latin	A source of information. Example: The teacher gave a reference book for research.
havens	noun	Latin	Safe places or shelters. Example: The refugees found havens in the city.
voracious	adjective	Latin	Having an enormous appetite. Example: He was a voracious reader.

How to Prepare for a 4th Grade Spelling Bee (Study Tips for Parents & Teachers)

Preparing for a spelling bee requires more than just memorizing words. Here are proven techniques to help your child build strong spelling skills:

For more structured practice, check out our free spelling worksheets for 4th grade.

Fun Spelling Activities to Keep Kids Engaged

Studying spelling words doesn’t have to be boring! Try these interactive spelling games to make learning fun:

Engaging games help reduce stress and make spelling practice enjoyable and effective.

Understanding Spelling Bee Levels: Where 4th Graders Fit

Spelling bees range from classroom competitions to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Here’s where 4th graders fit in the competition ladder:

A strong 4th-grade speller should study beyond their grade level, and using resources like commonly misspelled words can be helpful.

How to Help Kids Overcome Spelling Bee Anxiety

Many students feel nervous before a spelling bee. Here’s how to build confidence and reduce stress:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: Start Practicing Today!

Preparing for a spelling bee is an exciting challenge! By using the word list, practicing daily, and making learning fun with games and mock bees, your 4th grader will gain both spelling skills and confidence.

Teachers and parents—print this guide, start practicing, and watch your student shine in the spelling bee!