Phonics word list
SC blend words
In short
Sc is an s blend that says /sk/ at the start of a word, usually before a, o, u or a consonant, as in scab, scold, scuff and scrap. Our checked list has 135 words that start with the sc blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 135
- By syllables
- one syllable: 83 · two syllables: 49 · three or more syllables: 3
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
Sc 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| scroll | s·c·r·o·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| scanned | s·c·a·nn·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| screams | s·c·r·ea·m·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| screwed | s·c·r·ew·ed | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| scripts | s·c·r·i·p·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scrolls | s·c·r·o·ll·s | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| scrapped | s·c·r·a·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| screamed | s·c·r·ea·m·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| scratched | s·c·r·a·tch·ed | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| scab | s·c·a·b | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| scar | s·c·ar | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| scabs | s·c·a·b·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| scald | s·c·a·l·d | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| scalp | s·c·a·l·p | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| scant | s·c·a·n·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| scars | s·c·ar·s | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| scoff | s·c·o·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| scold | s·c·o·l·d | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| scoop | s·c·oo·p | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| scoot | s·c·oo·t | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| scorn | s·c·or·n | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| scout | s·c·ou·t | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| scowl | s·c·ow·l | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| scram | s·c·r·a·m | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scrub | s·c·r·u·b | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scuff | s·c·u·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| scalds | s·c·a·l·d·s | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| scalps | s·c·a·l·p·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| scarfs | s·c·ar·f·s | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| scoffs | s·c·o·ff·s | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| scolds | s·c·o·l·d·s | 1 | Lesson 72 |
| scoops | s·c·oo·p·s | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| scoots | s·c·oo·t·s | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| scopes | s·c·o_e·p·s | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| scorch | s·c·or·ch | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| scorns | s·c·or·n·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| scaling | s·c·a·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| scandal | s·c·a·n·d·a·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| scanner | s·c·a·nn·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| scaring | s·c·a·r·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 112 |
| scarlet | s·c·ar·l·e·t | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| scatter | s·c·a·tt·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| scoring | s·c·or·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| scanning | s·c·a·nn·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| scarcely | s·c·a·r·c·e·l·y | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| screwing | s·c·r·ew·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| scattered | s·c·a·tt·er·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| scrapping | s·c·r·a·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| scratches | s·c·r·a·tch·es | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| screaming | s·c·r·ea·m·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| scrolling | s·c·r·o·ll·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| scratching | s·c·r·a·tch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| scary | s·c·a·r·y | 2 | Lesson 123 |
| scanty | s·c·a·n·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| scorer | s·c·or·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| screwy | s·c·r·ew·y | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| scalded | s·c·a·l·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 93 |
| scarcer | s·c·a·r·c·er | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| scolded | s·c·o·l·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 72 |
| scooter | s·c·oo·t·er | 2 | Lesson 90 |
| scoping | s·c·o·p·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| scouted | s·c·ou·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| scalding | s·c·a·l·d·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 93 |
| scalping | s·c·a·l·p·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| scandals | s·c·a·n·d·a·l·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| scanners | s·c·a·nn·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| scarring | s·c·a·rr·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| scolding | s·c·o·l·d·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 72 |
| scooping | s·c·oo·p·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 90 |
| scooters | s·c·oo·t·er·s | 2 | Lesson 90 |
| scornful | s·c·or·n·f·u·l | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| scotches | s·c·o·tch·es | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| scouting | s·c·ou·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| scowling | s·c·ow·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| scraping | s·c·r·a·p·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| scratchy | s·c·r·a·tch·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| scripted | s·c·r·i·p·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| scorching | s·c·or·ch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| scrapbook | s·c·r·a·p·b·oo·k | 2 | Lesson 89 |
| screeches | s·c·r·ee·ch·es | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| screening | s·c·r·ee·n·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| scrubbing | s·c·r·u·bb·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| scrapbooks | s·c·r·a·p·b·oo·k·s | 2 | Lesson 89 |
| screeching | s·c·r·ee·ch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| scrounging | s·c·r·ou·n·g·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| scattering | s·c·a·tt·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| scarier | s·c·a·r·i·er | 3 | Lesson 123 |
| scariest | s·c·a·r·i·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 123 |
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 sc words?
Teach sc next to sk; they spell the same pair of sounds. "S and c together say /sk/ here." Use the spelling clue: before e, i and y, c would turn soft, so English writes sk there (skin, sky). Before a, o and u, sc is common (scab, scan, scold, scum).
What mistake do students make with sc words?
Students read sc as /s/ (sab for scab) because they know sc in science says /s/. That is a word they will meet later. For now, tell them, "In these words c is hard: /sk/."
Where do sc words come in the sequence?
Sc is taught with the s blends after short vowels. The /s/ sound of sc (science, scene) comes much later. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
Sc says /s/ in science, scene and scent. Sch says /sk/ in school and scheme. Scr is a three-letter blend that starts with sc.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The cat has a scab.
- Scan the map.
- Scrub the pot and the pan.
Questions people ask
What are 5 sc words?
When do you use sc and when sk?
Why does sc say s in science?
When can a student read sc 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.