The /l/ sound at the end of words: -le, -el, -al, -il
Year group: 2
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling, National Curriculum for England (2013) — Year 2
Curriculum requirement: Statutory
Purpose: Year 2 guide to words ending in -le, -el, -al and -il — rules for choosing the right ending with worked examples and practice activities.
The rule
The /əl/ sound (a weak "ul" or "l" sound) at the end of words can be spelled four different ways. Each has a different pattern:
-le — the most common ending: table, apple, little, simple
-el — used after m, n, r, s, v, w (consonants that blend with l): camel, tunnel, squirrel, travel
-al — usually an adjective or noun suffix: metal, pedal, hospital, animal
-il — only a small number of words: fossil, nostril, pencil, evil, pupil
The -le ending (most common)
| Word | Note |
|---|---|
| table | tabl- + e |
| apple | double p preserves short vowel |
| little | double t preserves short vowel |
| bottle | double t |
| middle | double d |
| simple | consonant p before le |
| purple | consonant r before le |
| bundle | consonant n before le |
| handle | consonant n before le |
| jungle | consonant n before le |
| circle | consonant r before le |
| example | consonant before le |
| twinkle | consonant before le |
| sparkle | consonant before le |
Pattern: -le follows a consonant, or doubles a consonant to keep a short vowel.
The -el ending
Used after certain consonants: m, n, r, s, v, w
| Word | Consonant before el |
|---|---|
| camel | m |
| channel | n (double n) |
| tunnel | n (double n) |
| squirrel | r (double r) |
| travel | v |
| novel | v |
| towel | w |
| vowel | w |
| gravel | v |
| barrel | r (double r) |
| cancel | — (common exception) |
| tinsel | s |
| diesel | s |
Memory pattern: if the letter before the ending is m, n, r, s, v, or w, try -el first.
The -al ending
Usually signals an adjective or noun derived from a longer word.
| Word | Type | Root note |
|---|---|---|
| metal | noun | Latin metallum |
| pedal | noun | Latin pedale (of the foot) |
| hospital | noun | Latin hospitale |
| animal | noun | Latin animale |
| capital | noun/adjective | Latin capitalis (of the head) |
| central | adjective | Latin centralis |
| natural | adjective | Latin naturalis |
| magical | adjective | magic + -al |
| musical | adjective | music + -al |
| oval | adjective/noun | Latin ovalis (egg-shaped) |
| petal | noun | Greek petalon (leaf) |
| signal | noun/verb | Latin signale |
| total | adjective/noun | Latin totalis |
| local | adjective | Latin localis |
The -il ending (a small set — learn individually)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fossil | preserved remains of ancient life |
| nostril | one of the two openings of the nose |
| pencil | a writing implement |
| evil | morally wrong; very bad |
| pupil | a student; the dark centre of the eye |
| lentil | a type of legume |
| April | the fourth month |
| until | up to the time that |
| utensil | a tool or implement, especially for cooking |
| vigil | a period of staying awake to watch or pray |
These must be learned individually — there is no reliable pattern for predicting -il.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| tablel | table | -le not an extra l |
| cammel | camel | -el after m; only one m |
| tunnle | tunnel | -el not -le after n |
| animle | animal | -al ending for this Latin noun |
| fossal | fossil | -il — must learn individually |
| pencal | pencil | -il — must learn individually |
| squrrel | squirrel | -el after r; double r |
Word sort
Sort by ending.
Words: table · camel · metal · fossil · apple · tunnel · animal · pencil · circle · squirrel · hospital · little · travel · nostril · natural
| -le | -el | -al | -il |
|---|---|---|---|
Dictation sentences
- The camel crossed the natural landscape and found little shelter.
- She packed a pencil and a novel into the barrel for the trip.
- The hospital had a central tunnel that connected the two buildings.
- She turned the pedal on the metal frame with a simple flick.
- The squirrel hid its total supply of nuts inside the circle of trees.
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). All examples verified against Year 2 statutory content.