Phonics word list
Short a words
In short
Short a is the vowel sound in cat, map and apple, written /ă/. In these words the letter a spells that sound, usually in a closed syllable. Our checked list has 2,434 words where a says /ă/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 2,434
- By syllables
- one syllable: 609 · two syllables: 1,059 · three or more syllables: 766
- Taught in
- Lesson 1 in the sequence
Short a 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| am | a·m | 1 | Lesson 2 |
| an | a·n | 1 | Lesson 9 |
| as | a·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| at | a·t | 1 | Lesson 4 |
| act | a·c·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| add | a·dd | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| and | a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 9 (heart word) |
| ask | a·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| bad | b·a·d | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| ban | b·a·n | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| can | c·a·n | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| cat | c·a·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| fan | f·a·n | 1 | Lesson 9 |
| gap | g·a·p | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| gas | g·a·s | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| had | h·a·d | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| has | h·a·s | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| hat | h·a·t | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| mad | m·a·d | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| man | m·a·n | 1 | Lesson 9 |
| map | m·a·p | 1 | Lesson 6 |
| ran | r·a·n | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| sad | s·a·d | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| sat | s·a·t | 1 | Lesson 4 |
| tax | t·a·x | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| van | v·a·n | 1 | Lesson 33 |
| acts | a·c·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| adds | a·dd·s | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| asks | a·s·k·s | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| back | b·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| band | b·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| bank | b·a·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| fact | f·a·c·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| fast | f·a·s·t | 1 | Lesson 7 |
| flag | f·l·a·g | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| flat | f·l·a·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| glad | g·l·a·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| hack | h·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| half | h·a·l·f | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| hand | h·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| hang | h·a·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| have | h·a·v·e | 1 | Lesson 18 (heart word) |
| lack | l·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| land | l·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| last | l·a·s·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| mass | m·a·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| pack | p·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| pass | p·a·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| past | p·a·s·t | 1 | Lesson 6 |
| path | p·a·th | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| plan | p·l·a·n | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| scan | s·c·a·n | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| tank | t·a·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| task | t·a·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| than | th·a·n | 1 | Lesson 46 |
| that | th·a·t | 1 | Lesson 46 |
| trap | t·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| vans | v·a·n·s | 1 | Lesson 33 |
| vast | v·a·s·t | 1 | Lesson 33 |
| asked | a·s·k·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| data | d·a·t·a | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| acted | a·c·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| added | a·dd·ed | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| after | a·f·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| album | a·l·b·u·m | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| angle | a·n·g·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| angry | a·n·g·r·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| apple | a·pp·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| badly | b·a·d·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| began | b·e·g·a·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| carry | c·a·rr·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| datum | d·a·t·u·m | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| exact | e·x·a·c·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| fancy | f·a·n·c·y | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| habit | h·a·b·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| handy | h·a·n·d·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| happy | h·a·pp·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| magic | m·a·g·i·c | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| nasty | n·a·s·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| rapid | r·a·p·i·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| react | r·e·a·c·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| sadly | s·a·d·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| valid | v·a·l·i·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| value | v·a·l·ue | 2 | Lesson 115 |
| accept | a·cc·e·p·t | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| access | a·cc·e·ss | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| acting | a·c·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| action | a·c·tion | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| active | a·c·t·i·v·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| adding | a·dd·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| advice | a·d·v·i_e·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| advise | a·d·v·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| answer | a·n·s·w·er | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| asking | a·s·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| aspect | a·s·p·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| attach | a·tt·a·ch | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| attack | a·tt·a·ck | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| behalf | b·e·h·a·l·f | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| cannot | c·a·nn·o·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| damage | d·a·m·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| demand | d·e·m·a·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| expand | e·x·p·a·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| factor | f·a·c·t·or | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| faster | f·a·s·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| format | f·or·m·a·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| gather | g·a·th·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| habits | h·a·b·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| handed | h·a·n·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| handle | h·a·n·d·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| happen | h·a·pp·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| having | h·a·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| impact | i·m·p·a·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| landed | l·a·n·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| latter | l·a·tt·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| manage | m·a·n·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| manner | m·a·nn·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| master | m·a·s·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| matter | m·a·tt·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| packet | p·a·ck·e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| passes | p·a·ss·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| animal | a·n·i·m·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| annual | a·nn·u·a·l | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| family | f·a·m·i·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| manual | m·a·n·u·a·l | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| advises | a·d·v·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| average | a·v·er·a·g·e | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| battery | b·a·tt·er·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| capital | c·a·p·i·t·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| damages | d·a·m·a·g·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| exactly | e·x·a·c·t·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| examine | e·x·a·m·i·n·e | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| example | e·x·a·m·p·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| happily | h·a·pp·i·l·y | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| imagine | i·m·a·g·i·n·e | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| manager | m·a·n·a·g·er | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| manages | m·a·n·a·g·e·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| manuals | m·a·n·u·a·l·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| maximum | m·a·x·i·m·u·m | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| natural | n·a·t·ur·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| rapidly | r·a·p·i·d·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| satisfy | s·a·t·i·s·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| unhappy | u·n·h·a·pp·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| absolute | a·b·s·o·l·u_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| accepted | a·cc·e·p·t·ed | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| accident | a·cc·i·d·e·n·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| adequate | a·d·e·qu·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| advances | a·d·v·a·n·c·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| advising | a·d·v·i·s·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| analogue | a·n·a·l·o·gu·e | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| attitude | a·tt·i·t·u_e·d | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| carrying | c·a·rr·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| damaging | d·a·m·a·g·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| database | d·a·t·a·b·a_e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| disaster | d·i·s·a·s·t·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| examined | e·x·a·m·i·n·e·d | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| examines | e·x·a·m·i·n·e·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| examples | e·x·a·m·p·le·s | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| expanded | e·x·p·a·n·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| gasoline | g·a·s·o·l·i·n·e | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| interact | i·n·t·er·a·c·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| magnetic | m·a·g·n·e·t·i·c | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| managing | m·a·n·a·g·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| mechanic | m·e·ch·a·n·i·c | 3 | Lesson 118 |
| national | n·a·tion·a·l | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| packages | p·a·ck·a·g·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| randomly | r·a·n·d·o·m·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| reaction | r·e·a·c·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| strategy | s·t·r·a·t·e·g·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| accepting | a·cc·e·p·t·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| addresses | a·dd·r·e·ss·es | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| advancing | a·d·v·a·n·c·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| advantage | a·d·v·a·n·t·a·g·e | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| advertise | a·d·v·er·t·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| afternoon | a·f·t·er·n·oo·n | 3 | Lesson 90 |
| answering | a·n·s·w·er·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| attaching | a·tt·a·ch·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| calculate | c·a·l·c·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| candidate | c·a·n·d·i·d·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| establish | e·s·t·a·b·l·i·sh | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| expanding | e·x·p·a·n·d·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
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 | 92 |
| Lesson 65 | 91 |
| Lesson 67a | 131 |
| Lesson 67b | 413 |
| Lesson 68 | 81 |
| Lesson 74 | 86 |
| Lesson 80 | 190 |
| Lesson 107 | 119 |
| Not in the sequence | 158 |
How do you teach short a words?
Use one keyword and stick with it: apple. Have the student say /ă/ with a hand under the jaw and feel it drop. "Say /ă/. Did your jaw drop? Good, that's short a." Read a line of CVC words that differ only in the first letter (mat, sat, fat, pat), then the last (cap, can, cat). Short a is often the first vowel taught, so pair it with continuous consonants like m and s.
What mistake do students make with short a words?
Before m and n, short a sounds different: in man and ham it glides and the nose joins in. Students may decide those are different vowels and write main for man. Tell them plainly: "It's still short a. The /n/ changes how it sounds in your mouth." Practice am and an words as their own group.
Where do short a words come in the sequence?
Short a is usually the very first vowel. A student can read sat and map after a few lessons, and a review of am and an words follows once more consonants are in. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 1.
Exceptions worth knowing
The letter a has other sounds: /ā/ in paper, /aw/ in ball, /ŏ/ in father, and schwa in about. This list keeps only words where a says /ă/. Words like want and was look short but are not.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 1 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The cat sat on a mat.
- Dad can tap the pan.
- A fat bat sat on a cap.
Questions people ask
What are 5 short a words?
What sound does short a make?
Why does short a sound different in man and fan?
When can a student read short a 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.