How to Spell Government
Is it goverment, or government?
Common Misspellings:
📊 Google Trends: Avg 21.6 daily searches (Sept-Dec 2025) - #3 most-searched | Volatile: spikes to 100 during political events
You're Not Alone
This is the #3 most commonly misspelled word, with search volume spiking dramatically during political events - reaching 100 on Google Trends during election cycles and major government announcements. The dropped 'N' is one of the most natural spelling errors because fast speech elides the sound. You're in good company, and there's a simple way to remember the correct spelling.
Why This Mistake Happens
Phonetic elision: When you say "government" quickly, the 'N' sound disappears between syllables. It sounds like "GUV-er-ment" or "GUV-uh-ment," not "GUV-ern-ment." Your brain writes what it hears, so "goverment" feels natural.
Fast speech patterns: Native English speakers routinely drop the 'N' in casual conversation. Politicians, news anchors, and everyday speakers all elide this sound. When everyone says it without the 'N', it's natural to spell it that way too.
The compound isn't obvious: Unless you know that "government" = GOVERN + MENT (the act of governing), the 'N' seems arbitrary. Once you see the structure - that you're adding -MENT to the complete word GOVERN - keeping the 'N' makes perfect sense.
Word Origin
"Government" comes from Old French "governement," which derives from Latin "gubernare" (to steer, pilot, or govern). The Latin root came from Greek "kybernan" (to steer or guide) - the same root that gave us "cybernetics." The -MENT suffix comes from Latin "mentum," meaning "the means or result of." So GOVERN-MENT literally means "the means of governing" or "the act of steering society."
Etymology Path:
Greek kybernan → Old French governement → Modern English government
The Spelling Trick
"GOVERN with your MENT (Latin for 'mind')"
Why it works: This spelling trick shows you the word structure: GOVERN + MENT. The wordplay on "ment" (Latin for mind/thought) connects to governing intellectually. When you see government as two complete parts, the 'N' stops being a mystery - it's simply the end of "govern."
How to use it: When typing "government" and hesitating before the 'N', recall: "GOVERN with your MENT." This reminds you that the full word "govern" (ending in 'N') stays intact when you add the suffix "-ment."
Examples in Context
Political: "The government announced new climate policies today."
Historical: "Democratic government emerged in ancient Greece around 500 BCE."
Casual: "I had to renew my license at the government office."
Academic: "Federal government powers are outlined in the Constitution."
International: "Parliamentary government systems are common in Europe."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
✗ goverment - Missing 'N' (most common error, follows pronunciation)
✗ governement - Extra 'E' before MENT (confusion with French)
✗ govenment - Missing 'R' (less common, typing error)
Quick tip: Remember the structure: GOVERN + MENT. Think of other -MENT words like "statement" (state + ment) or "movement" (move + ment). The root verb stays complete - you don't drop letters when adding -MENT. So GOVERN keeps its 'N' when becoming GOVERNMENT.