18 words · ages 17–18
12th Grade spelling words with definitions
What should a 12th grade child be able to spell?
By the end of 12th grade (ages 17–18), most children can spell words like quintessential, irascible and labyrinth — that is, words built on double s + tial, rile not reli, -sede, the only one, minus inside and related patterns. Spelling develops at very different speeds, and a child a year either side of this is ordinary rather than behind.
- double s + tial
- rile not reli
- -sede, the only one
- minus inside
- one l double m
- chs
- rrh
- -ious
- double n + uous
- -ible
- -quious
- pher
- pre not per
- double n double s
- rh + ps
- reign inside
- French -et
- y then i
Orbit
The hardest words the language throws.
- quintessential
- The most perfect example of its kind.double s + tial
- sacrilegious
- Treating something sacred with disrespect.rile not reli
- supersede
- To take the place of something older.-sede, the only one
- minuscule
- Extremely small.minus inside
- dilemma
- A choice between two bad options.one l double m
- fuchsia
- A vivid purplish pink.chs
- hemorrhage
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop.rrh
- ingenious
- Cleverer than anyone expected.-ious
- innocuous
- Completely harmless.double n + uous
- irascible
- Quick to anger.-ible
- obsequious
- Too eager to please the powerful.-quious
- paraphernalia
- All the bits and pieces that go with an activity.pher
- prerogative
- A right that is yours alone.pre not per
- reconnaissance
- A careful look at the ground before acting.double n double s
- rhapsody
- Music or writing that overflows with feeling.rh + ps
- sovereignty
- The right of a country to rule itself.reign inside
- ricochet
- To bounce off at an angle.French -et
- labyrinth
- A maze you can lose yourself in.y then i
Practising 12th grade spelling words at home
Read the word aloud and have your child write it from sound rather than copy it. The Friday test asks for the harder of those two, and only one of them is practice for it.
When a word goes wrong, say what the pattern is rather than just the letters — “that’s a double s + tial word” gives them something to reuse. Then come back to it tomorrow rather than immediately.
Count a word as learned when it has been spelled correctly on three separate days. That is the rule SpellChirp uses, and it is roughly where a word stops needing to be looked up.
Turn this list into ten minutes a night
SpellChirp reads every word aloud, checks the spelling, and writes these 12th grade words into an adventure story your child chooses — dragons, detectives, deep sea or a dozen more. Free, with no advertising and no account required to start.