Spelling Bee Medium Words | 50 Intermediate Level

🥈Competition

Spelling Bee — Medium Level

Ready to level up from beginner? These 50 intermediate words have more complex patterns — double letters in unexpected places, French endings, Latin roots, and confusing suffixes. They’re what separates good spellers from great ones!

At medium level, judges expect you to handle prefixes, suffixes, and word origins. Knowing that a word comes from French (silent T) or Greek (PH=F) gives you a huge advantage. These 50 words cover all the key patterns!

⭐ Double Letter Masters

accommodationaccomodation ✗⭐⭐⭐

uh-kom-uh-DAY-shun

Lodging, housing

💡 2C + 2M = aCCoMModation

“Book your accommodation early.”

occurrenceoccurence ✗⭐⭐⭐

uh-KUR-unss

An event

💡 2C + 2R = oCCuRRence

“A rare occurrence.”

millenniummillenium ✗⭐⭐⭐

mih-LEN-ee-um

1000 years

💡 2L + 2N = miLLeNNium

“The new millennium.”

possessionposession ✗⭐⭐⭐

puh-ZESH-un

Ownership

💡 4 S’s = poSSESSion

“My favourite possession.”

aggressiveagressive ✗⭐⭐⭐

uh-GRES-iv

Hostile, forceful

💡 2G + 2S = aGGReSSive

“Don’t be aggressive.”

assassinationassasination ✗⭐⭐⭐

uh-sas-ih-NAY-shun

Murder of a leader

💡 2S + 2S + 2S = aSSaSSiNation (3 doubles!)

“The assassination shocked the nation.”

curriculumcuriculum ✗⭐⭐⭐

kuh-RIK-yoo-lum

Course of study

💡 2R = cuRRiculum

“The school curriculum changed.”

broccolibrocoli ✗⭐⭐

BROK-uh-lee

Green vegetable

💡 2C + 1L = broCColi

“Eat your broccoli!”

cappuccinocapuccino ✗⭐⭐⭐

kap-uh-CHEE-noh

Coffee drink

💡 2P + 2C = caPPuCCino

“One cappuccino, please.”

diarrhoeadiarrhea ✗⭐⭐⭐

dy-uh-REE-uh

Stomach illness

💡 2R + H = diaRRHoea (British!)

“She had diarrhoea from bad food.”

🇫🇷 French & Latin Origin

questionnairequestionaire ✗⭐⭐⭐

kwes-chun-AIR

Set of questions

💡 QUESTION + NAIRE (2N!)

“Fill out the questionnaire.”

guaranteeguarentee ✗⭐⭐

gar-un-TEE

Promise of quality

💡 GUAR + AN + TEE

“A money-back guarantee.”

liaisonliason ✗⭐⭐⭐

lee-AY-zon

A connection/link

💡 LI + AI + SON (2 vowel pairs!)

“She’s the school liaison officer.”

surveillancesurveilance ✗⭐⭐⭐

sur-VAY-lunss

Watching/monitoring

💡 SURVEIL + LANCE (2L!)

“Under surveillance cameras.”

silhouettesilouette ✗⭐⭐⭐

sil-oo-ET

Shadow outline

💡 SILHOU + ETTE (H inside!)

“A beautiful silhouette.”

rendezvousrandayvoo ✗⭐⭐⭐

RON-day-voo

A meeting point

💡 RENDEZ + VOUS (French! S+Z silent!)

“Let’s rendezvous at the cafe.”

etiquetteetiquet ✗⭐⭐

ET-ih-kit

Rules of behaviour

💡 ETIQUETTE = double T at end!

“Proper dining etiquette.”

techniquetechneek ✗⭐⭐

tek-NEEK

Method/skill

💡 TECHN + IQUE (French -IQUE!)

“A new painting technique.”

uniqueuneek ✗⭐⭐

yoo-NEEK

One of a kind

💡 UN + IQUE (French ending!)

“Every snowflake is unique.”

antiqueanteek ✗⭐⭐

an-TEEK

Very old object

💡 ANT + IQUE (French ending!)

“An antique clock.”

🔀 Confusing Suffixes

maintenancemaintainance ✗⭐⭐⭐

MAYN-tuh-nunss

Upkeep

💡 mainTENANCE not mainTAINance!

“Regular maintenance is needed.”

independenceindependance ✗⭐⭐

in-dih-PEN-dunss

Freedom

💡 independENCE not independANCE!

“Indian Independence Day.”

existenceexistance ✗⭐⭐

ig-ZIS-tunss

Being, living

💡 existENCE not existANCE!

“The existence of life on Mars.”

persistencepersistance ✗⭐⭐

pur-SIS-tunss

Keeping going

💡 persistENCE not persistANCE!

“Success needs persistence.”

occurrenceoccurrance ✗⭐⭐

uh-KUR-unss

An event

💡 occurrENCE not occurrANCE!

“A daily occurrence.”

appearanceappearence ✗⭐⭐

uh-PEER-unss

How something looks

💡 appearANCE not appearENCE!

“A neat appearance.”

performanceperformence ✗⭐⭐

pur-FOR-munss

A show/result

💡 performANCE not performENCE!

“An excellent performance!”

guidanceguidiance ✗⭐⭐

GY-dunss

Help, direction

💡 guidANCE not guidENCE!

“Thank you for your guidance.”

ignoranceignorence ✗⭐⭐

IG-nuh-runss

Lack of knowledge

💡 ignorANCE not ignorENCE!

“Ignorance is not bliss.”

nuisancenuisence ✗⭐⭐

NOO-sunss

An annoyance

💡 nuisANCE not nuisENCE!

“Mosquitoes are a nuisance.”

📐 -IBLE vs -ABLE

responsibleresponsable ✗⭐⭐

rih-SPON-sih-bul

Having duty

💡 responsIBLE not responsABLE!

“Be responsible citizens.”

accessibleaccessable ✗⭐⭐

ak-SES-ih-bul

Easy to reach

💡 accessIBLE not accessABLE!

“The building is wheelchair accessible.”

invisibleinvisable ✗⭐⭐

in-VIZ-ih-bul

Cannot be seen

💡 invisIBLE not invisABLE!

“The ink was invisible.”

incredibleincredable ✗⭐⭐

in-KRED-ih-bul

Unbelievable

💡 incredIBLE not incredABLE!

“An incredible performance!”

flexibleflexable ✗⭐⭐

FLEK-sih-bul

Can bend easily

💡 flexIBLE not flexABLE!

“Be flexible with timing.”

comfortablecomfterble ✗⭐⭐

KUMF-tuh-bul

At ease

💡 comfortABLE (this one IS -ABLE!)

“A comfortable chair.”

fashionablefashionable ✗⭐⭐

FASH-un-uh-bul

Trendy, stylish

💡 fashionABLE

“She’s very fashionable.”

reasonablereasonible ✗⭐⭐

REE-zun-uh-bul

Fair, logical

💡 reasonABLE (not -IBLE!)

“A reasonable price.”

noticeablenoticable ✗⭐⭐

NOH-tis-uh-bul

Can be noticed

💡 noticeABLE — keep the E before ABLE!

“A noticeable improvement.”

manageablemanagable ✗⭐⭐

MAN-ij-uh-bul

Can be handled

💡 manageABLE — keep the E before ABLE!

“The workload is manageable.”

📝 Tricky Everyday Words

thoroughlythuroughly ✗⭐⭐

THUR-uh-lee

Completely

💡 THOROUGH + LY

“Clean thoroughly before guests.”

mischievousmischevious ✗⭐⭐⭐

MIS-chuh-vus

Playfully naughty

💡 MISCHIEV + OUS (3 syllables not 4!)

“The mischievous monkey!”

vacuumvaccum ✗⭐⭐

VAK-yoom

Cleaning machine / empty space

💡 VACUUM = 1C + 2U’s! vaCUUm

“Vacuum the carpet.”

miniatureminiture ✗⭐⭐

MIN-ee-uh-chur

Very small version

💡 MINI + A + TURE (don’t skip A!)

“A miniature painting.”

jewelleryjewelry ✗⭐⭐

JOO-ul-ree

Ornaments

💡 JEWEL + LERY (British: double L!)

“Gold jewellery for Diwali.”

twelfthtwelth ✗⭐⭐⭐

TWELFTH

Number 12th

💡 TWELF + TH (don’t drop the F!)

“The twelfth month is December.”

colonelcornel ✗⭐⭐⭐

KUR-nul

Military rank

💡 Sounds like KERNEL! C-O-L-O-N-E-L

“The colonel commanded the regiment.”

receiptreciept ✗⭐⭐

rih-SEET

Proof of purchase

💡 reCEIPT — after C: E before I! P silent!

“Keep the receipt.”

scissorsscisors ✗⭐⭐

SIZ-erz

Cutting tool

💡 SCISSORS = double S in middle!

“Pass me the scissors.”

queueque ✗⭐⭐⭐

KYOO

A line of people

💡 QUEUE = Q + UEUE (4 silent letters!)

“Stand in the queue.”

📐 5 Spelling Rules

-ENCE vs -ANCE: Root Word Clue

If root ends in soft sound: -ENCE (existence, independence). If root has hard/A: -ANCE (appearance, performance).

✅ -ENCE: independence, existence | -ANCE: appearance, guidance

-IBLE vs -ABLE: Root Word Test

If root is NOT a complete word: usually -IBLE (vis→visible). If root IS a complete word: usually -ABLE (comfort→comfortable).

✅ -IBLE: visible, responsible | -ABLE: comfortable, fashionable

Keep E Before -ABLE

Words ending in CE or GE keep the E: noticeable, manageable, changeable. This keeps the soft C/G sound.

✅ noticeable, manageable, changeable, replaceable

French -IQUE = English -EEK Sound

French endings: technique, unique, antique, boutique. All end in -IQUE pronounced -EEK.

✅ technique, unique, antique, boutique, mystique

Ask for Word Origin in Competition

Knowing if a word is French (silent T), Greek (PH=F), or Latin helps predict spelling. Judges must tell you if asked!

✅ French: etiquette | Greek: psychology | Latin: curriculum

🐝 Spelling Quiz

1. Which is correct?

2. Which is correct?

3. Which is correct?

4. Which is correct?

5. Which is correct?

6. Which is correct?

7. Which is correct?

8. Which is correct?

9. Which is correct?

10. Which is correct?

🔀 Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters

UEUEQ

CEIRTEP

UVCAMU

NOLOCLE

QEUNIU

✏️ Fill in Missing Letters

Type the missing letters

acc_mm_dation

quest_onn_ _re

mainten_nce

mill_nn_ _m

misch_ _vous

❓ FAQ

What level is ‘medium’ in spelling bees?

Medium covers Grades 3-5 vocabulary including French/Latin words, double letter patterns, and confusing suffixes. Suitable for ages 8-11 or experienced spellers.

How to tell -IBLE from -ABLE?

If removing the suffix leaves a complete word (comfort→comfortable), use -ABLE. If not (vis→visible), use -IBLE. Exceptions exist but this works ~80% of the time.

Why is ‘queue’ spelled so strangely?

It’s French! In French, ‘queue’ means ‘tail’. The English kept the French spelling. Only the Q is pronounced — U-E-U-E are all silent!

How to handle unknown words in competition?

Ask for: definition, sentence, origin (French/Greek/Latin), and alternate pronunciations. Break the word into syllables. Use what you know about word patterns.

How many words should a medium speller know?

A strong medium-level speller knows 300-500 words. This page adds 50 to your arsenal. Combined with Easy level, that’s 100 competition-ready words!

🐝 All Spelling Bee Guides — 49 Topics