Phonics word list
Short o words
In short
Short o is the vowel sound in hot, mop and octopus, written /ŏ/. In these words the letter o spells that sound. Our checked list has 1,423 words where o says /ŏ/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 1,423
- By syllables
- one syllable: 305 · two syllables: 557 · three or more syllables: 561
- Taught in
- Lesson 12 in the sequence
Short o 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| on | o·n | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| box | b·o·x | 1 | Lesson 31 |
| dog | d·o·g | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| got | g·o·t | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| hot | h·o·t | 1 | Lesson 23 |
| job | j·o·b | 1 | Lesson 29 |
| log | l·o·g | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| lot | l·o·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| not | n·o·t | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| odd | o·dd | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| off | o·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| pop | p·o·p | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| top | t·o·p | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| cost | c·o·s·t | 1 | Lesson 14 |
| drop | d·r·o·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| gone | g·o·n·e | 1 | Lesson 37a (heart word) |
| jobs | j·o·b·s | 1 | Lesson 29 |
| lock | l·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| logs | l·o·g·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| long | l·o·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| loss | l·o·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| lost | l·o·s·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| lots | l·o·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| odds | o·dd·s | 1 | Lesson 67b |
| plot | p·l·o·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| shop | sh·o·p | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| soft | s·o·f·t | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| spot | s·p·o·t | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| stop | s·t·o·p | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| block | b·l·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| clock | c·l·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| costs | c·o·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| cross | c·r·o·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| drops | d·r·o·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| knock | kn·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| locks | l·o·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| plots | p·l·o·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| shops | sh·o·p·s | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| solve | s·o·l·v·e | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| spots | s·p·o·t·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| stock | s·t·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stops | s·t·o·p·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| wrong | wr·o·ng | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| knocks | kn·o·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| locked | l·o·ck·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| logged | l·o·gg·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| prompt | p·r·o·m·p·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| solved | s·o·l·v·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| solves | s·o·l·v·e·s | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| strong | s·t·r·o·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| dropped | d·r·o·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| knocked | kn·o·ck·ed | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| shopped | sh·o·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| stopped | s·t·o·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| bob | b·o·b | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| bog | b·o·g | 1 | Lesson 17 |
| dot | d·o·t | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| fog | f·o·g | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| god | g·o·d | 1 | Lesson 16 |
| hog | h·o·g | 1 | Lesson 23 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | b·o·d·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| copy | c·o·p·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| onto | o·n·t·o | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| upon | u·p·o·n | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| adopt | a·d·o·p·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| along | a·l·o·ng | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| boxes | b·o·x·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| chaos | ch·a·o·s | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| logic | l·o·g·i·c | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| model | m·o·d·e·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| novel | n·o·v·e·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| offer | o·ff·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| often | o·f·t·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| solid | s·o·l·i·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| sorry | s·o·rr·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| topic | t·o·p·i·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| across | a·c·r·o·ss | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| adopts | a·d·o·p·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| belong | b·e·l·o·ng | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| beyond | b·ey·o·n·d | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| bodies | b·o·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| borrow | b·o·rr·ow | 2 | Lesson 86 |
| bother | b·o·th·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| bottle | b·o·tt·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| bottom | b·o·tt·o·m | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| cannot | c·a·nn·o·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| coffee | c·o·ff·ee | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| column | c·o·l·u·m·n | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| common | c·o·mm·o·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| copied | c·o·p·i·ed | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| copies | c·o·p·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| dollar | d·o·ll·ar | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| follow | f·o·ll·ow | 2 | Lesson 86 |
| forgot | f·or·g·o·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| gotten | g·o·tt·e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| honest | h·o·n·e·s·t | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| longer | l·o·n·g·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| models | m·o·d·e·l·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| modern | m·o·d·er·n | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| object | o·b·j·e·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| offers | o·ff·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| office | o·ff·i·c·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| option | o·p·tion | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| p·o·ck·e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b | |
| proper | p·r·o·p·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| topics | t·o·p·i·c·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| volume | v·o·l·u_e·m | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| belongs | b·e·l·o·ng·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| borrows | b·o·rr·ow·s | 2 | Lesson 86 |
| bothers | b·o·th·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| college | c·o·ll·e·g·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| combine | c·o·m·b·i_e·n | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| comment | c·o·mm·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| complex | c·o·m·p·l·e·x | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| concept | c·o·n·c·e·p·t | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| contact | c·o·n·t·a·c·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| content | c·o·n·t·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| context | c·o·n·t·e·x·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| convert | c·o·n·v·er·t | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| costing | c·o·s·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 67b |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| modify | m·o·d·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| nobody | n·o·b·o·d·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| occupy | o·cc·u·p·y | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| policy | p·o·l·i·c·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| adopted | a·d·o·p·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| copying | c·o·p·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| holiday | h·o·l·i·d·ay | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| logical | l·o·g·i·c·a·l | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| monitor | m·o·n·i·t·or | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| obvious | o·b·v·i·ou·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| officer | o·ff·i·c·er | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| offices | o·ff·i·c·e·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| operate | o·p·er·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| popular | p·o·p·u·l·ar | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| adopting | a·d·o·p·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| analogue | a·n·a·l·o·gu·e | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| colleges | c·o·ll·e·g·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| commonly | c·o·mm·o·n·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| contrary | c·o·n·t·r·a·r·y | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| document | d·o·c·u·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| holidays | h·o·l·i·d·ay·s | 3 | Lesson 84 |
| horrible | h·o·rr·i·b·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| hospital | h·o·s·p·i·t·a·l | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| modified | m·o·d·i·f·i·ed | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| modifies | m·o·d·i·f·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| occupied | o·cc·u·p·i·ed | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| occupies | o·cc·u·p·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| offering | o·ff·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| operates | o·p·er·a_e·t·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| opposite | o·pp·o·s·i·t·e | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| optional | o·p·tion·a·l | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| policies | p·o·l·i·c·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| positive | p·o·s·i·t·i·v·e | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| possible | p·o·ss·i·b·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| possibly | p·o·ss·i·b·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| probably | p·r·o·b·a·b·l·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| promises | p·r·o·m·i·s·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| properly | p·r·o·p·er·l·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| property | p·r·o·p·er·t·y | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| somebody | s·o·m·e·b·o·d·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| tomorrow | t·o·m·o·rr·ow | 3 | Lesson 86 |
| borrowing | b·o·rr·ow·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 86 |
| bothering | b·o·th·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| commented | c·o·mm·e·n·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| confident | c·o·n·f·i·d·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| documents | d·o·c·u·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| following | f·o·ll·ow·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 86 |
| forgotten | f·or·g·o·tt·e·n | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| involving | i·n·v·o·l·v·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| processes | p·r·o·c·e·ss·es | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| processor | p·r·o·c·e·ss·or | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| promising | p·r·o·m·i·s·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| responses | r·e·s·p·o·n·s·e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| commenting | c·o·mm·e·n·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| complicate | c·o·m·p·l·i·c·a_e·t | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| compromise | c·o·m·p·r·o·m·i_e·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| conference | c·o·n·f·er·e·n·c·e | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| processing | p·r·o·c·e·ss·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| processors | p·r·o·c·e·ss·or·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| properties | p·r·o·p·er·t·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
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 | 70 |
| Lesson 67b | 274 |
| Lesson 68 | 58 |
| Lesson 74 | 67 |
| Lesson 80 | 97 |
| Lesson 107 | 79 |
| Lesson 117 | 49 |
| Lesson 119 | 74 |
| Not in the sequence | 89 |
How do you teach short o words?
Have the student open wide, as if for a doctor. "Say /ŏ/. Open your mouth. That's short o." Use a keyword with the sound first, like octopus. Build a chain that moves the vowel around a known frame: hot, hit, hat, hut. Changing only the vowel forces the student to read it instead of guessing the word from the consonants.
What mistake do students make with short o words?
Students confuse short o with short u, reading cot as cut. The two sit close together in the mouth. Practice by ear: say pairs like dock and duck and have the student show a thumbs up for o. In spelling, ask them to say the word slowly and watch your mouth open wide for o.
Where do short o words come in the sequence?
Short o usually comes third, after a and i, and before u and e. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 12.
Exceptions worth knowing
The letter o says /ō/ in go and most, /ŭ/ in son and love, /oo/ in do and to, and schwa in lemon. Many speakers say dog, off and long with a vowel near /aw/; we keep those here as short o.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 12 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The dog got on top of the pot.
- Mom can mop the spot.
- A fog is on the pond.
Questions people ask
What are 5 short o words?
What are some short o words?
Why do dog and hot sound different to me?
When can a student read short o 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.