Basic Details
Word: Behaviour
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The way a person or an animal acts, especially towards others.
Synonyms: conduct, manners, actions
How to Spell Behaviour
Syllables: be - hav - iour
Tricky part: After v comes i, then the -our ending: v-i-o-u-r. Students often drop the i (behavour) or swap the o and i (behavoir).
Watch out for: behavour, behavoir, behaviur
Memory tip: Behave is the verb. Drop its e and add iour, the same ending as saviour: behave, behav, behaviour.
Idioms and Phrases
- on your best behaviour: behaving as politely and well as you can, often because someone important is watching. Example: "The children were on their best behaviour when the inspector visited the class."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The teacher wrote a note to my parents about my good behaviour in the library.
Example 2: Scientists at the sanctuary watch the behaviour of the tigers through hidden cameras.
Example 3: Shouting at the waiter was rude behaviour, and Dad told him so.
Fun Fact
British English writes behaviour with -our, like colour and honour. American English dropped the u, a change made popular by Noah Webster's dictionary of 1828.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to complete the word:
beh_vi__r
a) a, u, o
b) e, o, u
c) a, o, u
d) a, o, o
Show answer
c) a, o, u. The word is built on behave, so the first gap is a, and the British ending -our fills the last two gaps.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. behavour 2. courtesy 3. discipline 4. obedience
a) doing what one is told by a person in charge
b) polite and respectful manners
c) training to follow rules and control oneself
d) the way a person acts towards others
Show answer
d) the way a person acts towards others. Behavour has lost the i that comes after v; the other three words are spelt right.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word behaviour as used in the sentence:
The headmaster praised Class 8 for their behaviour during the long bus trip to Agra.
a) reward
b) luggage
c) attendance
d) conduct
Show answer
d) conduct. Conduct is the way someone behaves, so it can replace behaviour in this sentence.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
The puppy's hoivuaber changed completely once it was fed on time.
a) behaviour
b) behaving
c) endeavour
d) harbour
Show answer
a) behaviour. The -iour ending and the letters b, h and v point to behaviour; harbour is too short and endeavour has no b.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. From which verb is the noun behaviour formed?
a) behave
b) believe
c) bewail
d) behold
Show answer
a) behave
2. Which of these is an example of good behaviour in a library?
a) speaking softly
b) tearing out pages
c) running between shelves
d) eating chips
Show answer
a) speaking softly
