KS3 spelling words beginning at pi - with pitcher and picture

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

This KS3 spelling quiz explores words beginning with pi. Spot patterns in roots and endings so you can spell similar words correctly in reading, homework and exams.

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Fascinating Fact:

Picture, pictured and pictures all share pict-. Learn pic-ture first, then add -ed or -s without changing the start. The t stays in all forms.

In KS3 English spelling, you meet many words beginning with pi, such as picnic, pilot, pirate and pyramid. This quiz helps you spot shared roots and endings so your spellings become more reliable in everyday writing.

Key Terms

Root: The main part of a word that holds its basic meaning, which can take prefixes or suffixes, like pict in picture and depiction.
Suffix: Letters added to the end of a word to change its tense, number or word type, for example -ed, -ing and -s in many pi spellings.
Syllable: A beat of sound in a word, such as pi-lot or pi-ano, which can be clapped out to help you break and spell longer words.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How can I improve my spelling of pi words at KS3?

Group pi words into families, say each one aloud, then use look, say, cover, write, check. Write them in short sentences and test yourself again after a few days to fix them in memory.

What spelling patterns appear in words that start with pi?

You will often see patterns like pic-, pil-, pin- and pir-, as in picnic, pilot, pink and pirate. Noticing which consonants follow pi helps you remember which vowels and endings belong with each word.

Why are some KS3 pi spellings tricky to remember?

Many pi words come from Latin or French, so their spellings do not always match modern pronunciation. Silent letters, stress changes and similar-looking endings can make them difficult until you practise them regularly.

Try These Related Quizzes

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A journey made to a sacred place, or a religious journey

[ ]	pilgerimage
[ ]	pilgrimage
[ ]	pillgrimage
[ ]	pilgrimnage

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
The property of sound that changes with variation in the frequency of vibration

[ ]	pitche
[ ]	pitsche
[ ]	pitch
[ ]	pitsch

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A writer and creator of theatrical plays

[ ]	playright
[ ]	playwright
[ ]	playwrieght
[ ]	playwrite

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
More than one of something

[ ]	plurel
[ ]	ploural
[ ]	plural
[ ]	plaurel

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power

[ ]	politicul
[ ]	politicel
[ ]	polytical
[ ]	political

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
The profession devoted to governing

[ ]	polytics
[ ]	polutics
[ ]	poletics
[ ]	politics

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances

[ ]	polluttion
[ ]	pollution
[ ]	poluttion
[ ]	polution

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain

[ ]	poliester
[ ]	polyestur
[ ]	polyester
[ ]	polyestir

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A set of pieces of creative work collected to be shown to potential customers or employers

[ ]	portfollio
[ ]	portpholio
[ ]	portfolio
[ ]	portphollio

10.

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A painting or other picture of a person, especially the head and shoulders

[ ]	portreit
[ ]	portraight
[ ]	porttrait
[ ]	portrait

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

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

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A journey made to a sacred place, or a religious journey

[ ]	pilgerimage
[x]	pilgrimage
[ ]	pillgrimage
[ ]	pilgrimnage

Words ending in -age can be tricky because their pronunciation has changed to resemble the English "-idge" rather than retaining the French "-age"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
The property of sound that changes with variation in the frequency of vibration

[ ]	pitche
[ ]	pitsche
[x]	pitch
[ ]	pitsch

Here the phoneme "ch" is written -tch-

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A writer and creator of theatrical plays

[ ]	playright
[x]	playwright
[ ]	playwrieght
[ ]	playwrite

Remember that it's "wright", not "write". A wright is someone who produces a piece of work; e.g. a playwright produces plays

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
More than one of something

[ ]	plurel
[ ]	ploural
[x]	plural
[ ]	plaurel

The a of the unstressed final syllable can be tricky

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power

[ ]	politicul
[ ]	politicel
[ ]	polytical
[x]	political

The words "politics", "political" and "policy" are related

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
The profession devoted to governing

[ ]	polytics
[ ]	polutics
[ ]	poletics
[x]	politics

If you can spell "politics", you'll have little difficulty with "political"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances

[ ]	polluttion
[x]	pollution
[ ]	poluttion
[ ]	polution

Remember the double l

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain

[ ]	poliester
[ ]	polyestur
[x]	polyester
[ ]	polyestir

"Poly" means "many"