Year 3 Spelling Words
120 words for Year 3 in the UK, Australia and New Zealand — prefixes, homophones, -tion endings and the statutory Year 3/4 list, all in British and Australian spelling.
In England and Wales, Year 3 is ages 7–8 — the first year of Key Stage 2.
In Australia and New Zealand, Year 3 is ages 8–9 — a full school year ahead of UK Year 3.
One list, two year systems. The core sections below are pitched at the younger UK cohort. The extension words at the end are the ones Australian and New Zealand Year 3 classes usually reach first — and they are the natural next step for confident UK spellers too.
What Spelling Skills Does Year 3 Cover?
Year 3 is where spelling stops being about single sounds and starts being about word parts. Children who understand prefixes and endings can attack an unfamiliar word instead of guessing at it. By the end of the year, a typical child should be able to:
Prefixes (30 Words)
A prefix is added to the front of a root word and never changes its spelling — dis- plus appear gives disappear, with two s letters and no letters dropped. That single rule prevents most Year 3 prefix errors.
Practice tip: give your child a root word and ask which prefixes it will take. Does unappear work? Why not? Arguing about it teaches more than copying the list out three times.
The -tion Ending (22 Words)
English spells the "shun" sound four different ways, and -tion is by far the most common. Teaching it first, on its own, means the other three endings in Year 4 land as exceptions rather than chaos.
Homophones
Homophones sound identical and mean different things, so no amount of sounding out will help. Each one needs a meaning and a memory hook attached to it.
- • their = belonging to them (their dog)
- • there = a place (over there)
- • they're = they are (they're coming)
- • to = towards (go to school)
- • too = also, or more than enough (me too)
- • two = the number 2
- • here = this place (come here)
- • hear = to listen (I hear music)
- • knew = past tense of know
- • new = not old
- • plain = simple, or a flat area of land
- • plane = an aeroplane
- • break = to snap or smash
- • brake = what stops a bike or car
- • grate = to shred, or a fire grate
- • great = very good or very big
- • write = to put words on paper
- • right = correct, or the direction
Statutory Year 3 Words (34 Words)
These come from the English National Curriculum Year 3/4 word list — the words children are expected to spell by the end of Year 4. We split the list across two pages: the first half here, the second half on the Year 4 page. Australia has no equivalent national list, which is why the statutory words work well as a shared spine for both countries.
Practice tip: centre is the word to watch. It is spelled with -re in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and children see the American -er form constantly in games and videos. Point out the difference once, explicitly, and it stops being confusing.
Extension Words (16 Words)
Longer words that Australian and New Zealand Year 3 classes usually meet during the year, and that confident UK Year 3 spellers are ready for. Break each one into syllables, spell the parts, then join them.
Practise These Words in British or Australian English
SpellCrush lets you set your child's spelling variant to British or Australian English, so the app marks centre and favourite as correct — not as mistakes. Every word is read aloud, and kids earn XP for practising daily.
Start Free Practice →Not Sure If Your Child Is at Year 3 Level?
Take our free five-minute spelling assessment — no sign-up required. It finds your child's actual spelling level and suggests where to start.
Take the Free Assessment →Frequently Asked Questions
What spelling words should a Year 3 child know?
By the end of Year 3, children should be spelling the first half of the statutory Year 3/4 word list, using the prefixes un-, dis-, re-, mis- and pre- correctly, choosing the right homophone in context, and spelling the -tion ending reliably. That is roughly 120 words taught explicitly, on top of everything from Key Stage 1.
Is Year 3 in Australia the same as Year 3 in the UK?
No, and this is the most common mix-up. In England and Wales, Year 3 is ages 7 to 8. In Australia and New Zealand, Year 3 is ages 8 to 9 - a full school year ahead. This page covers both: the core sections suit the younger UK cohort, and the extension words are the ones Australian Year 3 classes usually reach first.
What is the statutory Year 3/4 spelling list?
It is the list of 100 words in the English National Curriculum that children are expected to spell by the end of Year 4. This page carries the first half, and our Year 4 page carries the second. The words are chosen because they are common, often misspelled, and not fully predictable from phonics alone.
Are these words spelled the British and Australian way?
Yes. Every word on this page uses British spelling, which Australia and New Zealand share at primary level - centre, not the American form, and -ise rather than -ize. American lists teach a different spelling of the same words, which is why a UK or AU child needs a list written for their own system.
How do I help my child with homophones?
Context first, memory trick second. Teach each word inside a sentence that makes the meaning obvious, then attach a hook - the word here hides inside there, and both are about place. Drilling the pair as a list without meaning is what makes homophones stick badly rather than well.
Spelling Practice Your Child Will Actually Do
SpellCrush turns the Year 3 list into a game — XP, achievements and rewards, with a progress dashboard for parents. Free for 7 days, cancel anytime.
Try SpellCrush Free →Looking for the US Equivalent?
In the US, this is roughly 2nd grade for the UK cohort and 3rd grade for the Australian one. The American lists are not translations of this one — they use American spellings and a different sequence — so treat them as a companion, not a substitute.