Phonics word list
I_e words (long i with silent e)
In short
I_e words spell long i with i, one consonant and a silent e, as in bike, time and smile. The i says its name, /ī/. Our checked list has 596 words where i_e says /ī/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 596
- By syllables
- one syllable: 216 · two syllables: 291 · three or more syllables: 89
- Taught in
- Lesson 55 in the sequence
I_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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ice | i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| bite | b·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| file | f·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| fine | f·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| fire | f·i_e·r | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| five | f·i_e·v | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| hide | h·i_e·d | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| life | l·i_e·f | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| like | l·i_e·k | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| line | l·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| live | l·i_e·v | 1 | Lesson 37a (heart word) |
| mile | m·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| mine | m·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| nice | n·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| nine | n·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| pile | p·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| pipe | p·i_e·p | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| ride | r·i_e·d | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| rise | r·i_e·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| side | s·i_e·d | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| site | s·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| size | s·i_e·z | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| time | t·i_e·m | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| vice | v·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| wide | w·i_e·d | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| wife | w·i_e·f | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| wire | w·i_e·r | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| wise | w·i_e·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| bites | b·i_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| drive | d·r·i_e·v | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| filed | f·i_e·l·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| files | f·i_e·l·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| guide | gu·i_e·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| hides | h·i_e·d·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| likes | l·i_e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| lines | l·i_e·n·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| lived | l·i_e·v·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| lives | l·i_e·v·s | 1 | Lesson 37a |
| miles | m·i_e·l·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| price | p·r·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| prime | p·r·i_e·m | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| quite | qu·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| sides | s·i_e·d·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| sites | s·i_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| smile | s·m·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| spite | s·p·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| timed | t·i_e·m·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| times | t·i_e·m·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| twice | t·w·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| while | wh·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| white | wh·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| write | wr·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| drives | d·r·i_e·v·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| strike | s·t·r·i_e·k | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| writes | wr·i_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| strikes | s·t·r·i_e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| cite | c·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 117 |
| dice | d·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| dine | d·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| dire | d·i_e·r | 1 | Lesson 55 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| alive | a·l·i_e·v | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| arise | ar·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| aside | a·s·i_e·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| sizes | s·i_e·z·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| unite | u·n·i_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| advice | a·d·v·i_e·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| advise | a·d·v·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| arrive | arr·i_e·v | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| decide | d·e·c·i_e·d | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| define | d·e·f·i_e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| derive | d·er·i_e·v | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| device | d·e·v·i_e·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| divide | d·i·v·i_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| finite | f·i·n·i_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| inside | i·n·s·i_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| invite | i·n·v·i_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| likely | l·i_e·k·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| prices | p·r·i_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| unlike | u·n·l·i_e·k | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| widely | w·i_e·d·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| advised | a·d·v·i_e·s·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| arrived | arr·i_e·v·d | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| arrives | arr·i_e·v·s | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| besides | b·e·s·i_e·d·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| combine | c·o·m·b·i_e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| decides | d·e·c·i_e·d·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| defined | d·e·f·i_e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| defines | d·e·f·i_e·n·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| derived | d·er·i_e·v·d | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| derives | d·er·i_e·v·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| despite | d·e·s·p·i_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| dislike | d·i·s·l·i_e·k | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| divides | d·i·v·i_e·d·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| incline | i·n·c·l·i_e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| invites | i·n·v·i_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| outside | ou·t·s·i_e·d | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| precise | p·r·e·c·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| provide | p·r·o·v·i_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| require | r·e·qu·i_e·r | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| rewrite | r·e·wr·i_e·t | 2 | Lesson 98 |
| suffice | s·u·ff·i_e·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| survive | s·ur·v·i_e·v | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| combined | c·o·m·b·i_e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| combines | c·o·m·b·i_e·n·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| describe | d·e·s·c·r·i_e·b | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| inclined | i·n·c·l·i_e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| inclines | i·n·c·l·i_e·n·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| lifetime | l·i_e·f·t·i_e·m | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| likewise | l·i_e·k·w·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| provides | p·r·o·v·i_e·d·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| required | r·e·qu·i_e·r·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| requires | r·e·qu·i_e·r·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| sometime | s·o·m·e·t·i_e·m | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| surprise | s·ur·p·r·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| survived | s·ur·v·i_e·v·d | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| survives | s·ur·v·i_e·v·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| described | d·e·s·c·r·i_e·b·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| describes | d·e·s·c·r·i_e·b·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| sometimes | s·o·m·e·t·i_e·m·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| surprised | s·ur·p·r·i_e·s·d | 2 | Lesson 81 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| arises | ar·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| desire | d·e·s·i_e·r | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| entire | e·n·t·i_e·r | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| advises | a·d·v·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| desired | d·e·s·i_e·r·d | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| desires | d·e·s·i_e·r·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| devices | d·e·v·i_e·c·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| exercise | e·x·er·c·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| unlikely | u·n·l·i_e·k·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| advertise | a·d·v·er·t·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| otherwise | o·th·er·w·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 67a |
| precisely | p·r·e·c·i_e·s·l·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| surprises | s·ur·p·r·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| advertised | a·d·v·er·t·i_e·s·d | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| compromise | c·o·m·p·r·o·m·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| requirement | r·e·qu·i_e·r·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| requirements | r·e·qu·i_e·r·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| entirely | e·n·t·i_e·r·l·y | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| advertises | a·d·v·er·t·i_e·s·s | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| empire | e·m·p·i_e·r | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| satire | s·a·t·i_e·r | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| devises | d·e·v·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| expires | e·x·p·i_e·r·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| obliges | o·b·l·i_e·g·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| revises | r·e·v·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| coincide | c·o·i·n·c·i_e·d | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| inspired | i·n·s·p·i_e·r·d | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| juvenile | j·u·v·e·n·i_e·l | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| override | o·v·er·r·i_e·d | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| overtime | o·v·er·t·i_e·m | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| paradise | p·a·r·a·d·i_e·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| redefine | r·e·d·e·f·i_e·n | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| tiresome | t·i_e·r·s·o·m·e | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| alongside | a·l·o·ng·s·i_e·d | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| comprises | c·o·m·p·r·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| disguises | d·i·s·gu·i_e·s·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| exercised | e·x·er·c·i_e·s·d | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| overprice | o·v·er·p·r·i_e·c | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| overrides | o·v·er·r·i_e·d·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| reconcile | r·e·c·o·n·c·i_e·l | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| redefined | r·e·d·e·f·i_e·n·d | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| redefines | r·e·d·e·f·i_e·n·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| sacrifice | s·a·c·r·i·f·i_e·c | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| satellite | s·a·t·e·ll·i_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| supervise | s·u·p·er·v·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| timetable | t·i_e·m·t·a·b·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| underline | u·n·d·er·l·i_e·n | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| versatile | v·er·s·a·t·i_e·l | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| borderline | b·or·d·er·l·i_e·n | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| enterprise | e·n·t·er·p·r·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| excitement | e·xc·i_e·t·m·e·n·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| likelihood | l·i_e·k·l·i·h·oo·d | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| politeness | p·o·l·i_e·t·n·e·ss | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| satellites | s·a·t·e·ll·i_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| supervised | s·u·p·er·v·i_e·s·d | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| underlined | u·n·d·er·l·i_e·n·d | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| underlines | u·n·d·er·l·i_e·n·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| countryside | c·ou·n·t·r·y·s·i_e·d | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| entirety | e·n·t·i_e·r·t·y | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| exercises | e·x·er·c·i_e·s·s | 4 | Lesson 117 |
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 55 | 171 |
| Lesson 60 | 13 |
| Lesson 64 | 22 |
| Lesson 67a | 57 |
| Lesson 67b | 107 |
| Lesson 68 | 26 |
| Lesson 80 | 44 |
| Lesson 117 | 17 |
| Not in the sequence | 27 |
How do you teach i_e words?
Use pairs: kit and kite, pin and pine, rip and ripe. "The e is silent, and the i says its name." Then mix i_e with a_e so the student reads the vowel each time instead of predicting it. I_e words with blends (smile, slide, stripe) give strong practice once the pattern is known.
What mistake do students make with i_e words?
The same error as a_e: reading the short vowel before spotting the e, so kite becomes kit. The habit fix is the same: look at the end first. In spelling, students may write igh or y for /ī/ once they know those. For now, tell them: in the middle of a one-syllable word, i_e is the most common choice.
Where do i_e words come in the sequence?
I_e follows a_e, usually one lesson later. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 55.
Exceptions worth knowing
Give and live (the verb) keep a short i. In machine and police, i says /ē/. Words ending in -ice and -ige wait for soft c and g.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 55 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- I like my bike.
- It is time to ride.
- The kite is on the vine.
Questions people ask
What are 5 i_e words?
What are some i_e words?
Why does live have two sounds?
When can a student read i_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.