Phonics word list
S blend words
In short
S blends start with s and a second consonant: sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st and sw, as in scab, skip, smell, snap, spot, stop and swim. The s keeps its hissing sound. Our checked list has 1,219 words that start with an s blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 1,219
- By syllables
- one syllable: 631 · two syllables: 507 · three or more syllables: 81
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
S 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.
sc (scan, scale)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| scan | s·c·a·n | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| scale | s·c·a_e·l | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| score | s·c·ore | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| scrap | s·c·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scores | s·c·ore·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| screen | s·c·r·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| script | s·c·r·i·p·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scratch | s·c·r·a·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| screens | s·c·r·ee·n·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| scans | s·c·a·n·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| scare | s·c·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| scarf | s·c·ar·f | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| scope | s·c·o_e·p | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| screw | s·c·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| scaled | s·c·a_e·l·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| scales | s·c·a_e·l·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| scarce | s·c·a·r·c·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| scared | s·c·are·d | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| scares | s·c·are·s | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| scored | s·c·or·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| scotch | s·c·o·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| scraps | s·c·r·a·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scream | s·c·r·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| screws | s·c·r·ew·s | 1 | Lesson 91 |
sk (skill, skills)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| skill | s·k·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| skills | s·k·i·ll·s | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| sky | s·k·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| skin | s·k·i·n | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| skip | s·k·i·p | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| skips | s·k·i·p·s | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| skirt | s·k·ir·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| skull | s·k·u·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| sketch | s·k·e·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| skilled | s·k·i·ll·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| skipped | s·k·i·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| sketches | s·k·e·tch·es | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| skipping | s·k·i·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| skeleton | s·k·e·l·e·t·o·n | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| ski | s·k·i | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| skew | s·k·ew | 1 | Lesson 115 |
| skid | s·k·i·d | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| skim | s·k·i·m | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| skis | s·k·i·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| skit | s·k·i·t | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| skate | s·k·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| skein | s·k·ei·n | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| skews | s·k·ew·s | 1 | Lesson 115 |
| skids | s·k·i·d·s | 1 | Lesson 22 |
sm (small, smile)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| small | s·m·a·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| smile | s·m·i_e·l | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| smooth | s·m·oo·th | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| smaller | s·m·a·ll·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| smallest | s·m·a·ll·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| smug | s·m·u·g | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| smart | s·m·ar·t | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| smash | s·m·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| smell | s·m·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| smith | s·m·i·th | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| smoke | s·m·o_e·k | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| smells | s·m·e·ll·s | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| smiled | s·m·i_e·l·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| smiles | s·m·i_e·l·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| smoked | s·m·o·k·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| smokes | s·m·o_e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| smashed | s·m·a·sh·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| smelly | s·m·e·ll·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| smoker | s·m·o·k·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| smashes | s·m·a·sh·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| smiling | s·m·i·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| smokers | s·m·o·k·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| smoking | s·m·o·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| smallish | s·m·a·ll·i·sh | 2 | Lesson 67b |
sn (snag, snow)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| snag | s·n·a·g | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| snow | s·n·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| snack | s·n·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| snail | s·n·ai·l | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sneak | s·n·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sniff | s·n·i·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| sneaks | s·n·ea·k·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sneaked | s·n·ea·k·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sneaky | s·n·ea·k·y | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| sneaking | s·n·ea·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| snobbery | s·n·o·bb·er·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| snap | s·n·a·p | 1 | Lesson 9 |
| snip | s·n·i·p | 1 | Lesson 9 |
| snob | s·n·o·b | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| snub | s·n·u·b | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| snug | s·n·u·g | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| snags | s·n·a·g·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| snake | s·n·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| snaps | s·n·a·p·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| snare | s·n·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| snarl | s·n·ar·l | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| sneer | s·n·eer | 1 | Lesson 113 |
| snide | s·n·i_e·d | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| snipe | s·n·i_e·p | 1 | Lesson 55 |
sp (spot, space)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| spot | s·p·o·t | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| space | s·p·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| spare | s·p·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| speak | s·p·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| speed | s·p·ee·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| spell | s·p·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| spend | s·p·e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| spent | s·p·e·n·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| spite | s·p·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| split | s·p·l·i·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| spoke | s·p·o_e·k | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| spots | s·p·o·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| speaks | s·p·ea·k·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| speech | s·p·ee·ch | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| spells | s·p·e·ll·s | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| spends | s·p·e·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| splits | s·p·l·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| spread | s·p·r·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| spring | s·p·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| spreads | s·p·r·ea·d·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| spaces | s·p·a_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| spirit | s·p·i·r·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| spoken | s·p·o·k·e·n | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| speaker | s·p·ea·k·er | 2 | Lesson 85 |
st (stay, step)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| stay | s·t·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| step | s·t·e·p | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| stop | s·t·o·p | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| staff | s·t·a·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| stage | s·t·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| stand | s·t·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| start | s·t·ar·t | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| state | s·t·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| stays | s·t·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| steal | s·t·ea·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| stick | s·t·i·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| still | s·t·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| stock | s·t·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stone | s·t·o_e·n | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| stood | s·t·oo·d | 1 | Lesson 89 |
| stops | s·t·o·p·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| store | s·t·ore | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| stuck | s·t·u·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stuff | s·t·u·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| style | s·t·y·l·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| stands | s·t·a·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| starts | s·t·ar·t·s | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| states | s·t·a_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| stayed | s·t·ay·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
sw (switch, switched)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| switch | s·w·i·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| switched | s·w·i·tch·ed | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| switches | s·w·i·tch·es | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| switching | s·w·i·tch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| swam | s·w·a·m | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| swap | s·w·a·p | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| swim | s·w·i·m | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| swum | s·w·u·m | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| swamp | s·w·a·m·p | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| swaps | s·w·a·p·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| swear | s·w·ear | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| sweat | s·w·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| sweep | s·w·ee·p | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sweet | s·w·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| swept | s·w·e·p·t | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| swims | s·w·i·m·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| swing | s·w·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| swore | s·w·ore | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| sworn | s·w·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| swamps | s·w·a·m·p·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| swears | s·w·ear·s | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| sweats | s·w·ea·t·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| sweeps | s·w·ee·p·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| swapped | s·w·a·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
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 64 | 50 |
| Lesson 67b | 40 |
| Lesson 77 | 43 |
| Lesson 78 | 40 |
| Lesson 80 | 69 |
| Lesson 85 | 78 |
| Lesson 90 | 47 |
| Lesson 107 | 55 |
| Not in the sequence | 35 |
How do you teach s blend words?
S blends are the easiest to feel because /s/ can be held. "Ssssstop. Hold the /s/, then pop the /t/." Start with sn and sm, then st, sp and sk. Point out that sc and sk spell the same sound pair, which matters for spelling: sk before e, i and y (skin, sky), sc before a, o and u (scab, scold).
What mistake do students make with s blend words?
Students write st as s or t alone (sop or top for stop). Some say the blend with a vowel in the middle (sutop). Tap the sounds and push them together faster. For older students who say espot, model the word without a vowel in front and have them copy.
Where do s blend words come in the sequence?
S blends come with the other beginning blends, after short vowels. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
Sh is a digraph, not an s blend. In words like sure and sugar, s says /sh/. Sc says /s/ in science and scene, and sch says /sk/ in school, so those are taught separately.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- Stop and spin the top.
- A snag in the net can stop the fox.
- Swim to the spot by the pond.
Questions people ask
What are 5 s blend words?
What are the s blends?
How do I know whether to write sc or sk?
When can a student read s 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.