Phonics word list
Long u words
In short
Long u has two forms: /yū/ as in cute and few, and /ū/ as in rule and blue. English spells them u_e, u in an open syllable, ew, ue, and ui. Our checked list has 796 words with the long u sound.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 796
- By syllables
- one syllable: 154 · two syllables: 257 · three or more syllables: 385
- Taught in
- Lesson 91 in the sequence
Long u 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.
u on its own (truth, duty)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| truth | t·r·u·th | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| duty | d·u·t·y | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 74 |
| unit | u·n·i·t | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| user | u·s·er | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 80 |
| human | h·u·m·a·n | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| music | m·u·s·i·c | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| truly | t·r·u·l·y | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 74 |
| unite | u·n·i_e·t | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| units | u·n·i·t·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| usage | u·s·a·g·e | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| users | u·s·er·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 80 |
| using | u·s·i·ng | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| argued | ar·g·u·ed | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| future | f·u·ture | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 120 |
| issued | i·ss·u·ed | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| stupid | s·t·u·p·i·d | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| unique | u·n·i·qu·e | 2 | /yū/ | Not in the sequence |
| reduced | r·e·d·u·c·ed | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| student | s·t·u·d·e·n·t | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| produced | p·r·o·d·u·c·ed | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| students | s·t·u·d·e·n·t·s | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| usual | u·s·u·a·l | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 119 |
| annual | a·nn·u·a·l | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| manual | m·a·n·u·a·l | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| amusing | a·m·u·s·i·ng | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 109 |
| arguing | ar·g·u·i·ng | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| dubious | d·u·b·i·ou·s | 3 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| issuing | i·ss·u·i·ng | 3 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| manuals | m·a·n·u·a·l·s | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| refuses | r·e·f·u·s·e·s | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| uniform | u·n·i·f·or·m | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 78 |
| assuming | a·ss·u·m·i·ng | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 109 |
| computed | c·o·m·p·u·t·ed | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| computer | c·o·m·p·u·t·er | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 80 |
| document | d·o·c·u·m·e·n·t | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| excluded | e·x·c·l·u·d·ed | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| included | i·n·c·l·u·d·ed | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| numerous | n·u·m·er·ou·s | 3 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| peculiar | p·e·c·u·l·i·ar | 3 | /yū/ | Not in the sequence |
| reducing | r·e·d·u·c·i·ng | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 109 |
u_e (use, huge)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| use | u_e·s | 1 | /yū/ | Lesson 58 |
| huge | h·u_e·g | 1 | /yū/ | Lesson 61 |
| rule | r·u_e·l | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 58 |
| tune | t·u_e·n | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 58 |
| used | u_e·s·d | 1 | /yū/ | Lesson 58 |
| rules | r·u_e·l·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 58 |
| uses | u_e·s·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 63 |
| amuse | a·m·u_e·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| amused | a·m·u_e·s·d | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| assume | a·ss·u_e·m | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| deduce | d·e·d·u_e·c | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| excuse | e·x·c·u_e·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| minute | m·i·n·u_e·t | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| misuse | m·i·s·u_e·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| reduce | r·e·d·u_e·c | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| refuse | r·e·f·u_e·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| useful | u_e·s·f·u·l | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| volume | v·o·l·u_e·m | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| assumed | a·ss·u_e·m·d | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| assumes | a·ss·u_e·m·s | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 68 |
| compute | c·o·m·p·u_e·t | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| confuse | c·o·n·f·u_e·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| exclude | e·x·c·l·u_e·d | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| fortune | f·or·t·u_e·n | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| include | i·n·c·l·u_e·d | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| presume | p·r·e·s·u_e·m | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| produce | p·r·o·d·u_e·c | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| refused | r·e·f·u_e·s·d | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| useless | u_e·s·l·e·ss | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| computes | c·o·m·p·u_e·t·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| confused | c·o·n·f·u_e·s·d | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| excludes | e·x·c·l·u_e·d·s | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| includes | i·n·c·l·u_e·d·s | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| amuses | a·m·u_e·s·s | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 68 |
| execute | e·x·e·c·u_e·t | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| reduces | r·e·d·u_e·c·s | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| absolute | a·b·s·o·l·u_e·t | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| attitude | a·tt·i·t·u_e·d | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 67b |
| confuses | c·o·n·f·u_e·s·s | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
| executes | e·x·e·c·u_e·t·s | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 67b |
ew (few, new)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| few | f·ew | 1 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| new | n·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| drew | d·r·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| flew | f·l·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| grew | g·r·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| knew | kn·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 98 |
| news | n·ew·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| view | v·i·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| threw | th·r·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| views | v·i·ew·s | 1 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| fewer | f·ew·er | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| fewest | f·ew·e·s·t | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| review | r·e·v·i·ew | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| blew | b·l·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| chew | ch·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| crew | c·r·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| chews | ch·ew·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| screw | s·c·r·ew | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| chewed | ch·ew·ed | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| screws | s·c·r·ew·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| viewed | v·i·ew·ed | 1 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| screwed | s·c·r·ew·ed | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| newer | n·ew·er | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| newly | n·ew·l·y | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| renew | r·e·n·ew | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| newest | n·ew·e·s·t | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| renews | r·e·n·ew·s | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| viewer | v·i·ew·er | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| chewing | ch·ew·i·ng | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| preview | p·r·e·v·i·ew | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| renewed | r·e·n·ew·ed | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| reviews | r·e·v·i·ew·s | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| viewing | v·i·ew·i·ng | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| reviewed | r·e·v·i·ew·ed | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| screwing | s·c·r·ew·i·ng | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| withdrew | w·i·th·d·r·ew | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| viewpoint | v·i·ew·p·oi·n·t | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| viewpoints | v·i·ew·p·oi·n·t·s | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| newcomer | n·ew·c·o·m·er | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| overview | o·v·er·v·i·ew | 3 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
ue, ui, eu (due, blue)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| due | d·ue | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| blue | b·l·ue | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| clue | c·l·ue | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| suit | s·ui·t | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| true | t·r·ue | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| queue | qu·eu·e | 1 | /yū/ | Not in the sequence |
| suits | s·ui·t·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| argue | ar·g·ue | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| issue | i·ss·ue | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| value | v·a·l·ue | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| argues | ar·g·ue·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| issues | i·ss·ue·s | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| suited | s·ui·t·ed | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| values | v·a·l·ue·s | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| virtue | v·ir·t·ue | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| suiting | s·ui·t·i·ng | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| continue | c·o·n·t·i·n·ue | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| suitable | s·ui·t·a·b·le | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| suitably | s·ui·t·a·b·l·y | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| continues | c·o·n·t·i·n·ue·s | 3 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| unsuitable | u·n·s·ui·t·a·b·le | 4 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| cue | c·ue | 1 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| sue | s·ue | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| fuel | f·ue·l | 1 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| glue | g·l·ue | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| sues | s·ue·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| blues | b·l·ue·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| clues | c·l·ue·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| cruel | c·r·ue·l | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| fruit | f·r·ui·t | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| juice | j·ui·c·e | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| cruise | c·r·ui·s·e | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| fruits | f·r·ui·t·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| queues | qu·eu·e·s | 1 | /yū/ | Not in the sequence |
| cruised | c·r·ui·s·ed | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| venue | v·e·n·ue | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| pursue | p·ur·s·ue | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| rescue | r·e·s·c·ue | 2 | /yū/ | Lesson 115 |
| untrue | u·n·t·r·ue | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
| venues | v·e·n·ue·s | 2 | /ū/ | Lesson 91 |
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 58 | 45 |
| Lesson 67b | 89 |
| Lesson 68 | 108 |
| Lesson 80 | 43 |
| Lesson 91 | 141 |
| Lesson 109 | 46 |
| Lesson 115 | 57 |
| Lesson 119 | 59 |
| Not in the sequence | 109 |
How do you teach long u words?
Teach both forms as one sound family. "Long u can say /yū/ or /ū/. Try both." Start with u_e and the open u (music, unit). Then ew, ue and ui as vowel teams. The sound column on this page shows each word's version, which helps students who struggle to hear the /y/.
What mistake do students make with long u words?
Students confuse the long u spellings with oo (flute spelled floot). That is a reasonable guess, since moon and flute share a vowel sound. Sort oo and u_e words and point out that u_e is common in one-syllable words that end in -ule, -une and -ute.
Where do long u words come in the sequence?
U_e comes in the silent e unit. Open u comes with two-syllable words. Ew, ue and ui come with the later vowel teams. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 91.
Exceptions worth knowing
Many teachers teach oo (moon) as a long u sound too. We keep oo on its own page because it is taught as a separate pattern.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 91 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The cute mule ate the blue plums.
- Use the tube of glue.
- We grew a huge bean.
Questions people ask
What are 5 long u words?
What are the two long u sounds?
Is oo a long u sound?
When can a student read long u 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.