---
title: "Spellings from Greek, French and Latin"
description: "Spell English words with ch representing /k/ in words with Greek roots, ch representing /ʃ/ and -gue/-que in words borrowed through French, and sc representing /s/ in words with Latin in their histori"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spellings-from-greek-french-and-latin-mt_y8sicbhMci
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spellings-from-greek-french-and-latin-mt_y8sicbhMci.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Spellings from Greek, French and Latin

Spell English words with ch representing /k/ in words with Greek roots, ch representing /ʃ/ and -gue/-que in words borrowed through French, and sc representing /s/ in words with Latin in their histories

Subject: English · Area: Spelling & Word Study · Ages 8 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spellings-from-greek-french-and-latin-mt_y8sicbhMci

## Ready when they can

- Spell chorus, chemist, echo and scheme with ch representing /k/, and recognise the connection with Greek roots
- Spell chef, chalet and machine with ch representing /ʃ/, and league and unique with their learned -gue/-que endings
- Spell science, scene and discipline with sc representing one /s/ sound, and recognise that a word's history may involve several languages

## Lesson: Spellings from Greek, French and Latin

English words have histories involving many languages. Some spelling patterns can help us remember those histories. A word may pass through several languages before reaching English, so one letter group cannot tell us its whole story.

Some English words with Greek roots use ch for the k sound. Learn chorus, chemist, echo and scheme with this spelling. A chemist studies chemicals. These are English spellings and pronunciations, not instructions for writing or speaking Greek.

*(drawing: In school, ch represents k. In chair, ch represents a different sound.)*

In English words borrowed through French, ch can represent sh: chef, chalet and machine. A chalet is a house often found in the mountains. League ends in gue, representing g here. Unique ends in que, representing k here. Learn each whole spelling; these patterns do not apply to every word.

Science, scene and discipline each keep sc for one s sound. Their histories involve Latin, sometimes along with other languages. Discipline can mean training that helps someone follow rules. Keep both letters when spelling these words. Check a dictionary's origin entry to learn more about a word's history.

**Recap.** Learn each word's letters: ch can represent k or sh, gue and que can represent g and k, and sc represents s in science. A dictionary can tell you more about word history.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Suffixes (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-7-mt_tHtjfjjFrl)

## Opens up

- [Applying Spelling Rules to Complex Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/applying-spelling-rules-to-complex-words-mt_4PA9IrxtCQ)
- [Advanced spelling conventions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/advanced-spelling-conventions-mt_U_HQXCnAaG)
- [Vocabulary Strategies](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/vocabulary-strategies-mt_WZnwITSWr8)
- [Silent Letters in Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/silent-letters-in-words-mt_XK7NYt61cO)