Phonics word list
ST blend words
In short
St is an s blend: s and t together, both heard, at the start of a word as in stop and step, and very often at the end as in fast and best. Our checked list has 469 words that start with the st blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 469
- By syllables
- one syllable: 222 · two syllables: 205 · three or more syllables: 42
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
St 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| stay | s·t·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| step | s·t·e·p | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| stop | s·t·o·p | 1 | Lesson 12 |
| staff | s·t·a·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| stage | s·t·a_e·g | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| stand | s·t·a·n·d | 1 | Lesson 13 |
| start | s·t·ar·t | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| state | s·t·a_e·t | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| stays | s·t·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| steal | s·t·ea·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| stick | s·t·i·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| still | s·t·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| stock | s·t·o·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stone | s·t·o_e·n | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| stood | s·t·oo·d | 1 | Lesson 89 |
| stops | s·t·o·p·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
| store | s·t·ore | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| stuck | s·t·u·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stuff | s·t·u·ff | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| style | s·t·y·l·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| stands | s·t·a·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| starts | s·t·ar·t·s | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| states | s·t·a_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| stayed | s·t·ay·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sticks | s·t·i·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stones | s·t·o_e·n·s | 1 | Lesson 56 |
| stored | s·t·or·ed | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| stores | s·t·ore·s | 1 | Lesson 78 |
| stream | s·t·r·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| street | s·t·r·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| strict | s·t·r·i·c·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| strike | s·t·r·i_e·k | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| string | s·t·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| strong | s·t·r·o·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| struck | s·t·r·u·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stopped | s·t·o·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| strange | s·t·r·a·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| strikes | s·t·r·i_e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| strings | s·t·r·i·ng·s | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| straight | s·t·r·aigh·t | 1 | Lesson 114 |
| strength | s·t·r·e·ng·th | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| star | s·t·ar | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| stem | s·t·e·m | 1 | Lesson 18 |
| stir | s·t·ir | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| stun | s·t·u·n | 1 | Lesson 15 |
| stack | s·t·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| stair | s·t·air | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| stake | s·t·a_e·k | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| stale | s·t·a_e·l | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| stall | s·t·a·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| stamp | s·t·a·m·p | 1 | Lesson 6 |
| stare | s·t·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| stark | s·t·ar·k | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| stars | s·t·ar·s | 1 | Lesson 77 |
| steam | s·t·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| steel | s·t·ee·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| steep | s·t·ee·p | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| steer | s·t·eer | 1 | Lesson 113 |
| stems | s·t·e·m·s | 1 | Lesson 21 |
| steps | s·t·e·p·s | 1 | Lesson 20 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| story | s·t·or·y | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| study | s·t·u·d·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| stable | s·t·a·b·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| stages | s·t·a_e·g·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| stated | s·t·a·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| status | s·t·a·t·u·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| stupid | s·t·u·p·i·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| started | s·t·ar·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| stating | s·t·a·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| station | s·t·a·tion | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| staying | s·t·ay·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| storage | s·t·or·a·g·e | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| storing | s·t·or·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| student | s·t·u·d·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| studied | s·t·u·d·i·ed | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| studies | s·t·u·d·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| standard | s·t·a·n·d·ar·d | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| standing | s·t·a·n·d·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| starting | s·t·ar·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| stations | s·t·a·tion·s | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| sticking | s·t·i·ck·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| stopping | s·t·o·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| strictly | s·t·r·i·c·t·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| striking | s·t·r·i·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| strongly | s·t·r·o·ng·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| students | s·t·u·d·e·n·t·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| standards | s·t·a·n·d·ar·d·s | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| statement | s·t·a_e·t·m·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| structure | s·t·r·u·c·ture | 2 | Lesson 120 |
| statements | s·t·a_e·t·m·e·n·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| structures | s·t·r·u·c·ture·s | 2 | Lesson 120 |
| static | s·t·a·t·i·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| steady | s·t·ea·d·y | 2 | Lesson 94 |
| sticky | s·t·i·ck·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| stolen | s·t·o·l·e·n | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| stagger | s·t·a·gg·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| staring | s·t·a·r·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 112 |
| starter | s·t·ar·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| startle | s·t·ar·t·le | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| sterile | s·t·e·r·i·l·e | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| stomach | s·t·o·m·a·ch | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| stories | s·t·or·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| stumble | s·t·u·m·b·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| staggers | s·t·a·gg·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| stamping | s·t·a·m·p·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| starring | s·t·a·rr·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| starters | s·t·ar·t·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| startled | s·t·ar·t·le·d | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| startles | s·t·ar·t·le·s | 2 | Lesson 77 |
| starving | s·t·ar·v·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| stealing | s·t·ea·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| steering | s·t·eer·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 113 |
| stepping | s·t·e·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| sterling | s·t·er·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| stranger | s·t·r·a·n·g·er | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| stresses | s·t·r·e·ss·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| stronger | s·t·r·o·ng·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| struggle | s·t·r·u·gg·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| stuffing | s·t·u·ff·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| stumbled | s·t·u·m·b·le·d | 2 | Lesson 75 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| strategy | s·t·r·a·t·e·g·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| studying | s·t·u·d·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| statistic | s·t·a·t·i·s·t·i·c | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| statistics | s·t·a·t·i·s·t·i·c·s | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| straightforward | s·t·r·aigh·t·f·or·w·ar·d | 3 | Lesson 114 |
| statistical | s·t·a·t·i·s·t·i·c·a·l | 4 | Lesson 67b |
| stereo | s·t·e·r·e·o | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| studio | s·t·u·d·i·o | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| steadily | s·t·ea·d·i·l·y | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| stimulate | s·t·i·m·u·l·a_e·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| strategic | s·t·r·a·t·e·g·i·c | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| staggering | s·t·a·gg·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| stimulates | s·t·i·m·u·l·a_e·t·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| strategies | s·t·r·a·t·e·g·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| structural | s·t·r·u·c·t·ur·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| structuring | s·t·r·u·c·t·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 120 |
| stability | s·t·a·b·i·l·i·t·y | 4 | Lesson 74 |
| stupidity | s·t·u·p·i·d·i·t·y | 4 | Lesson 74 |
| stationary | s·t·a·tion·a·r·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| stereotype | s·t·e·r·e·o·t·y·p·e | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| stimulated | s·t·i·m·u·l·a·t·ed | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| stereotypes | s·t·e·r·e·o·t·y·p·e·s | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| stimulating | s·t·i·m·u·l·a·t·i·ng | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| stimulation | s·t·i·m·u·l·a·tion | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| stereos | s·t·e·r·e·o·s | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| studios | s·t·u·d·i·o·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| steadier | s·t·ea·d·i·er | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| steamier | s·t·ea·m·i·er | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| stickier | s·t·i·ck·i·er | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| stupider | s·t·u·p·i·d·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| steamiest | s·t·ea·m·i·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| stickiest | s·t·i·ck·i·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| stormiest | s·t·or·m·i·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| stupidest | s·t·u·p·i·d·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| staircases | s·t·air·c·a_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 112 |
| stationing | s·t·a·tion·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| startlingly | s·t·ar·t·l·i·ng·l·y | 3 | Lesson 77 |
| strengthening | s·t·r·e·ng·th·e·n·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| stereotyped | s·t·e·r·e·o·t·y·p·ed | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| straightforwardly | s·t·r·aigh·t·f·or·w·ar·d·l·y | 4 | Lesson 114 |
| stereotyping | s·t·e·r·e·o·t·y·p·i·ng | 5 | Lesson 109 |
| statistically | s·t·a·t·i·s·t·i·c·a·ll·y | 5 | Lesson 74 |
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 | 22 |
| Lesson 65 | 19 |
| Lesson 67b | 20 |
| Lesson 77 | 22 |
| Lesson 80 | 32 |
| Lesson 84 | 19 |
| Lesson 85 | 30 |
| Lesson 107 | 18 |
| Not in the sequence | 13 |
How do you teach st words?
St is the most common s blend, so it earns extra practice. "Ssssstop." Build top to stop, tep to step, and at the end, fas to fast. The tables here show words where st begins the word; the ending blends page covers final st.
What mistake do students make with st words?
Students drop the t (sop for stop) or the s (top). Tap four sounds and say the word in slow motion. A student who says /sutop/ is adding a vowel; model the blend without it.
Where do st words come in the sequence?
St is taught with the s blends after short vowels. Str is added later as a three-letter blend. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
In listen and castle, t is silent after s. Str words are counted here too, since they start with st.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- Stop on the step.
- The stem of the plant is wet.
- We can stand on the stump.
Questions people ask
What are 5 st words?
What are some words that start with st?
Is st a blend or a digraph?
When can a student read st 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.