Phonics word list
Short e words
In short
Short e is the vowel sound in bed, pen and egg, written /ĕ/. In these words the letter e spells that sound in a stressed syllable. Our checked list has 2,508 words where e says /ĕ/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 2,508
- By syllables
- one syllable: 358 · two syllables: 853 · three or more syllables: 1,297
- Taught in
- Lesson 18 in the sequence
Short e 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| bed | b·e·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| bet | b·e·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| end | e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| err | e·rr | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| fed | f·e·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| get | g·e·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| led | l·e·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| leg | l·e·g | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| let | l·e·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| men | m·e·n | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| met | m·e·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| net | n·e·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| pen | p·e·n | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| red | r·e·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| set | s·e·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| ten | t·e·n | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| yes | y·e·s | 1 | Lesson 30 |
| yet | y·e·t | 1 | Lesson 30 |
| best | b·e·s·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| bets | b·e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| cell | c·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 117 |
| cent | c·e·n·t | 1 | Lesson 117 |
| desk | d·e·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| edge | e·dge | 1 | Lesson 70 |
| else | e·l·s·e | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| ends | e·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| fell | f·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| felt | f·e·l·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| gets | g·e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| held | h·e·l·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| help | h·e·l·p | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| kept | k·e·p·t | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| left | l·e·f·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| legs | l·e·g·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| lend | l·e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| less | l·e·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| lets | l·e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| mess | m·e·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| neck | n·e·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| next | n·e·x·t | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| rest | r·e·s·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| self | s·e·l·f | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| sell | s·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| send | s·e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| sent | s·e·n·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| sets | s·e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| step | s·t·e·p | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| tell | t·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| tend | t·e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| test | t·e·s·t | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| text | t·e·x·t | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| them | th·e·m | 1 | Lesson 46 |
| then | th·e·n | 1 | Lesson 46 |
| well | w·e·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| went | w·e·n·t | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| west | w·e·s·t | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| when | wh·e·n | 1 | Lesson 50 |
| check | ch·e·ck | 1 | Lesson 48 |
| depth | d·e·p·th | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| fresh | f·r·e·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| edit | e·d·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| ever | e·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| very | v·e·r·y | 2 | Lesson 39b (heart word) |
| edits | e·d·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| elect | e·l·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| empty | e·m·p·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| ended | e·n·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| enjoy | e·n·j·oy | 2 | Lesson 95 |
| enter | e·n·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| entry | e·n·t·r·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| error | e·rr·or | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| event | e·v·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| extra | e·x·t·r·a | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| hello | h·e·ll·o | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| hotel | h·o·t·e·l | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| index | i·n·d·e·x | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| level | l·e·v·e·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| merit | m·e·r·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| messy | m·e·ss·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| metal | m·e·t·a·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| never | n·e·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| seven | s·e·v·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| upset | u·p·s·e·t | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| accept | a·cc·e·p·t | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| access | a·cc·e·ss | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| affect | a·ff·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| aspect | a·s·p·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| attend | a·tt·e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| better | b·e·tt·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| clever | c·l·e·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| credit | c·r·e·d·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| decade | d·e·c·a_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| depend | d·e·p·e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| detect | d·e·t·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| direct | d·ir·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| effect | e·ff·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| effort | e·ff·or·t | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| elects | e·l·e·c·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| ending | e·n·d·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| ensure | e·n·s·u·r·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| enters | e·n·t·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| errors | e·rr·or·s | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| events | e·v·e·n·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| except | e·xc·e·p·t | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| excess | e·xc·e·ss | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| expect | e·x·p·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| expert | e·x·p·er·t | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| extend | e·x·t·e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| extent | e·x·t·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| forget | f·or·g·e·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| intend | i·n·t·e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| invent | i·n·v·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| itself | i·t·s·e·l·f | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| lesser | l·e·ss·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| lesson | l·e·ss·o·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| letter | l·e·tt·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| levels | l·e·v·e·l·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| member | m·e·m·b·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| merits | m·e·r·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| method | m·e·th·o·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| enemy | e·n·e·m·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| every | e·v·er·y | 3 | Lesson 39b (heart word) |
| edited | e·d·i·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| editor | e·d·i·t·or | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| enable | e·n·a·b·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| entity | e·n·t·i·t·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| memory | m·e·m·or·y | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| benefit | b·e·n·e·f·i·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| century | c·e·n·t·ur·y | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| develop | d·e·v·e·l·o·p | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| editing | e·d·i·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| editors | e·d·i·t·or·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| elected | e·l·e·c·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| element | e·l·e·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| enables | e·n·a·b·le·s | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| entitle | e·n·t·i·t·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| execute | e·x·e·c·u_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| federal | f·e·d·er·a·l | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| forever | f·or·e·v·er | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| general | g·e·n·er·a·l | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| however | h·ow·e·v·er | 3 | Lesson 96 |
| medical | m·e·d·i·c·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| regular | r·e·g·u·l·ar | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| seminar | s·e·m·i·n·ar | 3 | Lesson 77 |
| several | s·e·v·er·a·l | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| specify | s·p·e·c·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| whoever | wh·o·e·v·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| accepted | a·cc·e·p·t·ed | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| affected | a·ff·e·c·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| anywhere | a·n·y·wh·e·r·e | 3 | Lesson 67a |
| assembly | a·ss·e·m·b·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| attended | a·tt·e·n·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| benefits | b·e·n·e·f·i·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| chemical | ch·e·m·i·c·a·l | 3 | Lesson 118 |
| dedicate | d·e·d·i·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| definite | d·e·f·i·n·i·t·e | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| depended | d·e·p·e·n·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| detected | d·e·t·e·c·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| develops | d·e·v·e·l·o·p·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| directed | d·ir·e·c·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| directly | d·ir·e·c·t·l·y | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| director | d·ir·e·c·t·or | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| document | d·o·c·u·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| electing | e·l·e·c·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| election | e·l·e·c·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| electric | e·l·e·c·t·r·i·c | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| elements | e·l·e·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| emphasis | e·m·ph·a·s·i·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| employee | e·m·p·l·oy·ee | 3 | Lesson 95 |
| engineer | e·n·g·i·n·eer | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| ensuring | e·n·s·u·r·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| entering | e·n·t·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| entitled | e·n·t·i·t·le·d | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| entitles | e·n·t·i·t·le·s | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| estimate | e·s·t·i·m·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| everyone | e·v·e·r·y·o·n·e | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| evidence | e·v·i·d·e·n·c·e | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| executes | e·x·e·c·u_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| exercise | e·x·er·c·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| expected | e·x·p·e·c·t·ed | 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 67a | 68 |
| Lesson 67b | 593 |
| Lesson 68 | 144 |
| Lesson 74 | 93 |
| Lesson 80 | 166 |
| Lesson 111 | 90 |
| Lesson 117 | 143 |
| Lesson 119 | 179 |
| Not in the sequence | 200 |
How do you teach short e words?
Short e is usually taught last of the five because it is hardest to hear. Use the keyword egg and an open, slightly smiling mouth. "/ĕ/, /ĕ/, egg. Your mouth is open, not as wide as for apple." Contrast it with short i straight away, since that is the confusion you are trying to prevent. Read pairs like bed and bid, pen and pin, and have the student hold up an e card or an i card.
What mistake do students make with short e words?
Students write i for e (pin for pen) and the reverse. In some regions pin and pen sound almost the same, which makes it harder. Don't fight the accent. Teach the student to check the spelling by meaning: "Is it the pen you write with? Then it has e."
Where do short e words come in the sequence?
Short e often comes fifth, after a, i, o and u, so the student has a mixed set of vowels to contrast it with. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 18.
Exceptions worth knowing
The e in words like even and me is long, and the e in open is a schwa. Short e can also be spelled ea, as in head and bread; those words are on the ea short e page.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 18 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- Ten men fed a pet.
- Get the pen and the cup.
- The pet is on the bed.
Questions people ask
What are 5 short e words?
Why is short e so hard for students?
What are some short e words for beginners?
When can a student read short e 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.