Many English learners get confused between “receive” and “recieve.” Since the words sound the same, it is easy to mix up the order of the letters i and e.
👉 The correct spelling is:
✔️ receive
❌ recieve
In simple terms, receive means to get, accept, or be given something.
👉 For example:
- I received a gift from my friend.
- Did you receive my email?
Learning the correct spelling can help you avoid one of the most common English spelling mistakes.
What Does “Receive” Mean?
Receive is a verb.
👉 It means:
- To get something
- To accept something
- To be given something
Examples:
- I received a letter yesterday.
- She received an award for her work.
- We received good news.
- Did you receive the package?
Why “Recieve” Is Incorrect
❌ Recieve is a misspelling.
The correct spelling follows the famous English rule:
👉 “I before E, except after C.”
Since receive comes after the letter c, the e comes before the i.
✔️ receive
❌ recieve
Receive vs Recieve (Quick Comparison)
| Word | Correct? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Receive | ✔️ Yes | To get or accept something |
| Recieve | ❌ No | Incorrect spelling |
👉 Important:
Always use receive in formal and everyday writing.
Sentence Examples
Using “Receive”
- I received your message.
- They received many applications.
- She will receive a certificate.
- We received excellent service.
Incorrect Usage
- ❌ I recieved your email.
- ❌ She will recieve an award.
- ❌ Did you recieve the package?
Common Mistakes
❌ I didn’t recieve the letter.
✔️ I didn’t receive the letter.
❌ He will recieve a prize.
✔️ He will receive a prize.
👉 Remember:
After c, write ei.
Practice Time
Fill in the blanks:
- Did you ______ my email?
- She will ______ an award.
- We ______ good news today.
- They hope to ______ a reply soon.
- I ______ the package yesterday.
Answers:
- receive
- receive
- received
- receive
- received
Easy Memory Trick
👉 Think like this:
I before E, except after C.
Examples:
- believe
- field
- chief
But:
- receive
- receipt
- ceiling
Since receive has a c, the letters are written ei.
Final Thought
The correct spelling is receive, while recieve is a very common misspelling. The word receive means to get, accept, or be given something and is used frequently in both spoken and written English. By remembering the rule “I before E, except after C,” you can avoid this mistake and improve your spelling accuracy. Small spelling improvements like this can make your writing look more polished, professional, and trustworthy.
