Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell maneuver

Maneuver is spelled M-A-N-E-U-V-E-R.

hear itma·neu·ver/mə'njuvər/verbAcademic

What it means: To move skillfully.

In a sentence: The cat had to maneuver through the maze to find its treat.

The part people get wrong

Watch for an unstressed vowel that is hard to hear.

Also spelled: manoeuvre (accepted as correct).

Same family: maneuvers, maneuvered, maneuvering, maneuverable, strategy. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: Maneuver comes from the French word "manœuvre," originally meaning "hand work" or "manual work," from Latin roots for "hand" (manu-) and "work" (opera). Over time, its meaning shifted from physical handling to skilled or strategic movements in the military, driving, sports, and even politics.

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