Phonics word list
O that says short u
In short
In some common words, o says short u, /ŭ/, in a stressed syllable, as in son, love, come and mother. It is a regular pattern, not a list of oddities. Our checked list has 173 words where a stressed o says /ŭ/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 173
- By syllables
- one syllable: 33 · two syllables: 71 · three or more syllables: 69
- Taught in
- Lesson 62 in the sequence
O words that say /ŭ/, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| of | o·f | 1 | Lesson 8 (heart word) |
| son | s·o·n | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| won | w·o·n | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| come | c·o·m·e | 1 | Lesson 22 (heart word) |
| does | d·o·e·s | 1 | Lesson 32 (heart word) |
| done | d·o·n·e | 1 | Lesson 37a (heart word) |
| from | f·r·o·m | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| love | l·o·v·e | 1 | Lesson 37a (heart word) |
| none | n·o·n·e | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| some | s·o·m·e | 1 | Lesson 22 (heart word) |
| comes | c·o·m·e·s | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| front | f·r·o·n·t | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| month | m·o·n·th | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| months | m·o·n·th·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| ton | t·o·n | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| sons | s·o·n·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| tons | t·o·n·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| glove | g·l·o·v·e | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| loved | l·o·v·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| loves | l·o·v·e·s | 1 | Lesson 37a |
| shove | sh·o·v·e | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| gloves | g·l·o·v·e·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| monk | m·o·n·k | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| doves | d·o·v·e·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| monks | m·o·n·k·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| tonne | t·o·nn·e | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| fronts | f·r·o·n·t·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| gloved | g·l·o·v·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| shoved | sh·o·v·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| shoves | sh·o·v·e·s | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| sponge | s·p·o·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| tonnes | t·o·nn·e·s | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| sponged | s·p·o·n·g·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| above | a·b·o·v·e | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| cover | c·o·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| dozen | d·o·z·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| money | m·o·n·ey | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| other | o·th·er | 2 | Lesson 50 (heart word) |
| become | b·e·c·o·m·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| coming | c·o·m·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| covers | c·o·v·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| dozens | d·o·z·e·n·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| income | i·n·c·o·m·e | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| mother | m·o·th·er | 2 | Lesson 50 (heart word) |
| others | o·th·er·s | 2 | Lesson 50 |
| wonder | w·o·n·d·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| becomes | b·e·c·o·m·e·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| brother | b·r·o·th·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| covered | c·o·v·er·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| nothing | n·o·th·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| somehow | s·o·m·e·h·ow | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| someone | s·o·m·e·o·n·e | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| wonders | w·o·n·d·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| sometime | s·o·m·e·t·i_e·m | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| somewhat | s·o·m·e·wh·a·t | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| wondered | w·o·n·d·er·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| someplace | s·o·m·e·p·l·a_e·c | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| something | s·o·m·e·th·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| somewhere | s·o·m·e·wh·e·r·e | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| honey | h·o·n·ey | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| lover | l·o·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| onion | o·n·i·o·n | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| govern | g·o·v·er·n | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| lovely | l·o·v·e·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| lovers | l·o·v·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| loving | l·o·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| monkey | m·o·n·k·ey | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| undone | u·n·d·o·n·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| comfort | c·o·m·f·or·t | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| governs | g·o·v·er·n·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| monkeys | m·o·n·k·ey·s | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| monthly | m·o·n·th·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| mothers | m·o·th·er·s | 2 | Lesson 50 |
| outcome | ou·t·c·o·m·e | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| stomach | s·t·o·m·a·ch | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| thereof | th·e·r·e·o·f | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| brothers | b·r·o·th·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| confront | c·o·n·f·r·o·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| governed | g·o·v·er·n·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| outcomes | ou·t·c·o·m·e·s | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| wondrous | w·o·n·d·r·ou·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| confronts | c·o·n·f·r·o·n·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| comely | c·o·m·e·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| honeys | h·o·n·ey·s | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| onions | o·n·i·o·n·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| redone | r·e·d·o·n·e | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| spongy | s·p·o·n·g·y | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| comings | c·o·m·i·ng·s | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| fronted | f·r·o·n·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| incomes | i·n·c·o·m·e·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| outdone | ou·t·d·o·n·e | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| shoving | sh·o·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| someday | s·o·m·e·d·ay | 2 | Lesson 84 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| another | a·n·o·th·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| company | c·o·m·p·a·n·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| recover | r·e·c·o·v·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| becoming | b·e·c·o·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| covering | c·o·v·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| discover | d·i·s·c·o·v·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| governor | g·o·v·er·n·or | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| recovers | r·e·c·o·v·er·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| somebody | s·o·m·e·b·o·d·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| discovers | d·i·s·c·o·v·er·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| otherwise | o·th·er·w·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 67a |
| recovered | r·e·c·o·v·er·ed | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| wonderful | w·o·n·d·er·f·u·l | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| wondering | w·o·n·d·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| discovered | d·i·s·c·o·v·er·ed | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| government | g·o·v·er·n·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| forthcoming | f·or·th·c·o·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| recovering | r·e·c·o·v·er·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| discovering | d·i·s·c·o·v·er·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| beloved | b·e·l·o·v·e·d | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| coverage | c·o·v·er·a·g·e | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| incoming | i·n·c·o·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| newcomer | n·ew·c·o·m·er | 3 | Lesson 91 |
| overcome | o·v·er·c·o·m·e | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| companies | c·o·m·p·a·n·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| governing | g·o·v·er·n·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| newcomers | n·ew·c·o·m·er·s | 3 | Lesson 91 |
| overcomes | o·v·er·c·o·m·e·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| confronted | c·o·n·f·r·o·n·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| confronting | c·o·n·f·r·o·n·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| governments | g·o·v·er·n·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| grandmother | g·r·a·n·d·m·o·th·er | 3 | Lesson 67a |
| nonetheless | n·o·n·e·th·e·l·e·ss | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| recovery | r·e·c·o·v·er·y | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| accompany | a·cc·o·m·p·a·n·y | 4 | Lesson 74 |
| discovery | d·i·s·c·o·v·er·y | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| overcoming | o·v·er·c·o·m·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 109 |
| accompanied | a·cc·o·m·p·a·n·i·ed | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| accompanies | a·cc·o·m·p·a·n·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| comfortable | c·o·m·f·or·t·a·b·le | 4 | Lesson 111 |
| comfortably | c·o·m·f·or·t·a·b·l·y | 4 | Lesson 111 |
| discoveries | d·i·s·c·o·v·er·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| wonderfully | w·o·n·d·er·f·u·ll·y | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| accompanying | a·cc·o·m·p·a·n·y·i·ng | 5 | Lesson 74 |
| uncomfortable | u·n·c·o·m·f·or·t·a·b·le | 5 | Lesson 111 |
| lovable | l·o·v·a·b·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| uncover | u·n·c·o·v·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| lovingly | l·o·v·i·ng·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| motherly | m·o·th·er·l·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| uncovers | u·n·c·o·v·er·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| brotherly | b·r·o·th·er·l·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| comforted | c·o·m·f·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| governors | g·o·v·er·n·or·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| monkeying | m·o·n·k·ey·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 85 |
| mothering | m·o·th·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 65 |
| uncovered | u·n·c·o·v·er·ed | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| comforting | c·o·m·f·or·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| discomfort | d·i·s·c·o·m·f·or·t | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| nothingness | n·o·th·i·ng·n·e·ss | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| grandmothers | g·r·a·n·d·m·o·th·er·s | 3 | Lesson 67a |
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 62 | 25 |
| Lesson 67a | 16 |
| Lesson 67b | 17 |
| Lesson 74 | 8 |
| Lesson 80 | 46 |
| Lesson 85 | 6 |
| Lesson 109 | 7 |
| Lesson 111 | 13 |
| Not in the sequence | 4 |
How do you teach o words that say /ŭ/?
Show the pattern. o says /ŭ/ most often before m, n, v and th (come, son, love, mother). "In these words, o says /ŭ/." Read son, won, ton, front, month, then love, glove, dove. Many students learned come, some and mother as heart words; this lesson shows them why.
What mistake do students make with o words that say /ŭ/?
Students read son as /sŏn/. Prompt the flex. In spelling, they write u (sun for son). Homophones (son and sun, won and one) help settle meaning.
Where do o words that say /ŭ/ come in the sequence?
O /ŭ/ is usually taught after silent e, as an exception group with other vowel sounds. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 62.
Exceptions worth knowing
Love and come end in e but keep the /ŭ/ sound. Our list leaves out unstressed o (lemon), which is schwa.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 62 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- My son won.
- I love my mother.
- The glove is in the front.
Questions people ask
What are 5 o words that say /ŭ/?
Why does o say short u in son?
What are common words where o says u?
When can a student read o words that say /ŭ/?
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.