Phonics word list
Long a words
In short
Long a is the vowel sound in cake, rain, play and paper, written /ā/. English spells it a_e, ai, ay, a in an open syllable, and less often eigh, ei, ey or ea. Our checked list has 2,421 words with the long a sound.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 2,421
- By syllables
- one syllable: 531 · two syllables: 941 · three or more syllables: 949
- Taught in
- Lesson 84 in the sequence
Long a 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.
a_e (age, ate)
| 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 |
a on its own (based, range)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| based | b·a·s·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| range | r·a·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| taste | t·a·s·t·e | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| vague | v·a·gu·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| waste | w·a·s·t·e | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| change | ch·a·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| placed | p·l·a·c·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| wastes | w·a·s·t·e·s | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| changed | ch·a·n·g·ed | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| strange | s·t·r·a·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| able | a·b·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| lady | l·a·d·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| lazy | l·a·z·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| basic | b·a·s·i·c | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| basis | b·a·s·i·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| chaos | ch·a·o·s | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| crazy | c·r·a·z·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| dated | d·a·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| fatal | f·a·t·a·l | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| label | l·a·b·e·l | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| later | l·a·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| major | m·a·j·or | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| paper | p·a·p·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| safer | s·a·f·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| table | t·a·b·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| taken | t·a·k·e·n | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| basing | b·a·s·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| danger | d·a·n·g·er | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| dating | d·a·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| famous | f·a·m·ou·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| labels | l·a·b·e·l·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| ladies | l·a·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| latest | l·a·t·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| making | m·a·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| naming | n·a·m·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| nation | n·a·tion | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| nature | n·a·ture | 2 | Lesson 120 |
| papers | p·a·p·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| safest | s·a·f·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| saving | s·a·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
ai (aid, aim)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| aid | ai·d | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| aim | ai·m | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| aims | ai·m·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| fail | f·ai·l | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| gain | g·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| m·ai·l | 1 | Lesson 84 | |
| main | m·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| paid | p·ai·d | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| pain | p·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| rain | r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| wait | w·ai·t | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| aimed | ai·m·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| chain | ch·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| claim | c·l·ai·m | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| fails | f·ai·l·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| faith | f·ai·th | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| gains | g·ai·n·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| plain | p·l·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| raise | r·ai·s·e | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| saint | s·ai·n·t | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| train | t·r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| waits | w·ai·t·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| claims | c·l·ai·m·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| failed | f·ai·l·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| gained | g·ai·n·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| raised | r·ai·s·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| trains | t·r·ai·n·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| claimed | c·l·ai·m·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| trained | t·r·ai·n·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| again | a·g·ai·n | 2 | Lesson 35a (heart word) |
| daily | d·ai·l·y | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| afraid | a·f·r·ai·d | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| aiming | ai·m·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| detail | d·e·t·ai·l | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| domain | d·o·m·ai·n | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| mainly | m·ai·n·l·y | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| obtain | o·b·t·ai·n | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| raises | r·ai·s·e·s | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| remain | r·e·m·ai·n | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| retain | r·e·t·ai·n | 2 | Lesson 84 |
ay (day, lay)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| day | d·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| lay | l·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| may | m·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| pay | p·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| say | s·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| way | w·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| days | d·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| pays | p·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| play | p·l·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| stay | s·t·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| ways | w·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| plays | p·l·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| stays | s·t·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| played | p·l·ay·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| stayed | s·t·ay·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| away | a·w·ay | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| delay | d·e·l·ay | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| maybe | m·ay·b·e | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| today | t·o·d·ay | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| always | a·l·w·ay·s | 2 | Lesson 93 |
| layout | l·ay·ou·t | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| paying | p·ay·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| saying | s·ay·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| display | d·i·s·p·l·ay | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| playing | p·l·ay·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| staying | s·t·ay·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| displays | d·i·s·p·l·ay·s | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| displayed | d·i·s·p·l·ay·ed | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| anyway | a·n·y·w·ay | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| holiday | h·o·l·i·d·ay | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| holidays | h·o·l·i·d·ay·s | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| nowadays | n·ow·a·d·ay·s | 3 | Lesson 96 |
| yesterday | y·e·s·t·er·d·ay | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| displaying | d·i·s·p·l·ay·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| bay | b·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| hay | h·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| nay | n·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| ray | r·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| lays | l·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| pray | p·r·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
eigh, ei, ey, ea (they, break)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| they | th·ey | 1 | Lesson 17 (heart word) |
| break | b·r·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| eight | eigh·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| great | g·r·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| breaks | b·r·ea·k·s | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| weight | w·eigh·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| straight | s·t·r·aigh·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| obey | o·b·ey | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| survey | s·ur·v·ey | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| greater | g·r·ea·t·er | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| greatly | g·r·ea·t·l·y | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| breaking | b·r·ea·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| greatest | g·r·ea·t·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| straightforward | s·t·r·aigh·t·f·or·w·ar·d | 3 | Lesson 114 |
| hey | h·ey | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| vein | v·ei·n | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| reign | r·ei·gn | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| weigh | w·eigh | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| eighth | eigh·th | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| obeys | o·b·ey·s | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| convey | c·o·n·v·ey | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| obeyed | o·b·ey·ed | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| surveys | s·ur·v·ey·s | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| eighteen | eigh·t·ee·n | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| outweigh | ou·t·w·eigh | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| breakdown | b·r·ea·k·d·ow·n | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| outweighs | ou·t·w·eigh·s | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| obeying | o·b·ey·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 114 |
| prey | p·r·ey | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| rein | r·ei·n | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| veil | v·ei·l | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| deign | d·ei·gn | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| feign | f·ei·gn | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| feint | f·ei·n·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| neigh | n·eigh | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| preys | p·r·ey·s | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| reins | r·ei·n·s | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| skein | s·k·ei·n | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| steak | s·t·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| veils | v·ei·l·s | 1 | Lesson 114 |
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 67b | 169 |
| Lesson 68 | 155 |
| Lesson 80 | 94 |
| Lesson 84 | 535 |
| Lesson 109 | 187 |
| Lesson 114 | 91 |
| Lesson 119 | 239 |
| Not in the sequence | 195 |
How do you teach long a words?
Lay the spellings out in a chart and add one at a time. Start with a_e, then a at the end of a syllable (paper), then ai and ay together. "Ay goes at the end of a word; ai goes in the middle." Sort a mix of cake, rain and play into three columns. The groups on this page follow the same order.
What mistake do students make with long a words?
In spelling, students pick the wrong long a spelling (rane, plai). Teach position first: ay at the end, ai before a consonant. Then a_e for the rest. Reading errors are rarer once the patterns are known.
Where do long a words come in the sequence?
A_e comes first with the silent e lessons. Open syllable a comes with two-syllable words. Ai and ay start the vowel team unit. Eigh, ei and ey for /ā/ come much later. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 84.
Exceptions worth knowing
Great, break and steak spell /ā/ with ea. They and obey use ey. Said and again have ai but don't use the long a sound.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 84 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- We can play in the rain.
- Wait for the train.
- Mom gave me a cake on the way.
Questions people ask
What are 5 long a words?
What are the ways to spell long a?
When do you use ai and when ay?
When can a student read long a 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.