Phonics word list
Long vowel words
In short
A long vowel says its own name: /ā/ in cake, /ē/ in feet, /ī/ in kite, /ō/ in boat and /ū/ in cute. Each long vowel has several spellings. Our checked list has 8,806 words with a long vowel sound.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 8,806
- By syllables
- one syllable: 1,917 · two syllables: 3,591 · three or more syllables: 3,298
- Taught in
- Lesson 91 in the sequence
Long vowel 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.
Long a (age, aid)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| age | a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| aid | ai·d | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| aim | ai·m | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| ate | a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| 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 |
| aims | ai·m·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| 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 |
| days | d·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| face | f·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| fail | f·ai·l | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| fate | f·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| gain | g·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| 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 |
| m·ai·l | 1 | Lesson 84 | |
| main | m·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| make | m·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| name | n·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| page | p·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| paid | p·ai·d | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| pain | p·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| pays | p·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| play | p·l·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| race | r·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| rain | r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| 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 |
Long e (be, he)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| be | b·e | 1 | Lesson 14 (heart word) |
| he | h·e | 1 | Lesson 13 (heart word) |
| me | m·e | 1 | Lesson 14 (heart word) |
| we | w·e | 1 | Lesson 14 (heart word) |
| eat | ea·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| key | k·ey | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| see | s·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| she | sh·e | 1 | Lesson 14 (heart word) |
| tea | t·ea | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| deal | d·ea·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| deep | d·ee·p | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| each | ea·ch | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| ease | ea·s·e | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| east | ea·s·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| eats | ea·t·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| feed | f·e·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| feel | f·ee·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| feet | f·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| free | f·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| hear | h·ea·r | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| heat | h·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| here | h·e_e·r | 1 | Lesson 24 (heart word) |
| keen | k·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| keep | k·ee·p | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| keys | k·ey·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| lead | l·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| leaf | l·ea·f | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| mean | m·ea·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| meet | m·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| need | n·ee·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| peak | p·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| plea | p·l·ea | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| read | r·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| real | r·ea·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| seek | s·ee·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| seem | s·ee·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| seen | s·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sees | s·ee·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| team | t·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tree | t·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
Long i (i, by)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | i | 1 | Lesson 3 (heart word) |
| by | b·y | 1 | Lesson 28 (heart word) |
| my | m·y | 1 | Lesson 28 (heart word) |
| cry | c·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| die | d·ie | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| dry | d·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| fly | f·l·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| fry | f·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| guy | gu·y | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| ice | i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| lie | l·ie | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| tie | t·ie | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| try | t·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| why | wh·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| bind | b·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| bite | b·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| byte | b·y·t·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| died | d·i·ed | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| dies | d·ie·s | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| file | f·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| find | f·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| 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 |
| high | h·igh | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| kind | k·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| lied | l·i·ed | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| lies | l·ie·s | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| 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 |
| mind | m·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| 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 |
| pint | p·i·n·t | 1 | Lesson 68 |
Long o (go, no)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| go | g·o | 1 | Lesson 16 (heart word) |
| no | n·o | 1 | Lesson 16 (heart word) |
| oh | o·h | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| so | s·o | 1 | Lesson 16 (heart word) |
| doe | d·oe | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| low | l·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| old | o·l·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| owe | ow·e | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| own | ow·n | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| row | r·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| blow | b·l·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| boat | b·oa·t | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| both | b·o·th | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| code | c·o_e·d | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| cold | c·o·l·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| cope | c·o_e·p | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| flow | f·l·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| folk | f·o·l·k | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| goes | g·oe·s | 1 | Lesson 32 (heart word) |
| grow | g·r·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| hold | h·o·l·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| hole | h·o_e·l | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| home | h·o_e·m | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| hope | h·o_e·p | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| host | h·o·s·t | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| joke | j·o_e·k | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| know | kn·ow | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| load | l·oa·d | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| loan | l·oa·n | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| mode | m·o_e·d | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| most | m·o·s·t | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| note | n·o_e·t | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| owed | ow·ed | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| owes | ow·e·s | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| poll | p·o·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| post | p·o·s·t | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| road | r·oa·d | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| role | r·o_e·l | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| roll | r·o·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| show | sh·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
Long u (due, few)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| due | d·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| few | f·ew | 1 | Lesson 115 |
| new | n·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| use | u_e·s | 1 | Lesson 58 |
| blue | b·l·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| clue | c·l·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| drew | d·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| flew | f·l·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| grew | g·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| huge | h·u_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| knew | kn·ew | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| news | n·ew·s | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| rule | r·u_e·l | 1 | Lesson 58 |
| suit | s·ui·t | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| true | t·r·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| tune | t·u_e·n | 1 | Lesson 58 |
| used | u_e·s·d | 1 | Lesson 58 |
| view | v·i·ew | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| queue | qu·eu·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| rules | r·u_e·l·s | 1 | Lesson 58 |
| suits | s·ui·t·s | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| threw | th·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| truth | t·r·u·th | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| views | v·i·ew·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| unit | u·n·i·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| user | u·s·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| uses | u_e·s·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| amuse | a·m·u_e·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| argue | ar·g·ue | 2 | Lesson 115 |
| fewer | f·ew·er | 2 | Lesson 115 |
| human | h·u·m·a·n | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| issue | i·ss·ue | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| music | m·u·s·i·c | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| units | u·n·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| usage | u·s·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| users | u·s·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| using | u·s·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| value | v·a·l·ue | 2 | Lesson 115 |
| amused | a·m·u_e·s·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| argued | ar·g·u·ed | 2 | Lesson 115 |
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 67b | 460 |
| Lesson 68 | 680 |
| Lesson 74 | 511 |
| Lesson 80 | 402 |
| Lesson 84 | 535 |
| Lesson 85 | 862 |
| Lesson 109 | 427 |
| Lesson 119 | 380 |
| Not in the sequence | 929 |
How do you teach long vowel words?
Teach long vowels by spelling pattern, not as five big lists. Open syllables (me, go), silent e (cake), vowel teams (rain, boat) and y at the end (cry, happy) each have their own lesson. Once two or three spellings are in, put them side by side on a chart with the sound at the top. "How many ways have we learned to spell /ā/?"
What mistake do students make with long vowel words?
Students often decode the vowel as short because short vowels came first. Teach them to look for the signal: a final e, a second vowel, or an open syllable. In spelling, the problem is choosing among several spellings. Position helps: ay at the end of a word, ai in the middle.
Where do long vowel words come in the sequence?
Long vowels come after short vowels and digraphs. A typical order is silent e, open syllables, y as a vowel, then vowel teams. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 91.
Exceptions worth knowing
Some long vowel spellings have more than one sound (ea in head, ow in cow, ie in field). The individual pages split those by sound.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 91 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- We need to play in the rain.
- The goat can see a kite.
- Use the green paint.
Questions people ask
What are 5 long vowel words?
What makes a vowel long?
How many ways can you spell each long vowel?
When can a student read long vowel 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.