# spelt

/spˈɛlt/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spelt
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the past tense and past participle of the word 'spell'. You use it to say that someone wrote or said the letters of a word in a specific order.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'spell'. Common in British English and other non-American varieties; American English typically uses 'spelled'.

## Examples

- She spelt my name wrong on the card.
- I realized I had accidentally spelt the client's name with a 'k' instead of a 'c' in the final report.
- The document was clearly written by someone from the UK, as several words like 'colour' and 'theatre' were spelt using British conventions throughout the text.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He spelled it (in a UK context)" but "He spelt it" — While 'spelled' is standard in American English, 'spelt' is the preferred form in British English for the past tense.

## Usage notes

- Used as the past tense or past participle of 'spell'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.