What does spelt mean?
Spelt is the past tense and past participle of the verb spell. It means that someone has written a word in a particular sequence of letters or pronounced it in a particular sequence of sounds. For example, a child may spelt a difficult word correctly, or a speaker may spelt out a complicated idea so that it is easier to understand. The form is especially familiar in British English, while American English usually uses spelled. Although spelt is also a noun referring to an ancient type of wheat, its principal use as a standalone headword is as an inflected form of spell. The distinction between the two varieties is mainly stylistic and regional rather than grammatical.
verbIn the past tense or past participle of spell, spelt means to write or pronounce a word in a particular sequence of letters or sounds. It is especially common in British English, while spelled is more common in American English.
- Past tense and past participle of spell: to write or pronounce a word in a particular sequence of letters or sounds.
- Past tense and past participle of spell in the sense of expressing or communicating something in writing: she spelt out her reasons clearly.
"She spelt the difficult name correctly on the first attempt."
"The child spelt the word 'necessary' without any help."
"Could you spelt out what you mean by that?"
In British English, spelt preserves the older and more elegant past form of spell, while spelled reflects the influence of the regular -ed pattern.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of spelt
The verb spell ultimately comes from Old English spell, meaning a spoken account, story, or magical formula, and is related to words such as spell and storytelling. Its development toward the modern sense of writing or pronouncing words took place through several stages, including the use of letters to represent sounds. The form spelt is an older irregular past-tense formation that survives especially in British English, alongside the more regular and common form spelled.
Related word forms
How spelt is actually used
Spelt is a standard and common form in British English and is also accepted in American English, though spelled is generally preferred there. It is often used with expressions such as 'spell out', where the emphasis is on making something explicit or easy to understand.
Easily confused with spelt
Spelled is the standard past tense and past participle of spell in American English, whereas spelt is especially associated with British English.
As a noun, spelt can refer to a type of wheat with elongated grains and a nutty flavor, distinct from the verb form meaning the past tense of spell.