Phonics word list
A_e words (long a with silent e)
In short
A_e words spell long a with a, one consonant and a silent e, as in cake, name and gate. The a says its name, /ā/. Our checked list has 706 words where a_e says /ā/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 706
- By syllables
- one syllable: 260 · two syllables: 254 · three or more syllables: 192
- Taught in
- Lesson 54 in the sequence
A_e words, most common first
Spelling units show how each word breaks into the letters that spell one sound; a_e is a vowel and silent e working together. Readable after is the first lesson where a student can sound out the whole word.
One syllable
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| age | a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| ate | a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| base | b·a_e·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| came | c·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| case | c·a_e·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| date | d·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| face | f·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| fate | f·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| game | g·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| gave | g·a_e·v | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| hate | h·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| late | l·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| made | m·a_e·d | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| make | m·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| name | n·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| page | p·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| race | r·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| rate | r·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| safe | s·a_e·f | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| sake | s·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| sale | s·a_e·l | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| same | s·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| save | s·a_e·v | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| take | t·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| tape | t·a_e·p | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| blame | b·l·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| dates | d·a_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| frame | f·r·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| games | g·a_e·m·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| grave | g·r·a_e·v | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| makes | m·a_e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| named | n·a_e·m·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| names | n·a_e·m·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| phase | ph·a_e·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| place | p·l·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| plane | p·l·a_e·n | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| rates | r·a_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| sales | s·a_e·l·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| saved | s·a_e·v·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| saves | s·a_e·v·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| scale | s·c·a_e·l | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| shame | sh·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| shape | sh·a_e·p | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| space | s·p·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| stage | s·t·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| state | s·t·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| takes | t·a_e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| tapes | t·a_e·p·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| trace | t·r·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| phrase | ph·r·a_e·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| states | s·t·a_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| ace | a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| aged | a_e·g·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| bake | b·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| cage | c·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| cake | c·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| cave | c·a_e·v | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| fake | f·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| fame | f·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| gate | g·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| ages | a_e·g·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| awake | a·w·a_e·k | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| bases | b·a_e·s·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| cases | c·a_e·s·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| pages | p·a_e·g·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| became | b·e·c·a_e·m | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| behave | b·e·h·a_e·v | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| create | c·r·e·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| debate | d·e·b·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| decade | d·e·c·a_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| escape | e·s·c·a_e·p | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| namely | n·a_e·m·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| places | p·l·a_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| relate | r·e·l·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| safely | s·a_e·f·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| safety | s·a_e·f·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| spaces | s·p·a_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| stages | s·t·a_e·g·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| update | u·p·d·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| creates | c·r·e·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| mistake | m·i·s·t·a_e·k | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| phrases | ph·r·a_e·s·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| relates | r·e·l·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| replace | r·e·p·l·a_e·c | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| updates | u·p·d·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| grateful | g·r·a_e·t·f·u·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| mistakes | m·i·s·t·a_e·k·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| persuade | p·er·s·u·a_e·d | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| persuades | p·er·s·u·a_e·d·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| someplace | s·o·m·e·p·l·a_e·c | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| statement | s·t·a_e·t·m·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| translate | t·r·a·n·s·l·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| statements | s·t·a_e·t·m·e·n·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| translates | t·r·a·n·s·l·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| amaze | a·m·a_e·z | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| erase | e·r·a_e·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| faces | f·a_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| inane | i·n·a_e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| irate | i·r·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| races | r·a_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| wages | w·a_e·g·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| amazed | a·m·a_e·z·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| arcade | ar·c·a_e·d | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| arcane | ar·c·a_e·n | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| chases | ch·a_e·s·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| donate | d·o·n·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| engage | e·n·g·a_e·g | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| equate | e·qu·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| estate | e·s·t·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| female | f·e·m·a_e·l | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| humane | h·u·m·a_e·n | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| insane | i·n·s·a_e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| intake | i·n·t·a_e·k | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| invade | i·n·v·a_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| lately | l·a_e·t·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| locate | l·o·c·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| negate | n·e·g·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| parade | p·ar·a_e·d | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| phases | ph·a_e·s·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| rename | r·e·n·a_e·m | 2 | Lesson 68 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| isolate | i·s·o·l·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| operate | o·p·er·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| adequate | a·d·e·qu·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| anyplace | a·n·y·p·l·a_e·c | 3 | Lesson 67a |
| database | d·a·t·a·b·a_e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| dedicate | d·e·d·i·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| estimate | e·s·t·i·m·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| generate | g·e·n·er·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| indicate | i·n·d·i·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| irritate | i·rr·i·t·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| isolates | i·s·o·l·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| operates | o·p·er·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| separate | s·e·p·ar·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| alternate | a·l·t·er·n·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 93 |
| calculate | c·a·l·c·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| candidate | c·a·n·d·i·d·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| dedicates | d·e·d·i·c·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| generates | g·e·n·er·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| indicates | i·n·d·i·c·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| interface | i·n·t·er·f·a_e·c | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| irritates | i·rr·i·t·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| complicate | c·o·m·p·l·i·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| complicates | c·o·m·p·l·i·c·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| demonstrate | d·e·m·o·n·s·t·r·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| replacement | r·e·p·l·a_e·c·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| associate | a·ss·o·c·i·a_e·t | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| associates | a·ss·o·c·i·a_e·t·s | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| deliberate | d·e·l·i·b·er·a_e·t | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| inadequate | i·n·a·d·e·qu·a_e·t | 4 | Lesson 67b |
| appropriate | a·pp·r·o·p·r·i·a_e·t | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| communicate | c·o·mm·u·n·i·c·a_e·t | 4 | Lesson 68 |
| investigate | i·n·v·e·s·t·i·g·a_e·t | 4 | Lesson 67b |
| sophisticate | s·o·ph·i·s·t·i·c·a_e·t | 4 | Lesson 67b |
| amazes | a·m·a_e·z·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| erases | e·r·a_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| emulate | e·m·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| engages | e·n·g·a_e·g·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| situate | s·i·t·u·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| violate | v·i·o·l·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| activate | a·c·t·i·v·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| advocate | a·d·v·o·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| allocate | a·ll·o·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| automate | au·t·o·m·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 93 |
| dominate | d·o·m·i·n·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| hesitate | h·e·s·i·t·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| intimate | i·n·t·i·m·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| moderate | m·o·d·er·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| motivate | m·o·t·i·v·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| nominate | n·o·m·i·n·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| outrages | ou·t·r·a_e·g·s | 3 | Lesson 96 |
| overcame | o·v·er·c·a_e·m | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| populate | p·o·p·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| simulate | s·i·m·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| tolerate | t·o·l·er·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| activates | a·c·t·i·v·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| advocates | a·d·v·o·c·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| allocates | a·ll·o·c·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| automates | au·t·o·m·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 93 |
| celebrate | c·e·l·e·b·r·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| circulate | c·ir·c·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
When do these words become readable?
The lessons where the most words on this page become decodable. Words marked not in the sequence have a spelling the sequence never teaches as a pattern.
| Readable after | Words |
|---|---|
| Lesson 54 | 203 |
| Lesson 63 | 27 |
| Lesson 64 | 39 |
| Lesson 67a | 55 |
| Lesson 67b | 128 |
| Lesson 68 | 60 |
| Lesson 80 | 19 |
| Lesson 117 | 25 |
| Not in the sequence | 53 |
How do you teach a_e words?
Start with pairs that change only the e: cap and cape, tap and tape, mad and made. "Read cap. Add e. Now the a says its name. Cape." Then read a_e words with no partner (game, lake, wave). Sound boxes help: the a and the e go in one box, joined by a line under the consonant, because together they spell one sound.
What mistake do students make with a_e words?
Students read cape as cap. They decode left to right and commit to the short vowel before they reach the e. Teach them to glance at the end of the word first. If the error keeps coming, cover the first part and show only a_e, then uncover.
Where do a_e words come in the sequence?
A_e is usually the first silent e pattern, taught right after the digraph unit. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 54.
Exceptions worth knowing
Have and are end in e but don't use a long a. In words like village and climate, final ate and age are unstressed and the vowel is not long. Ace and age words wait until c and g before e are taught.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 54 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- Mom ate the cake.
- The game is at the lake.
- Wave to the man at the gate.
Questions people ask
What are 5 a_e words?
What are some a_e words?
Why is have not a long a word?
When can a student read a_e words?
How this list was built
Every word comes from our lexicon of common English words, each split into spelling units and checked against a pronouncing dictionary, so a word is listed under the sound its spelling really makes. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out. The readable after lesson comes from our decodability engine, which checks each spelling unit and syllable pattern against the lesson sequence. You can run your own text through the same engine with the free decodable text checker.