3rd Grade Spelling Words: 12 Lists to Practice
Last updated: September 2026 · Written by the Spelly team
Short answer: A 3rd grader (ages 8 to 9) should be able to spell words with r-controlled vowels (car, bird, turn), vowel sounds like oi/oy and ou/ow (coin, boy, cloud, cow), plurals that take -es (boxes, lunches), words with the prefixes un- and re- and the suffixes -ful, -less and -ly, common two-syllable words, contractions (don't, can't), the most common homophones (to, too, two), and a handful of tricky everyday words like because and friend. The lists below give ten words for each skill, from easiest to hardest.
Every school sets its own spelling list and moves at its own pace, and every child is different, so treat these as a guide to what third grade usually covers rather than a test your child has to pass. If your child's teacher sends a weekly list, that list comes first. For the whole range from 1st to 5th grade, see spelling words by grade.
What children learn at this level
Third grade is where spelling starts to be about meaning as well as sound. Children still learn letter patterns, but they also learn that words are built from parts: a base word, a prefix at the front, a suffix at the end. Here is what the Common Core State Standards, which many US states use, list for third grade:
- Prefixes and suffixes. Third graders are expected to "identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and derivational suffixes" (standard RF.3.3.a). Reading Rockets names un-, re-, -ful and -less among the common ones taught at this age.
- Adding endings correctly. Children should use conventional spelling "for adding suffixes to base words", with examples like sitting, smiled, cries, happiness (standard L.3.2.e). That is where rules like "change y to i" come in.
- Spelling patterns. They should use "word families, position-based spellings, syllable patterns, ending rules, meaningful word parts" when writing words (standard L.3.2.f). R-controlled vowels, oi/oy and ou/ow are patterns of this kind, and they build on the vowel teams the standards introduce in 2nd grade (RF.2.3.b).
- Longer words and plurals. Third graders decode multisyllable words (RF.3.3.c) and form regular and irregular plural nouns (L.3.1.b).
- High-frequency words. The same standard L.3.2.e asks for correct spelling of "high-frequency and other studied words", which is why most lists include a few words that do not follow the rules.
Two skills on this page sit at the edges of third grade. Contractions are introduced in the 2nd grade standards (L.2.2.c), and homophones such as to, too, two appear in the 4th grade standards (L.4.1.g). Many 3rd grade spelling lists include both, so we have too. Your child's school may teach any of these a little earlier or later.
12 lists of 3rd grade spelling words
Each list practices one skill, and the lists run from easiest to hardest. Ten words is a comfortable weekly list for most third graders, but you can split a list in half for a child who finds spelling hard.
1. R-controlled vowels: ar and or
When r follows a vowel, it changes the vowel's sound. These are the two easiest to hear.
R-controlled ar and or: car, star, park, farm, shark, corn, horn, short, storm, porch Practice these words in Spelly ▶
2. R-controlled vowels: er, ir and ur
These three spellings make the same sound, so the child has to remember which one each word uses. Grouping the words by spelling helps.
R-controlled er, ir and ur: her, fern, herd, bird, girl, shirt, third, turn, hurt, nurse Practice these words in Spelly ▶
3. The oi and oy sound
A useful rule of thumb: oi usually comes in the middle of a word, oy at the end.
oi and oy: boy, toy, joy, oil, coin, soil, join, point, voice, enjoy Practice these words in Spelly ▶
4. The ou and ow sound
Same sound, two spellings. Ow is the usual spelling at the end of a word (cow, how). Ou almost never ends a word, so it sits in the middle (cloud, house). In the middle of a word both spellings happen (town, loud), and those words simply have to be learned.
ou and ow: out, cow, how, loud, down, town, cloud, house, mouth, crowd Practice these words in Spelly ▶
5. Plurals that add -es
Words ending in s, x, sh, ch or ss add -es to make the plural, because you can hear the extra syllable.
Plurals with -es: boxes, foxes, buses, dishes, wishes, brushes, lunches, benches, glasses, beaches Practice these words in Spelly ▶
6. Two-syllable words
Most of these split between two consonants (rab-bit, bas-ket). Clapping the syllables and spelling one half at a time makes them much easier.
Two-syllable words: sunset, napkin, picnic, rabbit, kitten, basket, puppet, pencil, window, garden Practice these words in Spelly ▶
7. Prefixes un- and re-
Un- means "not" or "the opposite of"; re- means "again". The base word does not change, so a child who can spell kind can spell unkind.
Prefixes un- and re-: unkind, unsafe, unlock, unpack, unhappy, redo, refill, reread, repaint, rewrite Practice these words in Spelly ▶
8. Suffixes -ful and -less
-ful means "full of" and -less means "without". Note that the suffix -ful has only one l, a very common mistake at this age.
Suffixes -ful and -less: helpful, careful, thankful, playful, painful, helpless, careless, hopeless, fearless, spotless Practice these words in Spelly ▶
9. Suffix -ly
Most words just add -ly. The last two follow the "change y to i" rule, which is why they come last.
Suffix -ly: sadly, softly, slowly, loudly, quickly, safely, nicely, bravely, happily, easily Practice these words in Spelly ▶
10. Contractions
The apostrophe stands in for the missing letters: do not becomes don't. Ask your child which letters went missing before they spell each one.
Contractions: I'm, it's, can't, don't, isn't, we're, you'll, didn't, they're, wouldn't Practice these words in Spelly ▶
11. Common homophones
Homophones sound the same and are spelled differently, so hearing the word alone does not tell a child which spelling you mean. When you practice these, say each one in a sentence: "I hear the bell", "Come here".
Common homophones: to, too, two, hear, here, there, their, right, write, new, knew No practice link for this list: homophones sound the same, so say each one in a sentence and have your child write it.
12. Tricky everyday words
These words do not follow the patterns above, but children need them all the time in their writing. They have to be learned by heart, and they are worth coming back to all year.
Tricky everyday words: again, friend, people, laugh, enough, answer, because, thought, favorite, different Practice these words in Spelly ▶
How to practice a list in a week
A spelling list sticks best with a little practice most days, not one long session the night before the test. A simple week looks like this:
- Day one: look at the pattern. Read the list together and talk about what the words have in common. Knowing that every word has ou or ow makes ten words feel like one idea.
- Short sessions on the other days. Ten minutes is plenty. Have your child write or type each word, then check it.
- Test from memory. Say the word aloud and have your child spell it without looking. Copying a word is not the same as remembering it.
- Go back to the missed words. Put aside the words they got right and spend the time on the ones they missed. Come back to those again the next day.
- A practice test before the real one. The day before the test, run through the whole list once, just as the teacher will.
If your child finds spelling harder than you expect for their age, why is my child struggling with spelling? covers what to look for and when to talk to the teacher. For more ideas, see how to help your child with spelling.
Practicing these lists in Spelly
Every list on this page has a "Practice these words in Spelly" link. It opens the list as a short spelling test: each word is read aloud and your child types it, checked letter by letter. It is free, and no account is needed. If your child's school sends its own list, you can type it into the Spelly app or take a photo of the worksheet, and it becomes a practice list in seconds. Spelly is a spelling practice app for ages 6 to 12, with five games, and a missed word comes back later in the round in an easier game. Try Spelly free.
Frequently asked questions
What spelling words should a 3rd grader know? Third graders usually work on r-controlled vowels (car, bird, turn), the oi/oy and ou/ow sounds, plurals with -es, the prefixes un- and re-, the suffixes -ful, -less and -ly, two-syllable words, contractions, common homophones, and tricky everyday words like because and friend. Schools vary, so your child's own list comes first.
How many spelling words should a 3rd grader practice each week? It depends on the school. The lists on this page have ten words each, which suits most third graders. If a child is finding it hard, practicing five words well is better than ten words badly.
Are contractions and homophones 3rd grade spelling? Often, yes. The Common Core standards introduce contractions in 2nd grade and list frequently confused words like to, too and two in 4th grade, but many 3rd grade spelling lists include both.
What comes after 3rd grade spelling? In 4th grade, spelling leans further into word parts: more prefixes and suffixes, endings like -tion, doubled consonants and homophones. See the 4th grade spelling words page for lists.
What if my child already knows these words? Try the 4th grade lists, or keep going with the tricky everyday words, which are worth reviewing all year. If they find these lists hard, the 2nd grade lists are a good place to build confidence first.
Can my child practice these 3rd grade words for free? Yes. Each list has a link that opens it in Spelly as a short spelling test, with every word read aloud. It is free and needs no account.
How we checked this
What third graders are expected to learn comes from the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (Reading: Foundational Skills and Language) and from Reading Rockets, checked in September 2026. Not every state uses the Common Core, and schools choose their own word lists, so your child's list may differ. Every word on this page was checked for spelling and for fit with its pattern. Spelly is our product.
Related
Try Spelly free · 2nd grade spelling words · 4th grade spelling words · Spelling words by grade · Sight words by grade (Dolch)
Last updated: September 2026.