How to spell neighbour
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
neighbour
N-E-I-G-H-B-O-U-R
The part to watch: neigh + bour. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Neighbour has eigh, like eight, and ends -our in British English. Neighbor, without the u, is American.
Neighbour is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with the letters ei, eigh or ie. The letters ei, eigh and ie can make several sounds. These words have to be learnt as a group, because the sound does not tell you which letters to use.
Common mistakes with neighbour
- Wrong: nieghbourRight: neighbour
- Wrong: neighburRight: neighbour
A way to remember it
My neighbour has a horse that says "neigh": neigh + bour.
Neighbour in syllables
neigh · bour
Neighbour has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Our neighbour looks after our cat when we are away.
Neighbour on the statutory list
Neighbour is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with neighbour, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the letters ei, eigh or ie
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as neighbour.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it neighbour or neighbor?
In the UK it is neighbour, with -our. Neighbor is the American spelling. Schools in England teach neighbour, and it is the spelling on the Year 5 and 6 list.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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