8th Grade Spelling Words

How to practice spelling words

• Hear it, then spell it. Spelling from a word you hear is the real skill. In Owl Test Prep, Owl-y says each word and uses it in a sentence, and you type it.
• Short and often. Ten words a day beats fifty on Friday night. Owl-y keeps a streak so the habit sticks.
• Missed words come back. A word you miss comes back later that day, then again over the next week, until it sticks.
• Look at the tricky part. Most misses are one spot: a double letter, a silent letter, an ending. Say it slowly and find that spot.

Animals (12)

• pterodactyla flying reptile that lived with the dinosaurs long ago
• caterpillarthe wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth
• mongoosea small, slim animal that hunts snakes
• centipedea small creature with many legs and a flat body
• reindeera deer with antlers, found in cold northern places
• leoparda large spotted cat that often climbs trees
• raccoona nocturnal animal with a striped tail and masked face
• moosethe largest deer, with broad flat antlers
• chinchillaa small rodent with thick, soft fur
• cormoranta dark seabird that dives underwater to catch fish
• ocelota wild spotted cat that lives in forests of the Americas
• cariboua large northern deer with wide, branching antlers

Food (12)

• delicatessena shop that sells cooked meats, cheeses, and prepared foods
• vinaigrettea salad dressing made from oil, vinegar, and herbs
• meringuea light, sweet topping made by whipping egg whites and sugar
• sauerkrautfinely chopped cabbage fermented in salt water
• mozzarellaa soft white cheese that melts easily on pizza
• pistachioa green nut with a hard, split shell
• tortillaa thin, flat round bread made from corn or wheat
• baguettea long, thin loaf of bread with a crisp crust
• gnocchismall dumplings made from mashed potato and flour
• eggplanta purple vegetable with smooth, shiny skin
• cheesecakea rich dessert made with cream cheese and a crumb crust
• tortellinismall ring-shaped pasta filled with cheese or meat

Sports (12)

• competitora person who takes part in a contest
• quarterbackthe football player who throws the ball and calls plays
• equestrianrelating to horses or horseback riding
• intramuralsports held between teams from the same school
• conditioningtraining the body to become stronger and fitter
• scrimmagea practice game between teammates
• skateboardingriding and performing tricks on a board with wheels
• golfera person who plays the game of golf
• agilitythe ability to move quickly and easily
• flexibilitythe ability to bend and stretch the body easily
• defensethe players who try to stop the other team from scoring
• reflexesfast automatic reactions to something unexpected

Space (12)

• spectrumthe range of colors that light separates into
• trajectorythe curved path an object follows when it moves through air or space
• aurorabright colored lights seen in the sky near the poles
• equinoxa day when day and night are about equal in length
• meteoroida small rock traveling through space before it reaches Earth
• astronomicalhaving to do with stars and planets, or extremely large
• chromospherea layer of hot gas above the sun's surface
• heliospherethe huge bubble of solar wind around the solar system
• redshifta stretching of light that shows a star is moving away
• eclipticthe flat path that the sun seems to follow across the sky
• supergianta very large and bright star with huge mass
• nebulardescribing a glowing cloud of gas and dust between the stars

Ocean (11)

• anemonea flowerlike sea animal with soft tentacles
• cuttlefisha sea creature with a soft body that can change colors
• molluska soft-bodied animal such as a clam, snail, or squid
• shorelinethe line where land meets the water along a coast
• sturgeona large, ancient fish with bony plates along its body
• dinghya small rowboat carried on a larger boat
• gastropoda mollusk, such as a snail, that moves on one muscular foot
• copepoda tiny shrimp-like animal that drifts in the sea
• periwinklea small edible sea snail with a spiral shell
• bioluminescentable to produce its own light, as some sea creatures do
• upwellingthe rising of cold, deep water to the surface

Nature and weather (12)

• biodiversitythe variety of different plants and animals in an area
• rhododendrona flowering shrub with large, bright clusters of blossoms
• sycamorea tall tree with broad leaves and mottled bark
• conifera tree that bears cones and usually keeps its leaves all year
• hydrangeaa shrub with large clusters of blue, pink, or white flowers
• hailstonea small ball of ice that falls from a storm cloud
• landslidea sudden rush of rock, soil, or mud down a slope
• marshlandlow, wet land covered with grass and reeds
• earthworma long, pink creature that lives in soil
• cactusa desert plant with thick stems and sharp spines
• pollinationthe transfer of pollen that allows plants to make seeds
• cumulusa puffy white cloud with a flat base

Home and family (12)

• accommodateto provide enough room or space for someone
• residencethe place where a person lives
• verandaa long, covered porch along the outside of a house
• fireplacean open place in a room where a fire can burn
• backyardthe area of land behind a house
• drawera box-like container that slides in and out of furniture
• plumbingthe pipes and fixtures that carry water in a building
• parqueta floor made of small pieces of wood arranged in a pattern
• linoleuma hard floor covering made of a shiny material
• draperyheavy cloth hung in folds to cover a window
• skylighta window set into a roof or ceiling
• bungalowa small, low house with one main level

School (11)

• separateto keep apart or divide into parts
• sophomorea student in the second year of high school or college
• pronunciationthe way a word is said out loud
• deadlinethe last time or date by which something must be finished
• alphabetthe set of letters used to write a language
• mathematicsthe study of numbers, shapes, and patterns
• certificatean official document that proves a person completed a course
• timetablea chart that shows when classes or events happen
• diagrama drawing that explains how something works
• exclamationa word or phrase that shows strong feeling, like wow
• atlasa book of maps

Music and art (12)

• rhythma regular pattern of beats in music or movement
• improvisationcreating music, drama, or dance on the spot without a script
• sopranothe highest singing voice, usually sung by women or children
• ensemblea small group of musicians or actors performing together
• recitala public performance given by one musician or a small group
• charcoala black material made from burnt wood, used for drawing
• ballerinaa woman who dances ballet on stage
• pianissimoa musical direction meaning very softly
• marionettea puppet moved by strings held from above
• glockenspiela percussion instrument with metal bars played with mallets
• vaudevillea stage show of songs, dances, and comedy acts
• frescoa painting done on wet plaster on a wall

Body and health (12)

• diaphragma large muscle below the lungs that helps you breathe
• pancreasan organ that makes insulin and helps digest food
• asthmaa condition that makes breathing difficult and wheezy at times
• respirationthe process of breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide
• hemoglobina protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen
• tendona tough cord that connects a muscle to a bone
• vertebraone of the small bones that make up the spine
• arterya blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
• claviclethe collarbone, a bone that connects the arm to the chest
• scapulathe flat, triangular bone of the shoulder blade
• sternuma flat bone in the center of the chest
• capillarya tiny blood vessel that connects arteries and veins

Places and travel (12)

• municipalrelating to a city or town and its local government
• vicinitythe area near or around a place
• terrainthe land and its shape, such as hills or valleys
• embassya building where a country's representatives work in another country
• architecturethe art and science of designing buildings
• cosmopolitanincluding people and customs from many different countries
• latitudedistance north or south of Earth's middle line, in degrees
• borougha town or district with its own local government
• townshipa small local division of a county with its own government
• aqueducta bridge-like channel that carries water across valleys
• buttea hill with steep sides and a flat top
• piazzaan open public square in an Italian town

Science (12)

• pressurea force pushing on an area of a surface
• specimena sample or example used for scientific study
• equationa math statement showing that two amounts are equal
• accelerationthe rate at which speed changes over time
• voltagethe strength of electrical energy between two points
• insulatora material that resists the flow of heat or electricity
• fungusa living thing such as a mushroom or mold
• combustionthe process of burning something and giving off heat
• pulleya wheel with a rope that lifts heavy loads
• cruciblea container that holds metal while it is heated very hot
• pipettea thin glass tube used to move small amounts of liquid
• oxidationa chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen

People and feelings (12)

• embarrassto make someone feel shy or ashamed in front of others
• conscientiouscareful to do work well and follow rules with great care
• hospitalityfriendly and welcoming treatment of guests
• pharmacista person trained to prepare and sell medicine
• sympatheticfeeling or showing concern for someone's troubles
• resourcefulgood at finding clever ways to solve problems
• nonchalantrelaxed and not worried, even when something important happens
• dependablereliable, trustworthy, and always able to be counted on
• loyaltyfaithful support for a friend, family, or cause
• integritythe quality of being honest and having strong principles
• optimisma hopeful attitude that good things will happen
• cooperationworking together toward a shared goal

Adventure (12)

• odysseya long adventurous journey full of trials
• mythologya collection of ancient stories about gods and heroes
• chroniclea written record of events in the order they happened
• archaeologista scientist who learns about the past by digging up objects
• hieroglyphicspictures and symbols used as writing in ancient Egypt
• tapestrya heavy woven cloth with pictures or designs
• sanctuarya safe place where people or animals can rest and be protected
• illusionsomething that looks real but is not what it seems
• cryptichaving a hidden or mysterious meaning
• perilousfull of danger or risk
• excavationthe careful digging up of buried objects or ruins
• mythicalexisting only in old stories and legends

Tricky words (12)

• occurrencean event or something that takes place
• maintenancethe work of keeping something in good condition
• questionnairea set of written questions used to gather information
• colleaguea person you work with
• exaggerateto describe something as bigger or better than it really is
• fluorescentgiving off bright light, like some kinds of lamps
• hindrancesomething that makes it harder to do something
• nuisancea person or thing that is annoying or bothersome
• debrisscattered pieces of broken or wrecked material
• occasionallynow and then, but not often
• ridiculousso silly or unreasonable that it seems funny
• rhubarba tart plant with thick red stalks, often baked in pies

Questions people ask