Phonics word list
Consonant blend words
In short
A consonant blend is two or three consonants in a row where you still hear each sound, like st in stop, fl in flag, mp in lamp and str in string. Our checked list has 4,953 words that start or end with a consonant blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 4,953
- By syllables
- one syllable: 2,124 · two syllables: 2,088 · three or more syllables: 741
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
Consonant blend 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.
l blends (fly, blow)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| fly | f·l·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| blow | b·l·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| blue | b·l·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| club | c·l·u·b | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| clue | c·l·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| flag | f·l·a·g | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| flat | f·l·a·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| flew | f·l·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| flow | f·l·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| glad | g·l·a·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| plan | p·l·a·n | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| play | p·l·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| plea | p·l·ea | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| plot | p·l·o·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| plug | p·l·u·g | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| plus | p·l·u·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| slip | s·l·i·p | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| slow | s·l·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| black | b·l·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| blame | b·l·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| blank | b·l·a·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| block | b·l·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| claim | c·l·ai·m | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| class | c·l·a·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
r blends (cry, dry)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| cry | c·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| dry | d·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| fry | f·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| try | t·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| draw | d·r·aw | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| drew | d·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| drop | d·r·o·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| free | f·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| from | f·r·o·m | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| grew | g·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| grow | g·r·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| trap | t·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tree | t·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trip | t·r·i·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| true | t·r·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| brand | b·r·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| break | b·r·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| brief | b·r·ie·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| bring | b·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| broke | b·r·o_e·k | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| brown | b·r·ow·n | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| crash | c·r·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| crisp | c·r·i·s·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| cross | c·r·o·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
s blends (scan, spot)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| scan | s·c·a·n | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| spot | s·p·o·t | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| stay | s·t·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| step | s·t·e·p | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| stop | s·t·o·p | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| scale | s·c·a_e·l | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| score | s·c·ore | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| skill | s·k·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| small | s·m·a·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| smile | s·m·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| space | s·p·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| spare | s·p·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| speak | s·p·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| speed | s·p·ee·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| spell | s·p·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| spend | s·p·e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| spent | s·p·e·n·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| spite | s·p·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| spoke | s·p·o_e·k | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| spots | s·p·o·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| staff | s·t·a·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| stage | s·t·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| stand | s·t·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| start | s·t·ar·t | 1 | Lesson 77 |
Three-letter blends (scrap, split)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| scrap | s·c·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| split | s·p·l·i·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| three | th·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| threw | th·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| throw | th·r·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| screen | s·c·r·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| script | s·c·r·i·p·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| splits | s·p·l·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| spread | s·p·r·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| spring | s·p·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| square | s·qu·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| stream | s·t·r·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| street | s·t·r·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| strict | s·t·r·i·c·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| strike | s·t·r·i_e·k | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| string | s·t·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| strong | s·t·r·o·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| struck | s·t·r·u·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| threat | th·r·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| thrown | th·r·ow·n | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| throws | th·r·ow·s | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| scratch | s·c·r·a·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| screens | s·c·r·ee·n·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| spreads | s·p·r·ea·d·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
tw (twice, twelve)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| twice | t·w·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| twelve | t·w·e·l·v·e | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| twenty | t·w·e·n·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| twin | t·w·i·n | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twins | t·w·i·n·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twist | t·w·i·s·t | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twists | t·w·i·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twisted | t·w·i·s·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| twisting | t·w·i·s·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| twentieth | t·w·e·n·t·i·e·th | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| twig | t·w·i·g | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twang | t·w·a·ng | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| tweak | t·w·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tweed | t·w·ee·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tweet | t·w·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| twigs | t·w·i·g·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twine | t·w·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| twirl | t·w·ir·l | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| tweaks | t·w·ea·k·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tweets | t·w·ee·t·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| twined | t·w·i_e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| twinge | t·w·i·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| twirls | t·w·ir·l·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| twitch | t·w·i·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
Ending blends (act, and)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| act | a·c·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| and | a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 9 (heart word) |
| ask | a·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| end | e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| old | o·l·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| band | b·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| best | b·e·s·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| bind | b·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| bulk | b·u·l·k | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| cent | c·e·n·t | 1 | Lesson 117 |
| cold | c·o·l·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| cost | c·o·s·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| desk | d·e·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| disk | d·i·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| dump | d·u·m·p | 1 | Lesson 15 |
| east | ea·s·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| fact | f·a·c·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| fast | f·a·s·t | 1 | Lesson 7 |
| felt | f·e·l·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| film | f·i·l·m | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| find | f·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| fund | f·u·n·d | 1 | Lesson 15 |
| hand | h·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| held | h·e·l·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
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 26 | 173 |
| Lesson 64 | 195 |
| Lesson 67b | 423 |
| Lesson 68 | 183 |
| Lesson 80 | 238 |
| Lesson 85 | 283 |
| Lesson 96 | 176 |
| Lesson 107 | 159 |
| Not in the sequence | 251 |
How do you teach consonant blend words?
Blends are a phonemic awareness problem before they are a phonics problem. If the student can't hear four sounds in frog, no amount of reading practice fixes it. Start by ear: "Say frog. Now say it without /f/." Then move to print with a known word and one added letter: rog becomes frog, lap becomes clap. Teach beginning and ending blends separately, then mix them in words like stamp and crust.
What mistake do students make with consonant blend words?
The dropped consonant is the error to watch: sop for stop, fag for flag, han for hand. Have the student tap a finger for each sound and say the word slowly with you. When spelling, use sound boxes; an empty box shows exactly which sound went missing.
Where do consonant blend words come in the sequence?
Blends usually come right after short vowels, before or alongside the first digraphs, because they use only letters the student already knows. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
Two consonants side by side are not always a blend. Sh, ch and th are digraphs (one sound). In knee and write, one letter is silent. Nk sounds like a blend but the n says /ng/, so it gets its own page.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The frog can swim in the pond.
- Stop at the big red flag.
- The best plan is to jump on the sand.
Questions people ask
What are 5 consonant blend words?
What is the difference between a blend and a digraph?
How many consonant blends are there?
When can a student read consonant blend 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.