Phonics word list
Ie words with long e
In short
Ie says long e, /ē/, in words like field, piece and chief, and in plurals and verb forms that come from y words, such as babies and carries. Our checked list has 319 words where ie says /ē/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 319
- By syllables
- one syllable: 35 · two syllables: 123 · three or more syllables: 161
- Taught in
- Lesson 87 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ī/ | die | 61 | See the list |
| /ē/ | brief | 319 | This page |
| /ĕ/ | friend | 319 | This page |
Ie words that say /ē/, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| brief | b·r·ie·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| field | f·ie·l·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| piece | p·ie·c·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| fields | f·ie·l·d·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| chief | ch·ie·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| grief | g·r·ie·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| thief | th·ie·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| yield | y·ie·l·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| priest | p·r·ie·s·t | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| thieve | th·ie·v·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| yields | y·ie·l·d·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| priests | p·r·ie·s·t·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| thieves | th·ie·v·e·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| mien | m·ie·n | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| tier | t·ie·r | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| fiend | f·ie·n·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| niece | n·ie·c·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| siege | s·ie·g·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| tiers | t·ie·r·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| wield | w·ie·l·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| briefs | b·r·ie·f·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| chiefs | ch·ie·f·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| fiends | f·ie·n·d·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| frieze | f·r·ie·z·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| grieve | g·r·ie·v·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| pieced | p·ie·c·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shield | sh·ie·l·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shriek | sh·r·ie·k | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| wields | w·ie·l·d·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| briefed | b·r·ie·f·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| grieved | g·r·ie·v·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| grieves | g·r·ie·v·e·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shields | sh·ie·l·d·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shrieks | sh·r·ie·k·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shrieked | sh·r·ie·k·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| movie | m·o·v·ie | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| bodies | b·o·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| buries | b·u·r·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| copies | c·o·p·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| ladies | l·a·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| pieces | p·ie·c·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| series | s·e·r·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| varies | v·a·r·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| achieve | a·ch·ie·v·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| believe | b·e·l·ie·v·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| briefly | b·r·ie·f·l·y | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| carries | c·a·rr·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| entries | e·n·t·r·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| lorries | l·o·rr·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| parties | p·ar·t·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| studies | s·t·u·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| worries | w·orr·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| achieved | a·ch·ie·v·ed | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| achieves | a·ch·ie·v·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| believed | b·e·l·ie·v·ed | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| believes | b·e·l·ie·v·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| babies | b·a·b·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| belief | b·e·l·ie·f | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| cities | c·i·t·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| cookie | c·oo·k·ie | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| diesel | d·ie·s·e·l | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| duties | d·u·t·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| movies | m·o·v·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| relief | r·e·l·ie·f | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| beliefs | b·e·l·ie·f·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| cookies | c·oo·k·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| empties | e·m·p·t·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| goodies | g·oo·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| jellies | j·e·ll·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| marries | m·a·rr·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| pennies | p·e·nn·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| queries | qu·e·r·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| relieve | r·e·l·ie·v·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| sixties | s·i·x·t·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| stories | s·t·or·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| relieved | r·e·l·ie·v·ed | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| relieves | r·e·l·ie·v·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| retrieve | r·e·t·r·ie·v·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| countries | c·ou·n·t·r·ie·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| retrieved | r·e·t·r·ie·v·e·d | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| retrieves | r·e·t·r·ie·v·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| armies | ar·m·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| juries | j·u·r·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| nieces | n·ie·c·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| sieges | s·ie·g·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| bellies | b·e·ll·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| briefer | b·r·ie·f·er | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| buddies | b·u·dd·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| buggies | b·u·gg·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| bullies | b·u·ll·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| bunnies | b·u·nn·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| chiefly | ch·ie·f·l·y | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| crazies | c·r·a·z·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| curries | c·urr·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| daddies | d·a·dd·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| policies | p·o·l·i·c·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| achieving | a·ch·ie·v·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| believing | b·e·l·ie·v·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| libraries | l·i·b·r·a·r·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| properties | p·r·o·p·er·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| quantities | qu·a·n·t·i·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| abilities | a·b·i·l·i·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| apologies | a·p·o·l·o·g·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 117 |
| activities | a·c·t·i·v·i·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| categories | c·a·t·e·g·or·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| facilities | f·a·c·i·l·i·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 117 |
| difficulties | d·i·ff·i·c·u·l·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| universities | u·n·i·v·er·s·i·t·ie·s | 5 | Lesson 110 |
| opportunities | o·pp·or·t·u·n·i·t·ie·s | 5 | Lesson 111 |
| possibilities | p·o·ss·i·b·i·l·i·t·ie·s | 5 | Lesson 110 |
| enemies | e·n·e·m·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| believer | b·e·l·ie·v·er | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| entities | e·n·t·i·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| families | f·a·m·i·l·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| injuries | i·n·j·ur·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| medieval | m·e·d·ie·v·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| memories | m·e·m·or·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| salaries | s·a·l·ar·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| theories | th·e·or·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| batteries | b·a·tt·er·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| believers | b·e·l·ie·v·er·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| centuries | c·e·n·t·ur·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| charities | ch·a·r·i·t·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| companies | c·o·m·p·a·n·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| factories | f·a·c·t·or·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| faculties | f·a·c·u·l·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| fantasies | f·a·n·t·a·s·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| liberties | l·i·b·er·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| mysteries | m·y·s·t·er·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| penalties | p·e·n·a·l·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| qualities | qu·a·l·i·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| relieving | r·e·l·ie·v·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| retrieval | r·e·t·r·ie·v·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| summaries | s·u·mm·ar·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| vacancies | v·a·c·a·n·c·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| boundaries | b·ou·n·d·ar·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| industries | i·n·d·u·s·t·r·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| pharmacies | ph·ar·m·a·c·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| retrieving | r·e·t·r·ie·v·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| strategies | s·t·r·a·t·e·g·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| subtleties | s·u·b·t·le·t·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| sympathies | s·y·m·p·a·th·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| symphonies | s·y·m·ph·o·n·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| tendencies | t·e·n·d·e·n·c·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| achievement | a·ch·ie·v·e·m·e·n·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| frequencies | f·r·e·qu·e·n·c·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| achievements | a·ch·ie·v·e·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| anomalies | a·n·o·m·a·l·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| economies | e·c·o·n·o·m·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| societies | s·o·c·i·e·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 117 |
| utilities | u·t·i·l·i·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| varieties | v·ar·i·e·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 111 |
| atrocities | a·t·r·o·c·i·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 117 |
| believable | b·e·l·ie·v·a·b·le | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| minorities | m·i·n·or·i·t·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
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 110 | 123 |
| Lesson 111 | 14 |
| Lesson 112 | 1 |
| Lesson 114 | 1 |
| Lesson 117 | 33 |
| Lesson 118 | 3 |
| Lesson 119 | 4 |
| Not in the sequence | 140 |
How do you teach ie words that say /ē/?
Teach ie /ē/ in two groups. First, words with ie in the middle (field, piece, chief, brief). Second, words where y changed to i before -es or -ed (baby, babies; carry, carried). "When y turns to i and we add es, the ie says /ē/." The second group makes up most of our list.
What mistake do students make with ie words that say /ē/?
Students spell piece as peace or peece. Teach homophones by meaning: piece of cake, peace and quiet. The old rhyme about i before e helps here but fails often elsewhere, so don't lean on it.
Where do ie words that say /ē/ come in the sequence?
Ie /ē/ in base words is usually taught late. The plural group comes with the y to i rule. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 87.
Exceptions worth knowing
After c, ei is more common (receive, ceiling). Friend says /ĕ/, and pie says /ī/.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 87 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The babies are in the park.
- Mom carries the puppies.
- The ladies hurried to the bus.
Questions people ask
What are 5 ie words that say /ē/?
Is i before e except after c true?
Why does babies have ie?
When can a student read ie words that say /ē/?
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.