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Spelling: Unstressed Vowels 02

Some words hide vowels when we speak quickly. This KS2 English quiz helps pupils understand how unstressed vowels affect spelling and pronunciation.

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Fascinating Fact:

“Family” is one of those words that loses a vowel when people speak quickly, becoming “famly.”

In KS2 English, pupils learn that unstressed vowels are the quieter sounds in words that often get left out when spoken. Understanding them helps improve both spelling and pronunciation. Words like memory, history, and chocolate are common examples where vowels can fade away when we talk.

Key Terms

Vowel: A letter such as a, e, i, o, or u that makes a sound when air flows freely through the mouth.
Unstressed Vowel: A vowel sound that is weak or not clearly heard in a word.
Pronunciation: The way a word is spoken aloud, which can change how vowels sound.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does unstressed vowel mean in English?

An unstressed vowel is a vowel sound that is not clearly pronounced in a word, often making spelling more difficult to remember.

Why do vowels disappear in speech?

Vowels can sound weaker when we speak quickly, especially in long words. This makes them seem to disappear, even though they are still written.

How can I learn to spell words with unstressed vowels?

Say the word slowly to hear every sound, then check how it is written. Writing words out a few times helps you remember where hidden vowels belong.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

Choose the correct spelling.
In order to become a doctor, it is essential to study ____.

medicine

medecine

medicene

medecene

In order to become a doctor, it is essential to study medicine.

2 .

Choose the correct spelling.
My auntie spends a lot of her time doing ____ work.

volantary

volentery

volentary

voluntary

My auntie spends a lot of her time doing voluntary work.

3 .

Choose the correct spelling.
We enjoyed visiting the reptile centre, but were glad the ____ snakes were behind glass.

poisonous

poisunous

poisonus

poisinous

We enjoyed visiting the reptile centre, but were glad the poisonous snakes were behind glass.

4 .

Choose the correct spelling.
The teacher was horrified that he'd accidentally used his ____ marker on the whiteboard.

perminent

permenant

permanent

permenent

The teacher was horrified that he'd accidentally used his permanent marker on the whiteboard.

5 .

Choose the correct spelling.
We are ____ not playing cricket in this weather!

definately

definetly

defenitely

definitely

We are definitely not playing cricket in this weather! It can be helpful to remember the word 'finite' in 'definite', or to remember that there are two 'i's and two 'e's in 'definite'.

6 .

Choose the correct spelling.
At home, he had a large collection of ____ coins.

foragne

forine

foreign

foregne

At home, he had a large collection of foreign coins.

7 .

Choose the correct spelling.
Stuart preferred working ____ to working in a group.

indepindently

independently

indipendently

indipendantly

Stuart preferred working independently to working in a group. 'Depend' has two 'e's and 'dependent' has three 'e's (as does 'independent').

8 .

Choose the correct spelling.
At the beginning of year seven, there are many ____ to make new friends.

opportuneties

oppertunities

opportunities

oppurtunities

At the beginning of year seven, there are many opportunities to make new friends.

9 .

Choose the correct spelling.
We enjoyed our school visit to the Houses of ____.

Parlement

Parliament

Parlimint

Parlament

We enjoyed our school visit to the Houses of Parliament. The 'Parli-' of 'Parliament' is related to the word 'parley' - both come from the French 'parler', which means 'to speak'.

10 .

Choose the correct spelling.
He finished his letter with 'Yours ____' before carefully signing his name.

sincirily

sincerely

sincirely

sincerily

You should sign a letter with 'Yours sincerely' when you have addressed a formal letter to a specific person. So it's important to learn how to spell 'sincerely'.

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Silent letters and unstressed vowels

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)