Phonics word list
Qu words
In short
Qu is a pair of letters that usually says /kw/, as in quick, queen and square. In some words borrowed from French it says /k/, as in unique. Our checked list has 217 words with qu.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 217
- By syllables
- one syllable: 80 · two syllables: 70 · three or more syllables: 67
- By position
- initial: 88 · medial: 129 · final: 0
- Taught in
- Lesson 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| /kw/ | quit | 193 | This page |
| /k/ | queue | 24 | This page |
Qu 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.
Initial position (at the start)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quit | qu·i·t | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 32 |
| queue | qu·eu·e | 1 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| quick | qu·i·ck | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 44 |
| quite | qu·i_e·t | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 55 |
| quits | qu·i·t·s | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 32 |
| quote | qu·o_e·t | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 56 |
| quotes | qu·o_e·t·s | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 56 |
| quiet | qu·i·e·t | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| quoted | qu·o·t·ed | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 64 |
| quarter | qu·a·r·t·er | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 93 |
| quicker | qu·i·ck·er | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 80 |
| quickly | qu·i·ck·l·y | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| quoting | qu·o·t·i·ng | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 109 |
| quickest | qu·i·ck·e·s·t | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| quitting | qu·i·tt·i·ng | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| qualify | qu·a·l·i·f·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| quality | qu·a·l·i·t·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| quietly | qu·i·e·t·l·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| quantity | qu·a·n·t·i·t·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| qualified | qu·a·l·i·f·i·ed | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 110 |
| qualifies | qu·a·l·i·f·ie·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 110 |
| quantities | qu·a·n·t·i·t·ie·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 110 |
| qualifying | qu·a·l·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| quiz | qu·i·z | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 34 |
| queen | qu·ee·n | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 85 |
| quest | qu·e·s·t | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 32 |
| queens | qu·ee·n·s | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 85 |
| queues | qu·eu·e·s | 1 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| query | qu·e·r·y | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| quota | qu·o·t·a | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| quotas | qu·o·t·a·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| quantum | qu·a·n·t·u·m | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| queries | qu·e·r·ie·s | 2 | /kw/ | Not in the sequence |
| queuing | qu·eu·i·ng | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| quibble | qu·i·bb·le | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 75 |
| quarters | qu·a·r·t·er·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 93 |
| quieter | qu·i·e·t·er | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 80 |
| quietest | qu·i·e·t·e·s·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| qualities | qu·a·l·i·t·ie·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 110 |
| quotation | qu·o·t·a·tion | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 119 |
| quotations | qu·o·t·a·tion·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 119 |
| qualifier | qu·a·l·i·f·i·er | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 110 |
| qualifiers | qu·a·l·i·f·i·er·s | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 110 |
| qualification | qu·a·l·i·f·i·c·a·tion | 5 | /kw/ | Lesson 119 |
| qualifications | qu·a·l·i·f·i·c·a·tion·s | 5 | /kw/ | Lesson 119 |
| qua | qu·a | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| quay | qu·ay | 1 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| quip | qu·i·p | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 32 |
| quack | qu·a·ck | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 44 |
| quail | qu·ai·l | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 84 |
| quake | qu·a_e·k | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 54 |
| quark | qu·ar·k | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 77 |
| quart | qu·a·r·t | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 93 |
| quash | qu·a·sh | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 93 |
| quays | qu·ay·s | 1 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| quell | qu·e·ll | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 42 |
| quill | qu·i·ll | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 42 |
| quilt | qu·i·l·t | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 32 |
| quips | qu·i·p·s | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 32 |
| quirk | qu·ir·k | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 81 |
Medial position (in the middle)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| square | s·qu·are | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 112 |
| equal | e·qu·a·l | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| unique | u·n·i·qu·e | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| request | r·e·qu·e·s·t | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| require | r·e·qu·i_e·r | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| frequent | f·r·e·qu·e·n·t | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| requests | r·e·qu·e·s·t·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| required | r·e·qu·i_e·r·d | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| requires | r·e·qu·i_e·r·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| sequence | s·e·qu·e·n·c·e | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| technique | t·e·ch·n·i·qu·e | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| techniques | t·e·ch·n·i·qu·e·s | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| equally | e·qu·a·ll·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| adequate | a·d·e·qu·a_e·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| equipment | e·qu·i·p·m·e·n·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| requested | r·e·qu·e·s·t·ed | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| requiring | r·e·qu·i·r·i·ng | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 109 |
| sequences | s·e·qu·e·n·c·e·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| frequently | f·r·e·qu·e·n·t·l·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| requesting | r·e·qu·e·s·t·i·ng | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| subsequent | s·u·b·s·e·qu·e·n·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| consequence | c·o·n·s·e·qu·e·n·c·e | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| requirement | r·e·qu·i_e·r·m·e·n·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| requirements | r·e·qu·i_e·r·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| equivalent | e·qu·i·v·a·l·e·n·t | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| inadequate | i·n·a·d·e·qu·a_e·t | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| consequences | c·o·n·s·e·qu·e·n·c·e·s | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 117 |
| consequently | c·o·n·s·e·qu·e·n·t·l·y | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| squad | s·qu·a·d | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| clique | c·l·i·qu·e | 1 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| squash | s·qu·a·sh | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| squared | s·qu·are·d | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 112 |
| squares | s·qu·are·s | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 112 |
| squeeze | s·qu·ee·z·e | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 85 |
| squashed | s·qu·a·sh·ed | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| squeezed | s·qu·ee·z·ed | 1 | /kw/ | Lesson 85 |
| equip | e·qu·i·p | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| equals | e·qu·a·l·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| equate | e·qu·a_e·t | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| equips | e·qu·i·p·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| liquid | l·i·qu·i·d | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| sequel | s·e·qu·e·l | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| antique | a·n·t·i·qu·e | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| baroque | b·ar·o·qu·e | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| squaring | s·qu·a·r·i·ng | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 112 |
| squeezes | s·qu·ee·z·e·s | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 85 |
| squashing | s·qu·a·sh·i·ng | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| squeezing | s·qu·ee·z·i·ng | 2 | /kw/ | Lesson 109 |
| uniquely | u·n·i·qu·e·l·y | 3 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| equipping | e·qu·i·pp·i·ng | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| frequency | f·r·e·qu·e·n·c·y | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 117 |
| requisite | r·e·qu·i·s·i·t·e | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| consequent | c·o·n·s·e·qu·e·n·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 67b |
| infrequent | i·n·f·r·e·qu·e·n·t | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| sequential | s·e·qu·e·n·ti·a·l | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 119 |
| frequencies | f·r·e·qu·e·n·c·ie·s | 3 | /kw/ | Lesson 117 |
| equality | e·qu·a·l·i·t·y | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 94 |
| adequately | a·d·e·qu·a·t·e·l·y | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 74 |
| equivalents | e·qu·i·v·a·l·e·n·t·s | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
| prerequisite | p·r·e·r·e·qu·i·s·i·t·e | 4 | /kw/ | Lesson 68 |
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.
How do you teach qu words?
Teach q and u as inseparable. "Q always brings u along. Together they say /kw/." Make a single qu card so the student never sees q alone. Blend it as two quick sounds: /kw/ /ĭ/ /k/, quick. Read quit, quiz, quack, then longer words such as quiet and equal once vowel patterns allow.
What mistake do students make with qu words?
Students spell quick as kwik or cwik. That shows they heard both sounds, which is the hard part. Tell them, "When you hear /kw/, write qu." In reading, a student may say /k/ /ŭ/ for qu; point to the card and say, "Partners."
Where do qu words come in the sequence?
Qu is usually taught with the alphabet letters, near the end of the single consonant lessons, before the short vowel reviews. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 32.
Exceptions worth knowing
In unique, antique and technique, qu says /k/ and is followed by a silent e. In words like liquor and conquer the u is silent too. Q without u appears only in a few borrowed names and words.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 32 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- Can the kid quit?
- Quit the quiz and get up.
- The quilt is in the box.
Questions people ask
What are 5 qu words?
Is qu a blend or a digraph?
Why does q always have a u after it?
When can a student read qu 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.