KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHE A.I.ESL Spanish Specialist Games

Need help with Spelling: -le? Ask our AI Tutor!

AI Tutor - Lucy

Connecting with Tutor...

Please wait while we establish connection

Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Spelling: -le today?

now

Look at the pretty rose petals!

Spelling: -le

Master the -le spelling pattern for 11 Plus English: spot short-vowel words, double the consonant, and spell everyday examples with confidence.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

After a short vowel, double the consonant before -le: little, riddle, kettle, bubble. Short vowel plus doubled consonant is a common pattern.

In 11 Plus English, the -le ending often follows a short vowel plus a doubled consonant, as in little and puzzle. Learning this pattern boosts accurate spelling in tests and writing.

Key Terms

Short vowel: A quick vowel sound, like the i in little or the u in bubble.
Doubled consonant: The same consonant written twice, e.g. tt in little, zz in puzzle.
-le ending: A common word ending that forms syllables, as in table, kettle, and riddle.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

When do you double the consonant before -le?

Double the consonant after a short vowel and a single consonant, like lit → little, bub → bubble, rid → riddle.

Why is there no double consonant in words like table?

In table, the vowel sound is long. After a long vowel, the consonant usually stays single, so we write table and cable, not *tabble.

Which consonants are commonly doubled before -le?

Common doubles include bb (bubble), dd (paddle), gg (juggle), ll (little), pp (supple), tt (kettle), and zz (puzzle).

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the adjective that means 'charming, lovable'?

adorible

adorable

adorabel

adorabal

A lot of adjectives have this ending

2 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the noun that means 'a tool used for cutting and shaping wood or stone'?

chisile

chisal

chisle

chisel

A lot of nouns and verbs have this ending

3 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the adjective that means 'more than enough'?

ample

ampel

ampal

ampil

A lot of adjectives have this ending

4 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the adjective that means 'having to do with somebody’s private life'?

personul

personel

personnel

personal

A lot of adjectives have this ending. 'Personnel' means 'the people employed in a place of work'. Don't confuse these words!

5 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the noun that means 'a dense crystallized rock often used for floors'?

marbil

marbal

marbel

marble

A lot of nouns and verbs have this ending

6 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the noun that means 'absolute truth, as in religious writings'?

gospel

gospal

gosple

gospil

A lot of nouns have this ending

7 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the verb that means 'to knock or bump against somebody, sometimes deliberately'?

jostel

josle

jostle

jostal

'Jostle' has a silent 't': you don't pronounce the 't'

8 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the noun that means 'the coloured part of a flower'?

petal

petle

petel

petul

The '-al' ending is more common in adjectives

9 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the noun that means 'a small protective cap used in sewing to protect the finger that is used to push the needle'?

thimbel

thimble

thimbal

thimbul

A lot of nouns and verbs have this ending

10 .

Which of the following words is the correct spelling for the noun that means 'a helix'?

spirle

spirel

spiral

spirul

The '-al' ending is more common in adjectives