Phonics word list
Ou words
In short
Ou most often spells the diphthong /ow/, as in out, house and cloud. It also says /ŭ/ in touch, /ū/ in soup and group, and /oo/ in could. Our checked list has 603 words spelled with ou.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 603
- By syllables
- one syllable: 125 · two syllables: 319 · three or more syllables: 159
- Taught in
- Lesson 96 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ow/ | out | 437 | This page |
| /ŭ/ | touch | 129 | This page |
| /ū/ | you | 28 | This page |
| /oo/ | could | 11 | This page |
Ou 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 | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| out | ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| you | y·ou | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 10 (heart word) |
| bound | b·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| could | c·ou·l·d | 1 | /oo/ | Lesson 34 (heart word) |
| count | c·ou·n·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| doubt | d·ou·b·t | 1 | /ow/ | Not in the sequence |
| found | f·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| group | g·r·ou·p | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 115 |
| house | h·ou·s·e | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| mouth | m·ou·th | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| pound | p·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| round | r·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| route | r·ou·t·e | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| sound | s·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| south | s·ou·th | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| touch | t·ou·ch | 1 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| would | w·ou·l·d | 1 | /oo/ | Lesson 34 (heart word) |
| young | y·ou·ng | 1 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| counts | c·ou·n·t·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| ground | g·r·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| groups | g·r·ou·p·s | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 115 |
| pounds | p·ou·n·d·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| should | sh·ou·l·d | 1 | /oo/ | Lesson 34 (heart word) |
| sounds | s·ou·n·d·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| grounds | g·r·ou·n·d·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| touched | t·ou·ch·ed | 1 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| bout | b·ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| foul | f·ou·l | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| loud | l·ou·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| noun | n·ou·n | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| rout | r·ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| soup | s·ou·p | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 115 |
| thou | th·ou | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| tour | t·ou·r | 1 | /oo/ | Not in the sequence |
| cloud | c·l·ou·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| mount | m·ou·n·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| mouse | m·ou·s·e | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| nouns | n·ou·n·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| proud | p·r·ou·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| shout | sh·ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| spout | s·p·ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| thous | th·ou·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| vouch | v·ou·ch | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| wound | w·ou·n·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| youth | y·ou·th | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 115 |
| bounce | b·ou·n·c·e | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| bounds | b·ou·n·d·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| clouds | c·l·ou·d·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| doubts | d·ou·b·t·s | 1 | /ow/ | Not in the sequence |
| housed | h·ou·s·e·d | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| mounts | m·ou·n·t·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| rounds | r·ou·n·d·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| routes | r·ou·t·e·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| shouts | sh·ou·t·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| grouped | g·r·ou·p·ed | 1 | /ū/ | Lesson 115 |
| gout | g·ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| ouch | ou·ch | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| oust | ou·s·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outs | ou·t·s | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| pout | p·ou·t | 1 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| about | a·b·ou·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outer | ou·t·er | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| amount | a·m·ou·n·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| around | ar·ou·n·d | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 111 |
| county | c·ou·n·t·y | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| couple | c·ou·p·le | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| double | d·ou·b·le | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| famous | f·a·m·ou·s | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| layout | l·ay·ou·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| loudly | l·ou·d·l·y | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| output | ou·t·p·u·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| account | a·cc·ou·n·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| amounts | a·m·ou·n·t·s | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| council | c·ou·n·c·i·l | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 117 |
| counted | c·ou·n·t·ed | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| counter | c·ou·n·t·er | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| country | c·ou·n·t·r·y | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| nervous | n·er·v·ou·s | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| outside | ou·t·s·i_e·d | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| routine | r·ou·t·i·n·e | 2 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| sounded | s·ou·n·d·ed | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| touches | t·ou·ch·es | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| trouble | t·r·ou·b·le | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| without | w·i·th·ou·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| accounts | a·cc·ou·n·t·s | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| announce | a·nn·ou·n·c·e | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| counting | c·ou·n·t·i·ng | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| discount | d·i·s·c·ou·n·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| doubtful | d·ou·b·t·f·u·l | 2 | /ow/ | Not in the sequence |
| printout | p·r·i·n·t·ou·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| sounding | s·ou·n·d·i·ng | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| southern | s·ou·th·er·n | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| thousand | th·ou·s·a·n·d | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| touching | t·ou·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| thousands | th·ou·s·a·n·d·s | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| background | b·a·ck·g·r·ou·n·d | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| throughout | th·r·ough·ou·t | 2 | /ow/ | Not in the sequence |
| aloud | a·l·ou·d | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| lousy | l·ou·s·y | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| cousin | c·ou·s·i·n | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| houses | h·ou·s·e·s | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| louder | l·ou·d·er | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outcry | ou·t·c·r·y | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outset | ou·t·s·e·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| routed | r·ou·t·ed | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| contour | c·o·n·t·ou·r | 2 | /oo/ | Not in the sequence |
| counsel | c·ou·n·s·e·l | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| coupled | c·ou·p·le·d | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| couples | c·ou·p·le·s | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| doubled | d·ou·b·le·d | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| doubles | d·ou·b·le·s | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| founded | f·ou·n·d·ed | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| housing | h·ou·s·i·ng | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| jealous | j·ea·l·ou·s | 2 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| loudest | l·ou·d·e·s·t | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| mounted | m·ou·n·t·ed | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outcome | ou·t·c·o·m·e | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outline | ou·t·l·i_e·n | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outlook | ou·t·l·oo·k | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outputs | ou·t·p·u·t·s | 2 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| curious | c·u·r·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| dubious | d·u·b·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| obvious | o·b·v·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| serious | s·e·r·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| tedious | t·e·d·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| various | v·a·r·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| enormous | e·n·or·m·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| numerous | n·u·m·er·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| previous | p·r·e·v·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| dangerous | d·a·n·g·er·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| encounter | e·n·c·ou·n·t·er | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| religious | r·e·l·i·gi·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| encounters | e·n·c·ou·n·t·er·s | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| encountered | e·n·c·ou·n·t·er·ed | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| announcement | a·nn·ou·n·c·e·m·e·n·t | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 117 |
| ambiguous | a·m·b·i·g·u·ou·s | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| obviously | o·b·v·i·ou·s·l·y | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| seriously | s·e·r·i·ou·s·l·y | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| continuous | c·o·n·t·i·n·u·ou·s | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| mysterious | m·y·s·t·e·r·i·ou·s | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| previously | p·r·e·v·i·ou·s·l·y | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| ridiculous | r·i·d·i·c·u·l·ou·s | 4 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| encountering | e·n·c·ou·n·t·er·i·ng | 4 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| continuously | c·o·n·t·i·n·u·ou·s·l·y | 5 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| simultaneous | s·i·m·u·l·t·a·n·e·ou·s | 5 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| simultaneously | s·i·m·u·l·t·a·n·e·ou·s·l·y | 6 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| devious | d·e·v·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| hideous | h·i·d·e·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| acoustic | a·c·ou·s·t·i·c | 3 | /ū/ | Lesson 115 |
| boundary | b·ou·n·d·ar·y | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 111 |
| generous | g·e·n·er·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| glorious | g·l·or·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| humorous | h·u·m·or·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| infamous | i·n·f·a·m·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| outdated | ou·t·d·a·t·e·d | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outgoing | ou·t·g·o·i·ng | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| outrages | ou·t·r·a_e·g·s | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| rigorous | r·i·g·or·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| spurious | s·p·ur·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| accounted | a·cc·ou·n·t·ed | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| ambitious | a·m·b·i·ti·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| announces | a·nn·ou·n·c·e·s | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| delicious | d·e·l·i·ci·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| frivolous | f·r·i·v·o·l·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| ingenious | i·n·g·e·n·i·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| ludicrous | l·u·d·i·c·r·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| malicious | m·a·l·i·ci·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| outlining | ou·t·l·i·n·i·ng | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 109 |
| outraging | ou·t·r·a·g·i·ng | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 109 |
| routinely | r·ou·t·i·n·e·l·y | 3 | /ū/ | Not in the sequence |
| unfounded | u·n·f·ou·n·d·e·d | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| accountant | a·cc·ou·n·t·a·n·t | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| accounting | a·cc·ou·n·t·i·ng | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 96 |
| announcing | a·nn·ou·n·c·i·ng | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 109 |
| boundaries | b·ou·n·d·ar·ie·s | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 111 |
| disastrous | d·i·s·a·s·t·r·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| fallacious | f·a·ll·a·ci·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| foundation | f·ou·n·d·a·tion | 3 | /ow/ | Lesson 119 |
| horrendous | h·o·rr·e·n·d·ou·s | 3 | /ŭ/ | Not in the sequence |
| outrageous | ou·t·r·a_e·g·ou·s | 3 | /ow/ | Not in the sequence |
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 96 | 380 |
| Lesson 98 | 4 |
| Lesson 109 | 15 |
| Lesson 111 | 3 |
| Lesson 114 | 6 |
| Lesson 115 | 21 |
| Lesson 117 | 6 |
| Lesson 119 | 2 |
| Not in the sequence | 160 |
How do you teach ou words?
Teach ou /ow/ first; it is the most common sound by far. "Ou says /ow/ as in out." Read out, loud, cloud, house, mouth. Then teach the flex with touch, young and soup, using the sound column in the tables to show each word's sound.
What mistake do students make with ou words?
Students read touch as /towch/. Prompt the flex. In spelling, ou and ow /ow/ get swapped. Position helps: ou in the middle, ow at the end or before n, l or er (town, owl, flower).
Where do ou words come in the sequence?
Ou /ow/ is taught with ow /ow/, after oi and oy. The other ou sounds come later. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 96.
Exceptions worth knowing
Could, would and should say /oo/. Four and your say /or/. Through says /ū/ with ough. Our list keeps the four main ou sounds here.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 96 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The mouse is out of the house.
- The cloud is loud.
- We found a round stone.
Questions people ask
What are 5 ou words?
Out, you, bound, could, count. Those are the five most common of the 603 words spelled with ou in our checked list.
What sounds does ou make?
Most often /ow/ as in out. Also /ŭ/ as in touch, /ū/ as in soup, and /oo/ as in could. The split above has the counts.
When do you use ou and when ow for the ow sound?
Ou in the middle of a word (loud, house). Ow at the end (now, cow) or before n, l or er (town, owl, power).
When can a student read ou words?
Ou words are taught at Lesson 96 in the lesson sequence we use. 381 of the 603 words on this page can be sounded out by then; the rest wait for a pattern taught later, and the tables show the lesson for each word.
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.