Phonics word list
Or words
In short
Or is an r-controlled vowel that says /or/, as in corn, fork and morning. It also says /er/ after w and in unstressed endings, so those words have their own page. Our checked list has 522 words where or says /or/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 522
- By syllables
- one syllable: 83 · two syllables: 220 · three or more syllables: 219
- Taught in
- Lesson 78 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| /or/ | or | 522 | This page |
| /er/ | word | 389 | See the list |
Or 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.
One syllable
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| or | or | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| for | f·or | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| nor | n·or | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| form | f·or·m | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| port | p·or·t | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| sort | s·or·t | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| worn | w·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| borne | b·or·n·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| force | f·or·c·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forms | f·or·m·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forth | f·or·th | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| horse | h·or·s·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| north | n·or·th | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| short | sh·or·t | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| sorts | s·or·t·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forced | f·or·c·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| formed | f·or·m·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| stored | s·t·or·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| born | b·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| corn | c·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| fork | f·or·k | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| horn | h·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| lord | l·or·d | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| norm | n·or·m | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| pork | p·or·k | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| torn | t·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| bored | b·or·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| chord | ch·or·d | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| horde | h·or·d·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| lords | l·or·d·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| ports | p·or·t·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| sport | s·p·or·t | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| storm | s·t·or·m | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| sword | s·w·or·d | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| sworn | s·w·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| hordes | h·or·d·e·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| scored | s·c·or·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| shorts | sh·or·t·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| sports | s·p·or·t·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| storms | s·t·or·m·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| cord | c·or·d | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| cork | c·or·k | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| ford | f·or·d | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| fort | f·or·t | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| morn | m·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| ores | or·es | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| cords | c·or·d·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| corks | c·or·k·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| corns | c·or·n·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| fords | f·or·d·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forge | f·or·g·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forks | f·or·k·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forte | f·or·t·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| forts | f·or·t·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| gorge | g·or·g·e | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| horns | h·or·n·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| norms | n·or·m·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| porch | p·or·ch | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| pored | p·or·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| scorn | s·c·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| moral | m·or·a·l | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| order | or·d·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| story | s·t·or·y | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| accord | a·cc·or·d | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| afford | a·ff·or·d | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| corner | c·or·n·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| forces | f·or·c·e·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| forget | f·or·g·e·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| forgot | f·or·g·o·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| formal | f·or·m·a·l | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| format | f·or·m·a·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| former | f·or·m·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| horses | h·or·s·e·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| inform | i·n·f·or·m | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| normal | n·or·m·a·l | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| orders | or·d·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| record | r·e·c·or·d | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| report | r·e·p·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| resort | r·e·s·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| sorted | s·or·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| accords | a·cc·or·d·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| corners | c·or·n·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| forcing | f·or·c·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| forgets | f·or·g·e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| forming | f·or·m·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| fortune | f·or·t·u_e·n | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| forward | f·or·w·ar·d | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| ignored | i·g·n·or·ed | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| informs | i·n·f·or·m·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| morning | m·or·n·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| ordered | or·d·er·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| perform | p·er·f·or·m | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| records | r·e·c·or·d·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| reports | r·e·p·or·t·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| shorter | sh·or·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| shortly | sh·or·t·l·y | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| sorting | s·or·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| storage | s·t·or·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| storing | s·t·or·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| support | s·u·pp·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| informed | i·n·f·or·m·ed | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| mornings | m·or·n·i·ng·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| performs | p·er·f·or·m·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| restored | r·e·s·t·or·ed | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| shortage | sh·or·t·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| shortest | sh·or·t·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| supports | s·u·pp·or·t·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| performed | p·er·f·or·m·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| transport | t·r·a·n·s·p·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| oral | or·a·l | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| abort | a·b·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| acorn | a·c·or·n | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| forty | f·or·t·y | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| forum | f·or·u·m | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| glory | g·l·or·y | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| orbit | or·b·i·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| organ | or·g·a·n | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| aborts | a·b·or·t·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| absorb | a·b·s·or·b | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| assort | a·ss·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| origin | or·i·g·i·n | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| uniform | u·n·i·f·or·m | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| accorded | a·cc·or·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| enormous | e·n·or·m·ou·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| ignoring | i·g·n·or·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| normally | n·or·m·a·ll·y | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| ordering | or·d·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| recorded | r·e·c·or·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| reported | r·e·p·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| according | a·cc·or·d·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| forgotten | f·or·g·o·tt·e·n | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| important | i·m·p·or·t·a·n·t | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| informing | i·n·f·or·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| recording | r·e·c·or·d·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| reporting | r·e·p·or·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| restoring | r·e·s·t·or·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| supported | s·u·pp·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| forgetting | f·or·g·e·tt·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| importance | i·m·p·or·t·a·n·c·e | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| performing | p·er·f·or·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| proportion | p·r·o·p·or·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| supporting | s·u·pp·or·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| forthcoming | f·or·th·c·o·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| performance | p·er·f·or·m·a·n·c·e | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| straightforward | s·t·r·aigh·t·f·or·w·ar·d | 3 | Lesson 114 |
| category | c·a·t·e·g·or·y | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| majority | m·a·j·or·i·t·y | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| minority | m·i·n·or·i·t·y | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| ordinary | or·d·i·n·a·r·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| categories | c·a·t·e·g·or·ie·s | 4 | Lesson 110 |
| historical | h·i·s·t·or·i·c·a·l | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| accordingly | a·cc·or·d·i·ng·l·y | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| fortunately | f·or·t·u·n·a·t·e·l·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| importantly | i·m·p·or·t·a·n·t·l·y | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| information | i·n·f·or·m·a·tion | 4 | Lesson 119 |
| unfortunate | u·n·f·or·t·u·n·a·t·e | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| unfortunately | u·n·f·or·t·u·n·a·t·e·l·y | 5 | Not in the sequence |
| orient | or·i·e·n·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| aborted | a·b·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| formula | f·or·m·u·l·a | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| immoral | i·mm·or·a·l | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| morally | m·or·a·ll·y | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| orbital | or·b·i·t·a·l | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| organic | or·g·a·n·i·c | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| origins | or·i·g·i·n·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| abnormal | a·b·n·or·m·a·l | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| aborting | a·b·or·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| abortion | a·b·or·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| assorted | a·ss·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| disorder | d·i·s·or·d·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| enforces | e·n·f·or·c·e·s | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| forcibly | f·or·c·i·b·l·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| forgiven | f·or·g·i·v·e·n | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| formally | f·or·m·a·ll·y | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| formerly | f·or·m·er·l·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| glorious | g·l·or·i·ou·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| historic | h·i·s·t·or·i·c | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| immortal | i·mm·or·t·a·l | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| imported | i·m·p·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| informal | i·n·f·or·m·a·l | 3 | Lesson 78 |
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 78 | 322 |
| Lesson 80 | 46 |
| Lesson 84 | 10 |
| Lesson 109 | 18 |
| Lesson 110 | 8 |
| Lesson 111 | 11 |
| Lesson 118 | 9 |
| Lesson 119 | 21 |
| Not in the sequence | 45 |
How do you teach or words?
Teach or with ore in the same lesson. "O and r team up and say /or/." Read for, corn, fork, horn, short, then morning, forest, organ. Point out that or is also a word.
What mistake do students make with or words?
Students read or as /ŏr/. Underline the team. In spelling, or and ore get swapped (for and fore); meaning and position help: ore usually ends the word.
Where do or words come in the sequence?
Or is taught right after ar. Or saying /er/ comes in the /er/ spelling lesson. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 78.
Exceptions worth knowing
Word, work and world have or saying /er/ after w. Doctor and color have unstressed or saying /er/. Our sound split above counts both groups.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 78 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The fork is on the porch.
- We had corn for lunch.
- The storm is short.
Questions people ask
What are 5 or words?
What sound does or make?
What are common or words?
When can a student read or 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.