By Topic
Science Spelling Words
Science Spelling Words contains words you use regularly in school! Many have tricky spellings from Latin, Greek, or French origins. Master these 50 words and ace your exams!
Each word has the common wrong spelling, the correct form, and a memory trick. Take the quiz at the bottom to test yourself!
🔬 Basic Science Words
1
experimentexpiriment ✗⭐⭐
ik-SPER-ih-munt
A scientific test
💡 EX + PERI + MENT
“A science experiment.”
2
temperaturetemprature ✗⭐⭐
TEM-pruh-chur
Heat measurement
💡 TEMPER + A + TURE
“Measure the temperature.”
3
moleculemolecul ✗⭐⭐
MOL-uh-kyool
Tiny particle
💡 MOLE + CULE
“A water molecule.”
4
chemicalchemicle ✗⭐⭐
KEM-ih-kul
A substance
💡 CHEMIC + AL
“A chemical reaction.”
5
laboratorylabratory ✗⭐⭐
LAB-ruh-tor-ee
Science room
💡 LABOR + ATORY
“The chemistry laboratory.”
6
microscopemicroscrope ✗⭐⭐
MY-kruh-skohp
Magnifying device
💡 MICRO + SCOPE
“Look through the microscope.”
7
bacteriabactaria ✗⭐⭐
bak-TEER-ee-uh
Tiny organisms
💡 BACTER + IA
“Bacteria cause infections.”
8
hypothesishipothesis ✗⭐⭐
hy-POTH-uh-sis
Theory to test
💡 HYPO + THESIS
“Test the hypothesis.”
9
apparatusaparatus ✗⭐⭐
ap-uh-RAT-us
Equipment
💡 2P: aPParatus
“Lab apparatus.”
10
phenomenonphenonemon ✗⭐⭐⭐
fih-NOM-ih-non
Remarkable event
💡 PHE + NOME + NON
“A natural phenomenon.”
⚡ Physics & Chemistry
11
electricityelectrisity ✗⭐⭐
ih-lek-TRIS-ih-tee
Electrical power
💡 ELECTRIC + ITY
“Generate electricity.”
12
magnetismmagnatism ✗⭐⭐
MAG-nuh-tiz-um
Magnetic force
💡 MAGNET + ISM
“Magnetism attracts iron.”
13
accelerationaccelaration ✗⭐⭐
ak-sel-uh-RAY-shun
Speed increase
💡 ACCELER + ATION
“Acceleration due to gravity.”
14
evaporationevapouration ✗⭐⭐
ih-vap-uh-RAY-shun
Liquid to gas
💡 EVAPOR + ATION
“Evaporation of water.”
15
photosynthesisfotosynthesis ✗⭐⭐⭐
foh-toh-SIN-thuh-sis
Plant food-making
💡 PHOTO + SYNTHESIS (PH=F!)
“Photosynthesis needs sunlight.”
16
combustioncombusion ✗⭐⭐
kum-BUS-chun
Burning
💡 COMBUST + ION
“Combustion needs oxygen.”
17
condensationcondensasion ✗⭐⭐
kon-den-SAY-shun
Gas to liquid
💡 CONDENS + ATION
“Condensation on glass.”
18
dissolutiondissolusion ✗⭐⭐
diz-uh-LOO-shun
Dissolving
💡 DISSOLUT + ION
“Dissolution of salt.”
19
oscillationoscilation ✗⭐⭐
os-ih-LAY-shun
Swinging motion
💡 2L: osciLLation
“Pendulum oscillation.”
20
equilibriumequillibrium ✗⭐⭐⭐
ee-kwih-LIB-ree-um
Balance state
💡 EQUI + LIBRIUM (1L!)
“Chemical equilibrium.”
🧬 Biology Words
21
chromosomechromasome ✗⭐⭐⭐
KROH-muh-sohm
DNA carrier
💡 CHROMO + SOME
“23 pairs of chromosomes.”
22
photosynthesisfotosynthesis ✗⭐⭐⭐
foh-toh-SIN-thuh-sis
Plant energy process
💡 PHOTO + SYNTHESIS
“Plants do photosynthesis.”
23
respirationrespirasion ✗⭐⭐
res-pih-RAY-shun
Breathing process
💡 RESPIR + ATION
“Cellular respiration.”
24
vertebratevertebrete ✗⭐⭐
VUR-tuh-brut
Animal with backbone
💡 VERT + EBRATE
“Humans are vertebrates.”
25
ecosystemecho system ✗⭐⭐
EE-koh-sis-tum
Living community
💡 ECO + SYSTEM (1 word!)
“A forest ecosystem.”
26
environmentenviroment ✗⭐⭐
en-VY-run-munt
Surroundings
💡 ENVIRON + MENT
“Protect the environment.”
27
organismorganisim ✗⭐⭐
OR-guh-niz-um
Living thing
💡 ORGAN + ISM
“A single-celled organism.”
28
reproductionreproducton ✗⭐⭐
ree-pruh-DUK-shun
Creating offspring
💡 RE + PRODUCT + ION
“Plant reproduction.”
29
evolutionevalution ✗⭐⭐
ev-uh-LOO-shun
Gradual change
💡 EVOLUT + ION (not EVALUT!)
“Darwin’s theory of evolution.”
30
chlorophyllclorophyll ✗⭐⭐⭐
KLOR-uh-fil
Green plant pigment
💡 CHLORO + PHYLL (PH=F!)
“Chlorophyll makes leaves green.”
🌍 Space & Earth Science
31
atmosphereatmospher ✗⭐⭐
AT-mus-feer
Air around Earth
💡 ATMO + SPHERE
“Earth’s atmosphere.”
32
satellitesatelite ✗⭐⭐
SAT-uh-lyte
Orbiting object
💡 2L? No! sateLLite — wait, 1L+2L? SATELLITE has 2L!
“A communication satellite.”
33
constellationconstelation ✗⭐⭐
kon-stuh-LAY-shun
Star pattern
💡 2L: consteLLation
“Orion constellation.”
34
asteroidasteriod ✗⭐⭐
AS-tuh-royd
Space rock
💡 ASTER + OID (not ATERI!)
“An asteroid belt.”
35
telescopetelescrope ✗⭐⭐
TEL-uh-skohp
Star-viewing device
💡 TELE + SCOPE
“Look through the telescope.”
36
earthquakeearthqauke ✗⭐⭐
URTH-kwayk
Ground shaking
💡 EARTH + QUAKE
“An earthquake struck.”
37
volcanovulcano ✗⭐
vol-KAY-noh
Fire mountain
💡 VOLCANO (O not U!)
“An active volcano.”
38
hemispherehemispher ✗⭐⭐
HEM-ih-sfeer
Half of Earth
💡 HEMI + SPHERE
“Northern hemisphere.”
39
precipitationprecipitasion ✗⭐⭐⭐
prih-sip-ih-TAY-shun
Rain/snow
💡 PRECIPIT + ATION
“Annual precipitation.”
40
meteorologymetereology ✗⭐⭐⭐
mee-tee-uh-ROL-uh-jee
Weather science
💡 METEOR + OLOGY
“Study meteorology.”
📊 Scientific Method Words
41
observationobservasion ✗⭐⭐
ob-zur-VAY-shun
Watching carefully
💡 OBSERV + ATION
“Careful observation.”
42
measurementmeasurment ✗⭐⭐
MEZH-ur-munt
Finding size/amount
💡 MEASURE + MENT (keep E!)
“Accurate measurement.”
43
conclusionconclution ✗⭐⭐
kun-KLOO-zhun
Final finding
💡 CONCLUS + ION
“Draw a conclusion.”
44
analysisanalisis ✗⭐⭐
uh-NAL-ih-sis
Detailed study
💡 ANALYS + IS
“Data analysis.”
45
investigationinvestigasion ✗⭐⭐
in-ves-tih-GAY-shun
Research/inquiry
💡 INVESTIG + ATION
“A thorough investigation.”
46
procedureproceedure ✗⭐⭐
proh-SEE-jur
Step-by-step method
💡 PROCED + URE (not PROCEED!)
“Follow the procedure.”
47
accuratelyaccuratly ✗⭐⭐
AK-yoo-rut-lee
Correctly, precisely
💡 ACCURATE + LY
“Measure accurately.”
48
approximatelyapproximatly ✗⭐⭐
uh-PROK-sih-mut-lee
About, roughly
💡 APPROXIMATE + LY
“Approximately 100ml.”
49
significantsignificent ✗⭐⭐
sig-NIF-ih-kunt
Important, meaningful
💡 SIGNIFIC + ANT
“A significant result.”
50
independentindependant ✗⭐⭐
in-dih-PEN-dunt
On its own
💡 INDEPEND + ENT
“Independent variable.”
📐 5 Spelling Rules
Break Words Into Parts
Long words become easy: ex+peri+ment, temper+a+ture, geo+graphy.
✅ experiment, temperature, geography, atmosphere
Greek/Latin Roots Help
GRAPH=write, SCOPE=see, PHOTO=light, GEO=earth, HYDRO=water.
✅ geography, microscope, photosynthesis, hydroelectric
PH Always = F
Greek words use PH for the F sound: photograph, atmosphere, chlorophyll.
✅ photograph, atmosphere, chlorophyll, phenomenon
Don’t Skip Middle Syllables
temper-A-ture (not temprature), labor-A-tory (not labratory).
✅ temperature, laboratory, literature, comfortable
Practise Topic Word Lists
Before exams, review spelling of topic-specific words. These are often tested!
✅ Write each word 3 times, use in a sentence, test with a partner
🐝 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
YARLBRI
RETUEMTAERP
NTIENNCOT
XEMTPINEER
CLAONVO
✏️ Fill in Missing Letters
Type the missing letters
libr_ry
temp_rature
exp_riment
pen_nsula
labor_tory
❓ FAQ
Why are science spelling words hard to spell?
Many come from Latin/Greek (experiment, geography, chromosome) with foreign spelling patterns. Plus, we skip syllables when speaking (temprature vs temperature) but must include them when writing.
How to prepare topic spelling for exams?
Before exams, make a list of 20 key topic words. Write each 3 times, spell aloud, and use in sentences. Test yourself or have a friend quiz you.
Does knowing word roots help?
Enormously! GEO=earth, GRAPH=write, PHOTO=light, SCOPE=see, HYDRO=water. Knowing 20 common roots helps you spell hundreds of words.
What about technical words?
Technical words follow the same patterns: break into parts, learn the root, remember silent letters. photosynthesis = PHOTO+SYNTHESIS.
How many topic words should I know?
50 per topic is excellent! This page covers the most commonly tested words. Combined with general spelling rules, this gives you very strong exam preparation.
🐝 All Spelling Bee Guides — 49 Topics
By Grade Level
Spelling Rules
I Before E Rule — When It Works & When I
Silent E Rule — Magic E Changes Everythi
Doubling Consonants — When to Double the
Plurals — S, ES, IES & Irregular Plurals
Suffixes — When to Drop E & When to Keep
Y to I Rule — When Y Changes to I
Prefixes — No Spelling Change!
IE vs EI — Complete Word List
-Able vs -Ible — Which Ending Is Correct
-Tion vs -Sion vs -Cian — Which Ending?