216 words every grade 1 speller should know, each with a kid-friendly definition. Hear them read aloud and practice for free with the Spellaroo spelling quiz.
High-frequency words students should recognize instantly.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| after | following in time or place |
| again | once more; another time |
| an | used before vowel sounds instead of 'a' |
| any | one or some, regardless of which |
| as | to the same degree; while |
| ask | to request or inquire |
| by | near; through the action of |
| could | past tense of can; might be able to |
| every | each one without exception |
| fly | to move through air with wings |
| from | starting at a particular place or time |
| give | to hand over or present |
| going | moving or traveling |
| had | past tense of have |
| has | third person singular of have |
| her | belonging to a female person |
| him | male person as object of action |
| his | belonging to a male person |
| how | in what way or manner |
| just | exactly; only; recently |
| know | to be aware of or understand |
| let | to allow or permit |
| live | to be alive; to reside |
| may | expressing possibility or permission |
| of | belonging to; made from |
| old | having lived for many years |
| once | one time; formerly |
| open | not closed; to unfasten |
| over | above; more than |
| put | to place in a position |
| round | circular in shape |
| some | an unspecified amount |
| stop | to cease moving or operating |
| take | to get hold of; to carry away |
| thank | to express gratitude |
| them | those people or things |
| then | at that time; next |
| think | to use one's mind; to believe |
| walk | to move on foot |
| were | past tense of 'are' |
| when | at what time |
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| add | to put together |
| all | every one |
| and | plus; together with |
| apple | round red or green fruit |
| are | plural form of is |
| art | creative work |
| bad | not good |
| bag | container for carrying things |
| ball | round object for games |
| bat | animal or sports tool |
| bed | furniture for sleeping |
| bell | object that makes ringing sounds |
| big | large in size |
| bird | animal with wings and feathers that flies |
| bit | small piece |
| blue | the color of the sky |
| boat | vehicle for traveling on water |
| book | pages with writing |
| box | container with flat sides and corners |
| boy | young male person |
| bus | large vehicle |
| but | except; however |
| cake | sweet baked dessert |
| can | able to |
| car | vehicle with wheels |
| cat | a small furry pet animal that meows |
| come | to move toward |
| corn | yellow grain that grows on tall stalks |
| cow | farm animal for milk |
| cry | to shed tears |
| cup | small container for drinking |
| day | 24 hours |
| did | past tense of do |
| die | to stop living |
| dig | to make hole in ground |
| dog | a four-legged pet animal that barks |
| down | toward bottom |
| duck | water bird that quacks |
| ear | body part for hearing |
| eat | to put food in mouth |
| egg | oval thing from bird |
| end | finish; last part |
| eye | body part for seeing |
| farm | place where crops and animals are raised |
| fat | thick; not thin |
| few | not many |
| fish | animal that lives and breathes in water |
| fix | to repair |
| foot | part of body at end of leg for standing |
| for | in order to get |
| frog | green animal that hops and lives near water |
| fun | enjoyable activity |
| get | to receive or obtain |
| girl | young female person |
| good | well; nice |
| grass | green plants that cover lawns |
| gun | weapon that shoots |
| hand | part of body at end of arm with fingers |
| hat | clothing worn on the head |
| help | to assist |
| here | in this place |
| hit | to strike |
| hop | to jump on one foot |
| ice | frozen water |
| jam | sweet spread made from fruit |
| job | work to do |
| jog | to run slowly |
| joy | feeling of happiness |
| jump | to push off the ground with both feet |
| key | tool to open lock |
| kit | set of tools |
| lap | top of legs when sitting |
| leaf | flat green part of a plant |
| leg | body part for walking |
| lid | cover for container |
| lie | to rest flat |
| light | brightness that helps us see |
| like | to enjoy |
| little | small |
| log | piece of wood from a tree trunk |
| look | to see |
| lot | many; much |
| low | not high |
| mad | angry |
| make | to create |
| man | an adult male human |
| map | drawing of places |
| mat | flat piece for floor |
| men | plural of man |
| milk | white liquid that comes from cows |
| mix | to stir together |
| moon | round object that shines in night sky |
| mud | wet dirt |
| nap | short sleep |
| nest | home that birds build for their eggs |
| net | mesh for catching |
| new | not old |
| nod | to move head up and down |
| not | no; opposite of yes |
| now | at this time |
| nut | hard seed to eat |
| odd | strange; not even |
| our | belonging to us |
| out | away from inside |
| pan | cooking container |
| pat | to touch gently |
| paw | animal's foot |
| pay | to give money |
| pen | tool for writing with ink |
| pet | animal friend |
| pie | baked dessert |
| pig | farm animal that rolls in mud |
| pin | thin metal fastener |
| pit | deep hole |
| play | to have fun |
| pot | cooking container |
| rain | water falling from clouds |
| ran | past tense of run |
| rat | small rodent |
| red | the color of blood or roses |
| ring | circular band worn on finger |
| rock | hard piece of stone |
| rub | to move back and forth |
| rug | floor covering |
| run | to move quickly on foot |
| sad | feeling unhappy |
| said | past tense of say |
| sand | tiny pieces of rock found at beaches |
| sat | past tense of sit |
| saw | past tense of see |
| say | to speak |
| see | to look at |
| she | female person |
| shell | hard covering of sea creatures |
| shoe | covering worn on feet |
| sky | space above earth |
| snow | frozen white flakes that fall from sky |
| star | bright point of light in night sky |
| sun | the bright star that gives Earth light |
| tap | to hit lightly |
| tea | hot drink |
| that | the one there |
| the | specific one |
| there | in that place |
| they | those people |
| this | the one here |
| tie | to fasten with knot |
| tin | metal container |
| tip | pointed end |
| too | also; more than enough |
| top | the highest part of something |
| toy | object children play with |
| tree | large plant with trunk, branches, and leaves |
| two | number after one |
| van | large vehicle |
| vet | animal doctor |
| wagon | vehicle with four wheels pulled by hand |
| was | past tense of is |
| way | path; method |
| web | spider's trap |
| well | in good way |
| went | past tense of go |
| wet | covered with water |
| what | which thing |
| white | color of snow |
| who | what person |
| will | shall; future tense |
| win | to be first |
| with | together |
| won | past tense of win |
| yellow | color of sun |
| yes | opposite of no |
| yet | still; so far |
| you | the person spoken to |
| zoo | place with animals |