KS3 spelling words beginning at ou - with outstanding and ought

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

Tackle KS3 spellings beginning with ou and our. Spot patterns in tricky words so you can use them confidently in classwork, homework and exams.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Ours, ourselves and ourselves all start with our-. Remember that in many British accents the r is not pronounced, but the spelling still keeps o-u-r.

In KS3 English spelling, you explore how letter patterns like ou and our work across different words. This quiz helps you link related spellings so they become easier to remember and use.

Key Terms

Vowel digraph: Two vowels written together that usually make a single sound, such as ou in our and out.
Word stress: The syllable in a word that is said more strongly, which can affect how clearly some letters are heard.
First person pronoun: A word that refers to the speaker or writer, such as we, our and ours.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What spelling pattern do words like our and ourselves follow?

Words such as our, ours and ourselves use the o-u-r pattern at the start in standard British spelling. Even when the r is not strongly pronounced, the written form still keeps o-u-r together.

How can I remember ou spellings in KS3 English?

Group ou words into small lists, like our, ours and ourselves or out, outside and outdoors. Say each group aloud, then write them from memory to secure the shared spelling pattern.

Why do some ou words sound different from how they look?

English spelling is influenced by history and accent. In many British accents, certain consonants like r are softer, so letters are written but not clearly heard, especially in words such as our and ours.

Try These Related Quizzes

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Shocking; cruel; immoral

[ ]	outrageous
[ ]	outraegeous
[ ]	outragous
[ ]	outrageus

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A chemical element

[ ]	oxygiene
[ ]	oxygen
[ ]	oxigen
[ ]	oxygene

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A thin board on which a painter lays and mixes colours

[ ]	pallett
[ ]	palette
[ ]	pallet
[ ]	pallette

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A small booklet of printed informational matter

[ ]	pamphilet
[ ]	pamphalet
[ ]	pamphlet
[ ]	pamphelet

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A short narrative illustrating a lesson (usually religious/moral) by comparison or analogy

[ ]	paruble
[ ]	pareble
[ ]	parable
[ ]	parible

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Short passages into which longer texts are divided

[ ]	paregraphs
[ ]	parugraphs
[ ]	paragraphs
[ ]	parigraphs

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Two or more (straight) lines equally distant from one another at all points

[ ]	parrallel
[ ]	parrallell
[ ]	parallell
[ ]	parallel

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A quadrilateral in which each pair of opposite edges are parallel and of equal length

[ ]	parrallellogram
[ ]	parallelogram
[ ]	parrallelogram
[ ]	parallellogram

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Institution whose elected or appointed members meet to debate the major political issues of the day

[ ]	parliament
[ ]	parleament
[ ]	parliment
[ ]	parlament

10.

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
The act of sharing in the activities of a group

[ ]	participation
[ ]	particapation
[ ]	particupation
[ ]	particepation

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

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

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Shocking; cruel; immoral

[x]	outrageous
[ ]	outraegeous
[ ]	outragous
[ ]	outrageus

"Outrage" plus -ous makes "outrageous"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A chemical element

[ ]	oxygiene
[x]	oxygen
[ ]	oxigen
[ ]	oxygene

The y is the key letter to remember here

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A thin board on which a painter lays and mixes colours

[ ]	pallett
[x]	palette
[ ]	pallet
[ ]	pallette

Be careful not to confuse "palette" with its homonym, "pallet"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A small booklet of printed informational matter

[ ]	pamphilet
[ ]	pamphalet
[x]	pamphlet
[ ]	pamphelet

The letter combination -phl- is not a common one, which can help in remembering this spelling

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A short narrative illustrating a lesson (usually religious/moral) by comparison or analogy

[ ]	paruble
[ ]	pareble
[x]	parable
[ ]	parible

Certainly not to be confused with "parabola"!

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Short passages into which longer texts are divided

[ ]	paregraphs
[ ]	parugraphs
[x]	paragraphs
[ ]	parigraphs

Do you recognise the "graph" element of this word?

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Two or more (straight) lines equally distant from one another at all points

[ ]	parrallel
[ ]	parrallell
[ ]	parallell
[x]	parallel

Single r, double l, single l

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A quadrilateral in which each pair of opposite edges are parallel and of equal length

[ ]	parrallellogram
[x]	parallelogram
[ ]	parrallelogram
[ ]	parallellogram

If you can spell "parallel", you'll have a huge advantage in attempting "parallelogram"!