Phonics word list
Ear words
In short
Ear has three sounds: /ear/ as in hear and year, /er/ as in learn and earth, and /air/ as in bear and wear. Our checked list has 160 words spelled with ear.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 160
- By syllables
- one syllable: 61 · two syllables: 75 · three or more syllables: 24
- Taught in
- Lesson 113 in the sequence
One spelling, more than one sound
Most lists mix these up. We count each sound separately, so a student practicing one sound only sees words that make it.
| Sound | Example | Words | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ear/ | dear | 88 | This page |
| /er/ | earth | 54 | This page |
| /air/ | bear | 18 | This page |
Ear 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 | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bear | b·ear | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| dear | d·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| fear | f·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| near | n·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| wear | w·ear | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| year | y·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| bears | b·ear·s | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| clear | c·l·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earth | ear·th | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| heard | h·ear·d | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| learn | l·ear·n | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| wears | w·ear·s | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| years | y·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| clears | c·l·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| learns | l·ear·n·s | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| search | s·ear·ch | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| cleared | c·l·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| searched | s·ear·ch·ed | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| ear | ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earn | ear·n | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| ears | ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| gear | g·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| rear | r·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| tear | t·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| beard | b·ear·d | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earns | ear·n·s | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| fears | f·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| gears | g·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| swear | s·w·ear | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| tears | t·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| beards | b·ear·d·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earned | ear·n·ed | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| feared | f·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| geared | g·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| swears | s·w·ear·s | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| earl | ear·l | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| pear | p·ear | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| sear | s·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earls | ear·l·s | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| nears | n·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| pearl | p·ear·l | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| pears | p·ear·s | 1 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| rears | r·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| sears | s·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| shear | sh·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| smear | s·m·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| spear | s·p·ear | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| yearn | y·ear·n | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| dearth | d·ear·th | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| earths | ear·th·s | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| hearse | h·ear·s·e | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| neared | n·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| pearls | p·ear·l·s | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| reared | r·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| seared | s·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| smears | s·m·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| spears | s·p·ear·s | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| yearns | y·ear·n·s | 1 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| sheared | sh·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| smeared | s·m·ear·ed | 1 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| early | ear·l·y | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| appear | a·pp·ear | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| nearby | n·ear·b·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| nearer | n·ear·er | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| nearly | n·ear·l·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| appears | a·pp·ear·s | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| bearing | b·ear·i·ng | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| clearer | c·l·ear·er | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| clearly | c·l·ear·l·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| nearest | n·ear·e·s·t | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| unclear | u·n·c·l·ear | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| wearing | w·ear·i·ng | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| appeared | a·pp·ear·ed | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| clearest | c·l·ear·e·s·t | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| clearing | c·l·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| learning | l·ear·n·i·ng | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| research | r·e·s·ear·ch | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| searches | s·ear·ch·es | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| searching | s·ear·ch·i·ng | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| weary | w·ear·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| dreary | d·r·ear·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| yearly | y·ear·l·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| bearded | b·ear·d·ed | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earning | ear·n·i·ng | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| fearing | f·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| gearing | g·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| tearing | t·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| swearing | s·w·ear·i·ng | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| clearance | c·l·ear·a·n·c·e | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| bearer | b·ear·er | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| dearer | d·ear·er | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| dearly | d·ear·l·y | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earner | ear·n·er | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| earthy | ear·th·y | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| bearers | b·ear·er·s | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| dearest | d·ear·e·s·t | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earmark | ear·m·ar·k | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earners | ear·n·er·s | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| earnest | ear·n·e·s·t | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| earshot | ear·sh·o·t | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earthly | ear·th·l·y | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| fearful | f·ear·f·u·l | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| nearing | n·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| rearing | r·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| searing | s·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| tearful | t·ear·f·u·l | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| unearth | u·n·ear·th | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| unheard | u·n·h·ear·d | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| wearied | w·ear·i·ed | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| bearings | b·ear·i·ng·s | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| earmarks | ear·m·ar·k·s | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| earnings | ear·n·i·ng·s | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| fearless | f·ear·l·e·ss | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| fearsome | f·ear·s·o·m·e | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| footwear | f·oo·t·w·ear | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| forswear | f·or·s·w·ear | 2 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| pearling | p·ear·l·i·ng | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| rehearse | r·e·h·ear·s·e | 2 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| shearing | sh·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| smearing | s·m·ear·i·ng | 2 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| earlier | ear·l·i·er | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| earliest | ear·l·i·e·s·t | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| appearing | a·pp·ear·i·ng | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| disappear | d·i·s·a·pp·ear | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| appearance | a·pp·ear·a·n·c·e | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| disappears | d·i·s·a·pp·ear·s | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| disappeared | d·i·s·a·pp·ear·ed | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| disappearing | d·i·s·a·pp·ear·i·ng | 4 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| researcher | r·e·s·ear·ch·er | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| researchers | r·e·s·ear·ch·er·s | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| unbearable | u·n·b·ear·a·b·le | 4 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| appearances | a·pp·ear·a·n·c·e·s | 4 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| bearable | b·ear·a·b·le | 3 | /air/ | Lesson 112 |
| reappear | r·e·a·pp·ear | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| reappears | r·e·a·pp·ear·s | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| unearthly | u·n·ear·th·l·y | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| weariness | w·ear·i·n·e·ss | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 124 |
| clearances | c·l·ear·a·n·c·e·s | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| reappeared | r·e·a·pp·ear·ed | 3 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| researches | r·e·s·ear·ch·es | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| unearthing | u·n·ear·th·i·ng | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| researching | r·e·s·ear·ch·i·ng | 3 | /er/ | Lesson 113 |
| disappearance | d·i·s·a·pp·ear·a·n·c·e | 4 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
| disappearances | d·i·s·a·pp·ear·a·n·c·e·s | 5 | /ear/ | Lesson 113 |
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 112 | 18 |
| Lesson 113 | 141 |
| Lesson 124 | 1 |
How do you teach ear words?
Teach /ear/ first, then /er/ and /air/ as flexes. "Ear can say /ear/, /er/ or /air/. Try /ear/ first." Read hear, near, year, clear; then learn, earth, early; then bear, wear, pear. The sound column in the tables shows each word.
What mistake do students make with ear words?
Students read learn as /lēarn/. Prompt the flex. In spelling, homophone pairs are the main problem (hear and here, bear and bare). Teach them by meaning.
Where do ear words come in the sequence?
Ear /ear/ and eer often come together. Ear /air/ comes with air and are. Ear /er/ comes with the /er/ spellings or later. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 113.
Exceptions worth knowing
Heart and hearth say /ar/. In words like bearing and appearance, ear keeps its sound before a suffix.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 113 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- I can hear the bear.
- Learn it this year.
- The earth is near.
Questions people ask
What are 5 ear words?
What sounds does ear make?
How do students know which ear sound to use?
When can a student read ear 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.