Phonics word list
Short i words
In short
Short i is the vowel sound in pig, sit and itch, written /ĭ/. In these words the letter i spells that sound. Our checked list has 2,663 words where i says /ĭ/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 2,663
- By syllables
- one syllable: 585 · two syllables: 911 · three or more syllables: 1,167
- Taught in
- Lesson 8 in the sequence
Short i 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| if | i·f | 1 | Lesson 8 |
| is | i·s | 1 | Lesson 4 (heart word) |
| it | i·t | 1 | Lesson 8 |
| bid | b·i·d | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| big | b·i·g | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| bit | b·i·t | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| did | d·i·d | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| fit | f·i·t | 1 | Lesson 8 |
| fix | f·i·x | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| hid | h·i·d | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| him | h·i·m | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| his | h·i·s | 1 | Lesson 18 (heart word) |
| hit | h·i·t | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| ill | i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| its | i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| kid | k·i·d | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| mix | m·i·x | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| rid | r·i·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| sit | s·i·t | 1 | Lesson 8 |
| six | s·i·x | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| tin | t·i·n | 1 | Lesson 9 |
| win | w·i·n | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| bids | b·i·d·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| bill | b·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| bits | b·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| chip | ch·i·p | 1 | Lesson 48 |
| disc | d·i·s·c | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| disk | d·i·s·k | 1 | Lesson 22 |
| fill | f·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| film | f·i·l·m | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| fish | f·i·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| fits | f·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| give | g·i·v·e | 1 | Lesson 37a (heart word) |
| hill | h·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| hint | h·i·n·t | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| hits | h·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| inch | i·n·ch | 1 | Lesson 48 |
| king | k·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| lift | l·i·f·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| link | l·i·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| list | l·i·s·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| miss | m·i·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| pick | p·i·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| quit | qu·i·t | 1 | Lesson 32 |
| rids | r·i·d·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| ring | r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| risk | r·i·s·k | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| ship | sh·i·p | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| sits | s·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| slip | s·l·i·p | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| thin | th·i·n | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| this | th·i·s | 1 | Lesson 46 |
| till | t·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| trip | t·r·i·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| will | w·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| wind | w·i·n·d | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| wins | w·i·n·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| wish | w·i·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| with | w·i·th | 1 | Lesson 46 |
| bring | b·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| city | c·i·t·y | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| info | i·n·f·o | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| omit | o·m·i·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| admit | a·d·m·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| begin | b·e·g·i·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| digit | d·i·g·i·t | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| exist | e·x·i·s·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| fixes | f·i·x·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| given | g·i·v·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| image | i·m·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| imply | i·m·p·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| index | i·n·d·e·x | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| inner | i·nn·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| input | i·n·p·u·t | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| issue | i·ss·ue | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| limit | l·i·m·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| mixes | m·i·x·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| omits | o·m·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| river | r·i·v·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| silly | s·i·ll·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| until | u·n·t·i·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| visit | v·i·s·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| admits | a·d·m·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| begins | b·e·g·i·n·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| bigger | b·i·gg·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| bitten | b·i·tt·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| differ | d·i·ff·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| digits | d·i·g·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| dinner | d·i·nn·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| driven | d·r·i·v·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| exists | e·x·i·s·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| finger | f·i·n·g·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| finish | f·i·n·i·sh | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| fiscal | f·i·s·c·a·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| fishes | f·i·sh·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| fitted | f·i·tt·ed | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| fixing | f·i·x·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| giving | g·i·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| hidden | h·i·dd·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| ignore | i·g·n·ore | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| impact | i·m·p·a·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| impose | i·m·p·o_e·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| inches | i·n·ch·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| income | i·n·c·o·m·e | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| indeed | i·n·d·ee·d | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| inform | i·n·f·or·m | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| inputs | i·n·p·u·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| insert | i·n·s·er·t | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| inside | i·n·s·i_e·d | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| insist | i·n·s·i·s·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| intend | i·n·t·e·n·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| invent | i·n·v·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| invite | i·n·v·i_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| issued | i·ss·u·ed | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| issues | i·ss·ue·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| itself | i·t·s·e·l·f | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| limits | l·i·m·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| listed | l·i·s·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| listen | l·i·s·t·e·n | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| little | l·i·tt·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| video | v·i·d·e·o | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| images | i·m·a·g·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| linear | l·i·n·e·ar | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| citizen | c·i·t·i·z·e·n | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| deliver | d·e·l·i·v·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| digital | d·i·g·i·t·a·l | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| edition | e·d·i·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| existed | e·x·i·s·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| history | h·i·s·t·or·y | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| illegal | i·ll·e·g·a·l | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| imagine | i·m·a·g·i·n·e | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| initial | i·n·i·ti·a·l | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| integer | i·n·t·e·g·er | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| invalid | i·n·v·a·l·i·d | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| invited | i·n·v·i·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| issuing | i·ss·u·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| limited | l·i·m·i·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| minimal | m·i·n·i·m·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| minimum | m·i·n·i·m·u·m | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| omitted | o·m·i·tt·ed | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| opinion | o·p·i·n·i·o·n | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| similar | s·i·m·i·l·ar | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| trivial | t·r·i·v·i·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| visible | v·i·s·i·b·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| addition | a·dd·i·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| admitted | a·d·m·i·tt·ed | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| anything | a·n·y·th·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67a |
| consider | c·o·n·s·i·d·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| continue | c·o·n·t·i·n·ue | 3 | Lesson 115 |
| critical | c·r·i·t·i·c·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| decision | d·e·c·i·sion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| delivers | d·e·l·i·v·er·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| division | d·i·v·i·sion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| existing | e·x·i·s·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| explicit | e·x·p·l·i·c·i·t | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| familiar | f·a·m·i·l·i·ar | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| finishes | f·i·n·i·sh·es | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| hospital | h·o·s·p·i·t·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| ignoring | i·g·n·or·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| implying | i·m·p·l·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| imposing | i·m·p·o·s·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| incident | i·n·c·i·d·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| included | i·n·c·l·u·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| indicate | i·n·d·i·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| industry | i·n·d·u·s·t·r·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| infinite | i·n·f·i·n·i·t·e | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| initials | i·n·i·ti·a·l·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| innocent | i·nn·o·c·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| inserted | i·n·s·er·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| insisted | i·n·s·i·s·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| integers | i·n·t·e·g·er·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| integral | i·n·t·e·g·r·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| intended | i·n·t·e·n·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| interact | i·n·t·er·a·c·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| interest | i·n·t·er·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| internal | i·n·t·er·n·a·l | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| interval | i·n·t·er·v·a·l | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| invented | i·n·v·e·n·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| inviting | i·n·v·i·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| irritate | i·rr·i·t·a_e·t | 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 65 | 77 |
| Lesson 67b | 467 |
| Lesson 68 | 76 |
| Lesson 74 | 103 |
| Lesson 80 | 250 |
| Lesson 107 | 109 |
| Lesson 117 | 100 |
| Lesson 119 | 212 |
| Not in the sequence | 216 |
How do you teach short i words?
Pick a keyword with the sound at the start, such as itch, so the student hears it alone. "/ĭ/, /ĭ/, itch." Show that the mouth is a small smile. Short i is often the second vowel taught, which means the first real contrast is a against i. Read sat and sit, map and mip, then have the student sort cards into two piles by the vowel.
What mistake do students make with short i words?
The common slip is reading short i as long i in words like pin and fit, especially after a student has seen bike or kite. Tell them, "One vowel, closed in by a consonant, says its short sound." Then cover the last letter and show that the vowel is trapped.
Where do short i words come in the sequence?
Short i usually follows short a within the first ten lessons, so early decodable text can mix the two. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 8.
Exceptions worth knowing
The letter i says /ī/ in mind, child and open syllables like tiger, /ē/ in words like pizza and radio, and schwa in pencil. Words like give and live look long but have a short i.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 8 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The pin is in the bin.
- Is it a big pig?
- A pig can dig a pit.
Questions people ask
What are 5 short i words?
What sound does short i make?
Why does give have a short i if it ends in e?
When can a student read short i 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.