What does jockey mean?
Word: Jockey
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Jockey means a person whose job is riding horses in races.
How do you spell jockey?
Syllables: jock - ey
Tricky part: The ending is -ey, not -y, which is where jocky and jockie come from.
Watch out for: jocky, jockie
Memory tip: Jockeys ride horses, but the donkey and the monkey lend them their ending.
Jockey in a sentence
Example 1: The jockey leaned low over the neck of the horse as they reached the final bend.
Example 2: The youngest jockey at the spring race meeting was only eighteen.
Example 3: After the race, the jockey patted his horse and gave it a carrot.
Fun Fact
A disc jockey, or DJ, rides no horse at all: the job of choosing and playing music simply borrowed the word.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
jo____ey
a) kk
b) ck
c) cc
d) ch
Show answer
b) ck. The k sound after a short vowel is spelt as in rocket.
Sound Check
In which word is 'ey' pronounced differently?
a) hockey
b) obey
c) jockey
d) valley
Show answer
b) obey. Obey ends in the long a sound of say; the others end in a light ee.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. coach 2. goalkeeper 3. jockey a. someone paid to stay in the saddle at full gallop b. the player who guards the net c. a person who trains a team
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. The net needs a goalkeeper, the saddle is for the rider, and the team looks to the coach.
Word Tally
You get 3 marks for each misspelt word you find in the list. How many marks do you get?
jockey, gallop, stirrup, sadle, paddock
a) 6
b) 9
c) 3
d) 12
Show answer
c) 3. Only saddle is misspelt, so 1 x 3 = 3.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why do most jockeys need to be light in weight?
a) so that they can walk the course
b) so that the saddle stays clean
c) so that the horse can run faster
d) so that they can reach the stirrups
Show answer
c) so that the horse can run faster
2. What would a jockey most likely wear to work?
a) a lab coat and goggles
b) a hard hat and boots
c) a helmet and bright silks
d) a chef hat and apron
Show answer
c) a helmet and bright silks
