Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell know

What it means: Be cognizant or aware of a fact.

In a sentence: I know how to tie my shoes all by myself. ▶

The part people get wrong

Watch for a silent k. Often misspelled as now or no.

Sounds like, but is not: no. Same sound, different spelling and meaning.

Same family: knows, knew, known, knowing, knowledge. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: Know comes from Old English “cnāwan,” meaning to recognize or understand. The silent “k” at the beginning shows its Germanic roots, where the /k/ sound used to be pronounced.

Patterns it uses: Silent letters

Try spelling it

You will hear the word and a sentence. Type it and press Enter. Then four more words from the same level, so you know where you stand.

Words like this

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Spelling.School is a spaced-repetition spelling practice: ten minutes a day, every word spoken aloud, every miss explained, and every word coming back just before you would forget it. Try five words without signing up.