Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell previous

Previous is spelled P-R-E-V-I-O-U-S. Say all three beats, pre-vi-ous: an I sits before the OUS, as in obvious.

What it means: Just preceding something else in time or order.

In a sentence: I remember my previous birthday party; it was so much fun! ▶

The part people get wrong

Watch for an unstressed vowel that is hard to hear.

Same family: previously, prior, earlier, before, preceding. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Previous” comes from Latin *praevius*, meaning “going before,” from *prae* (before) and *via* (way, road). It’s related to the word “via,” so you can imagine something ‘previous’ as being further back on the road of time.

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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