KS3 spelling words beginning at col

Spelling Quiz - Words beginning with col... (Questions)

Practise KS3 spelling by exploring words that begin with col-. Noticing how col- words change with different vowels will help you spell longer, trickier words correctly.

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Fascinating Fact:

In colour, colony and collapse, the col- is followed by different vowels. Say col-our, col-o-ny, col-lapse in syllables to hear each pattern clearly.

In KS3 English Spelling, you look closely at beginnings like col- and how the next vowel changes the sound. This quiz helps you spot spelling patterns in col- words so you can use them accurately in classwork, homework and exams.

Key Terms

Prefix: A group of letters added to the start of a word, such as col-, that slightly changes its meaning or helps form a word family.
Syllable: A “beat” in a word, like col-our or col-o-ny, which you can clap or say separately to hear the spelling pattern.
Word family: A group of words that share part of their spelling, such as colour, colony and collision, which all start with col-.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does the prefix col- mean in English words?

The prefix col- often comes from Latin and can mean “together” or “with”, as in collect or collide. In many words it also simply marks a word family that shares spelling patterns.

How can I remember the spelling of tricky col words in KS3?

Split the word into syllables, such as col-our or col-lapse, then write each syllable slowly. Create short sentences using several col- words so the spelling becomes familiar through repetition.

Why do col words with different vowels sound so different?

They sound different because the vowel or vowel pair after col changes the pronunciation. For example, o, o+u and o+a each have their own sound, even though the words all begin with col-.

Try These Related Quizzes

The spectral composition of visible light

[ ]	couller
[ ]	collour
[ ]	color
[ ]	colour

A solid upright structure designed to support a roof or beam

[ ]	colemn
[ ]	collumn
[ ]	column
[ ]	collum

The act or process of burning

[ ]	combustien
[ ]	combusstion
[ ]	combustian
[ ]	combustion

A punctuation mark used to separate clauses or parenthetical phrases in a sentence

[ ]	coma
[ ]	commer
[ ]	comer
[ ]	comma

Something that must be obeyed

[ ]	commandmant
[ ]	comandment
[ ]	commandment
[ ]	conmandment

Promise or agreement to do something in the future

[ ]	commitment
[ ]	comittment
[ ]	committment
[ ]	comitmant

The process of transferring information from one entity to another

[ ]	comunication
[ ]	communication
[ ]	communeication
[ ]	comuneication

An evaluation of the similarities and differences between things

[ ]	comparrison
[ ]	comparyson
[ ]	comparisen
[ ]	comparison

A manufactured object that is part of a larger device

[ ]	compponent
[ ]	componant
[ ]	componeent
[ ]	component

10.

A work of music, literature or art

[ ]	composition
[ ]	compositien
[ ]	compositian
[ ]	compersition

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Spelling

Spelling Quiz - Words beginning with col... (Answers)

The spectral composition of visible light

[ ]	couller
[ ]	collour
[ ]	color
[x]	colour

The spelling "color" is correct in the United States

A solid upright structure designed to support a roof or beam

[ ]	colemn
[ ]	collumn
[x]	column
[ ]	collum

Does the n after the m surprise you?

The act or process of burning

[ ]	combustien
[ ]	combusstion
[ ]	combustian
[x]	combustion

"Combust" and "combustion" are related words

A punctuation mark used to separate clauses or parenthetical phrases in a sentence

[ ]	coma
[ ]	commer
[ ]	comer
[x]	comma

Don't get confused between "coma" and "comma"!

Something that must be obeyed

[ ]	commandmant
[ ]	comandment
[x]	commandment
[ ]	conmandment

Command + -ment spells "commandment"

Promise or agreement to do something in the future

[x]	commitment
[ ]	comittment
[ ]	committment
[ ]	comitmant

"Commit" + -ment spells "commitment". Remember that the word "commit" has a double m

The process of transferring information from one entity to another

[ ]	comunication
[x]	communication
[ ]	communeication
[ ]	comuneication

The unstressed i is probably the trickiest part of this word to remember

An evaluation of the similarities and differences between things

[ ]	comparrison
[ ]	comparyson
[ ]	comparisen
[x]	comparison

You've probably had to write many comparisons in your English classes