Phonics word list
R blend words
In short
R blends are a consonant followed by r at the start of a word: br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr and tr, as in brag, crab, drum, frog, grin, press and trip. Our checked list has 1,637 words that start with an r blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 1,637
- By syllables
- one syllable: 594 · two syllables: 707 · three or more syllables: 336
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
R blend 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.
br (brand, break)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| brand | b·r·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| break | b·r·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| brief | b·r·ie·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| bring | b·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| broke | b·r·o_e·k | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| brown | b·r·ow·n | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| branch | b·r·a·n·ch | 1 | Lesson 48 |
| breach | b·r·ea·ch | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| breaks | b·r·ea·k·s | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| bridge | b·r·i·dge | 1 | Lesson 70 |
| bright | b·r·igh·t | 1 | Lesson 87 |
| brings | b·r·i·ng·s | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| brought | b·r·ough·t | 1 | Lesson 116 |
| broken | b·r·o·k·e·n | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| bracket | b·r·a·ck·e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| briefly | b·r·ie·f·l·y | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| brother | b·r·o·th·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| brackets | b·r·a·ck·e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| branches | b·r·a·n·ch·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| breaking | b·r·ea·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| bringing | b·r·i·ng·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| bred | b·r·e·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| brain | b·r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| brake | b·r·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
cr (cry, crash)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| cry | c·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| crash | c·r·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| crisp | c·r·i·s·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| cross | c·r·o·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| crisps | c·r·i·s·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| crashed | c·r·a·sh·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| crazy | c·r·a·z·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| create | c·r·e·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| credit | c·r·e·d·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| crisis | c·r·i·s·i·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| crashes | c·r·a·sh·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| creates | c·r·e·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| crashing | c·r·a·sh·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| creature | c·r·ea·ture | 2 | Lesson 120 |
| created | c·r·e·a·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| creating | c·r·e·a·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| creation | c·r·e·a·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| critical | c·r·i·t·i·c·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| crew | c·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| crop | c·r·o·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| crack | c·r·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| craft | c·r·a·f·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| cramp | c·r·a·m·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| crass | c·r·a·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
dr (dry, draw)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| dry | d·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| draw | d·r·aw | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| drew | d·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| drop | d·r·o·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| drawn | d·r·aw·n | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| draws | d·r·aw·s | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| dream | d·r·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| drink | d·r·i·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| drive | d·r·i_e·v | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| drops | d·r·o·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| drove | d·r·o_e·v | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| drives | d·r·i_e·v·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| dropped | d·r·o·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| driven | d·r·i·v·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| driver | d·r·i·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| drastic | d·r·a·s·t·i·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| drawing | d·r·aw·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 93 |
| drivers | d·r·i·v·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| driving | d·r·i·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| dropping | d·r·o·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| drag | d·r·a·g | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| drip | d·r·i·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| drum | d·r·u·m | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| draft | d·r·a·f·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
fr (fry, free)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| fry | f·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| free | f·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| from | f·r·o·m | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| frame | f·r·a_e·m | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| fresh | f·r·e·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| fries | f·r·ie·s | 1 | Lesson 110 |
| front | f·r·o·n·t | 1 | Lesson 62 |
| french | f·r·e·n·ch | 1 | Lesson 48 |
| friend | f·r·ie·n·d | 1 | Lesson 35a (heart word) |
| friends | f·r·ie·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 35a |
| freely | f·r·ee·l·y | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| freedom | f·r·ee·d·o·m | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| fraction | f·r·a·c·tion | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| frequent | f·r·e·qu·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| friendly | f·r·ie·n·d·l·y | 2 | Lesson 101 |
| frequently | f·r·e·qu·e·n·t·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| frog | f·r·o·g | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| frank | f·r·a·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| fraud | f·r·au·d | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| freak | f·r·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| freed | f·r·e·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| frees | f·r·ee·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| fried | f·r·i·ed | 1 | Lesson 110 |
| frogs | f·r·o·g·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
gr (grew, grow)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| grew | g·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| grow | g·r·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| grand | g·r·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| grant | g·r·a·n·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| graph | g·r·a·ph | 1 | Lesson 50 |
| grave | g·r·a_e·v | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| great | g·r·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| green | g·r·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| grind | g·r·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| gross | g·r·o·ss | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| group | g·r·ou·p | 1 | Lesson 115 |
| grown | g·r·ow·n | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| grows | g·r·ow·s | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| grands | g·r·a·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| grants | g·r·a·n·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| grinds | g·r·i·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| ground | g·r·ou·n·d | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| groups | g·r·ou·p·s | 1 | Lesson 115 |
| growth | g·r·ow·th | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| grounds | g·r·ou·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| granted | g·r·a·n·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| graphic | g·r·a·ph·i·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| greater | g·r·ea·t·er | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| greatly | g·r·ea·t·l·y | 2 | Lesson 114 |
pr (press, price)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| press | p·r·e·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| price | p·r·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| prime | p·r·i_e·m | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| p·r·i·n·t | 1 | Lesson 24 | |
| prone | p·r·o_e·n | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| proof | p·r·oo·f | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| prove | p·r·o·v·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| prints | p·r·i·n·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| prompt | p·r·o·m·p·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| proved | p·r·o·v·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| proves | p·r·o·v·e·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| pressed | p·r·e·ss·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| prior | p·r·i·or | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| prefer | p·r·e·f·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| pretty | p·r·e·tt·y | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| prices | p·r·i_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| proper | p·r·o·p·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| precise | p·r·e·c·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| prefers | p·r·e·f·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| prepare | p·r·e·p·are | 2 | Lesson 112 |
| present | p·r·e·s·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| presses | p·r·e·ss·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| presume | p·r·e·s·u_e·m | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| prevent | p·r·e·v·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
tr (try, trap)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| try | t·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| trap | t·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tree | t·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trip | t·r·i·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| true | t·r·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| trace | t·r·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| track | t·r·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| train | t·r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| traps | t·r·a·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trash | t·r·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| treat | t·r·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trees | t·r·ee·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trick | t·r·i·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| tried | t·r·i·ed | 1 | Lesson 110 |
| tries | t·r·ie·s | 1 | Lesson 110 |
| truck | t·r·u·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| trunk | t·r·u·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| trust | t·r·u·s·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| truth | t·r·u·th | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| tracks | t·r·a·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| trains | t·r·ai·n·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| treats | t·r·ea·t·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trucks | t·r·u·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| trusts | t·r·u·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
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 24 | 115 |
| Lesson 67b | 145 |
| Lesson 68 | 78 |
| Lesson 80 | 81 |
| Lesson 84 | 66 |
| Lesson 85 | 99 |
| Lesson 96 | 73 |
| Lesson 119 | 70 |
| Not in the sequence | 95 |
How do you teach r blend words?
R blends are the largest group, and the r pulls on the vowel, so practice them in steady lines. "Rip. Now add /t/ to the front. Trip." Teach tr and dr with care: many students hear /ch/ in tr and /j/ in dr, because that is how those blends sound in fast speech. Say them slowly and accept that the mouth movement is close.
What mistake do students make with r blend words?
Spelling tr as chr (chruck for truck) and dr as jr (jrum for drum) is common and shows a good ear. Tell the student, "It sounds like /ch/, but we write t and r." A quick sort of tr and ch words settles it. Dropping the r is the other error; tap the sounds to find it.
Where do r blend words come in the sequence?
R blends come with the other beginning blends, after short vowels and before digraphs in most sequences. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
Wr is not a blend; the w is silent. Thr and shr are three-letter blends built on digraphs. When a vowel is followed by r (car, fern), the r changes the vowel and is not a blend.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The frog sat on a drum.
- A crab can grab a twig.
- Dad can trim the plant.
Questions people ask
What are 5 r blend words?
What are the r blends?
Why does my student write chrain for train?
When can a student read r blend 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.