Phonics word list
Three-letter blend words
In short
Three-letter blends are three consonants at the start of a word, each heard: scr, spl, spr, str and squ. Thr and shr add r to a digraph. Our checked list has 374 words that start with a three-letter blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 374
- By syllables
- one syllable: 216 · two syllables: 149 · three or more syllables: 9
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
Three-letter blend 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.
scr (scrap, screen)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| scrap | s·c·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| screen | s·c·r·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| script | s·c·r·i·p·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scratch | s·c·r·a·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| screens | s·c·r·ee·n·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| screw | s·c·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| scraps | s·c·r·a·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scream | s·c·r·ea·m | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| screws | s·c·r·ew·s | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| scroll | s·c·r·o·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| screams | s·c·r·ea·m·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| screwed | s·c·r·ew·ed | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| scripts | s·c·r·i·p·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| scrolls | s·c·r·o·ll·s | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| scrapped | s·c·r·a·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| screamed | s·c·r·ea·m·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| scratched | s·c·r·a·tch·ed | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| screwing | s·c·r·ew·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| scrapping | s·c·r·a·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| scratches | s·c·r·a·tch·es | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| screaming | s·c·r·ea·m·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| scrolling | s·c·r·o·ll·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| scratching | s·c·r·a·tch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| scram | s·c·r·a·m | 1 | Lesson 24 |
spl (split, splits)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| split | s·p·l·i·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| splits | s·p·l·i·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| splitting | s·p·l·i·tt·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| splendid | s·p·l·e·n·d·i·d | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| splat | s·p·l·a·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| splash | s·p·l·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| spleen | s·p·l·ee·n | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| splice | s·p·l·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| splint | s·p·l·i·n·t | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| spliced | s·p·l·i·c·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| splints | s·p·l·i·n·t·s | 1 | Lesson 26 |
| splurge | s·p·l·ur·g·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| splashed | s·p·l·a·sh·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| splurged | s·p·l·ur·g·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| splices | s·p·l·i_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| splashes | s·p·l·a·sh·es | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| splatter | s·p·l·a·tt·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| splicing | s·p·l·i·c·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| splinter | s·p·l·i·n·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| splashing | s·p·l·a·sh·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| splatters | s·p·l·a·tt·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| splinters | s·p·l·i·n·t·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| splurging | s·p·l·ur·g·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| splattered | s·p·l·a·tt·er·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
spr (spread, spring)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| spread | s·p·r·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| spring | s·p·r·i·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| spreads | s·p·r·ea·d·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| spreading | s·p·r·ea·d·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 94 |
| spray | s·p·r·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sprang | s·p·r·a·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| sprung | s·p·r·u·ng | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| springs | s·p·r·i·ng·s | 1 | Lesson 51 |
| springing | s·p·r·i·ng·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| spry | s·p·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| spree | s·p·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sprain | s·p·r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sprawl | s·p·r·aw·l | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| sprays | s·p·r·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sprees | s·p·r·ee·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| sprint | s·p·r·i·n·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| sprout | s·p·r·ou·t | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| spruce | s·p·r·u_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| sprains | s·p·r·ai·n·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sprawls | s·p·r·aw·l·s | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| sprayed | s·p·r·ay·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| sprints | s·p·r·i·n·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| sprouts | s·p·r·ou·t·s | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| spruced | s·p·r·u·c·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
str (stream, street)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| structure | s·t·r·u·c·ture | 2 | Lesson 120 |
| structures | s·t·r·u·c·ture·s | 2 | Lesson 120 |
| strategy | s·t·r·a·t·e·g·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| straightforward | s·t·r·aigh·t·f·or·w·ar·d | 3 | Lesson 114 |
| straw | s·t·r·aw | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| stray | s·t·r·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| strip | s·t·r·i·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| strain | s·t·r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| stress | s·t·r·e·ss | 1 | Lesson 42 |
squ (square, squad)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| square | s·qu·are | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| squad | s·qu·a·d | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| squash | s·qu·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| squared | s·qu·are·d | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| squares | s·qu·are·s | 1 | Lesson 112 |
| squeeze | s·qu·ee·z·e | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| squashed | s·qu·a·sh·ed | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| squeezed | s·qu·ee·z·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| squaring | s·qu·a·r·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 112 |
| squeezes | s·qu·ee·z·e·s | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| squashing | s·qu·a·sh·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 94 |
| squeezing | s·qu·ee·z·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| squat | s·qu·a·t | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| squid | s·qu·i·d | 1 | Lesson 32 |
| squads | s·qu·a·d·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| squall | s·qu·a·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| squats | s·qu·a·t·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| squawk | s·qu·aw·k | 1 | Lesson 93 |
| squeak | s·qu·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| squeal | s·qu·ea·l | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| squint | s·qu·i·n·t | 1 | Lesson 32 |
| squire | s·qu·i_e·r | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| squirm | s·qu·ir·m | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| squirt | s·qu·ir·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
thr (three, threw)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| three | th·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| threw | th·r·ew | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| throw | th·r·ow | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| threat | th·r·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| thrown | th·r·ow·n | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| throws | th·r·ow·s | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| through | th·r·ough | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| throwing | th·r·ow·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 86 |
| throughout | th·r·ough·ou·t | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| thread | th·r·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| throat | th·r·oa·t | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| thrust | th·r·u·s·t | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| threats | th·r·ea·t·s | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| throats | th·r·oa·t·s | 1 | Lesson 86 |
| thrusts | th·r·u·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| threaten | th·r·ea·t·e·n | 2 | Lesson 94 |
| threatens | th·r·ea·t·e·n·s | 2 | Lesson 94 |
| threshold | th·r·e·sh·o·l·d | 2 | Lesson 72 |
| thrusting | th·r·u·s·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| threatened | th·r·ea·t·e·n·ed | 2 | Lesson 94 |
| throughput | th·r·ough·p·u·t | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| threatening | th·r·ea·t·e·n·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 94 |
| throb | th·r·o·b | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| thrash | th·r·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 47 |
shr (shred, shrub)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| shred | sh·r·e·d | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrub | sh·r·u·b | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrug | sh·r·u·g | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrank | sh·r·a·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| shreds | sh·r·e·d·s | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrewd | sh·r·ew·d | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| shriek | sh·r·ie·k | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shrill | sh·r·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrimp | sh·r·i·m·p | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrine | sh·r·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| shrink | sh·r·i·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| shroud | sh·r·ou·d | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| shrubs | sh·r·u·b·s | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrugs | sh·r·u·g·s | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| shrunk | sh·r·u·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| shrieks | sh·r·ie·k·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shrines | sh·r·i_e·n·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| shrinks | sh·r·i·n·k·s | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| shrouds | sh·r·ou·d·s | 1 | Lesson 96 |
| shrieked | sh·r·ie·k·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| shrugged | sh·r·u·gg·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| shredded | sh·r·e·dd·ed | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| shrouded | sh·r·ou·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| shredding | sh·r·e·dd·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
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.
How do you teach three-letter blend words?
Wait until two-letter s blends and r blends are solid. Build up in steps the student can see: rap, trap, strap. "You know trap. Add /s/ to the front." Teaching by layering keeps the load light. Practice str first (most common), then spr, scr and spl. Leave thr and shr until th and sh are secure.
What mistake do students make with three-letter blend words?
The middle consonant is the one that disappears: sap for strap, sing for spring. Have the student say the word in slow motion with you while holding up three fingers for the three consonants. In spelling, write the blend as a chunk on a card and practice building words from it.
Where do three-letter blend words come in the sequence?
Three-letter blends come after the two-letter blends, sometimes not until after digraphs, since thr and shr need th and sh. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
Squ is s plus qu, which already spells two sounds. In words like extra, the x spells /ks/ before tr, so you hear four consonant sounds without a three-letter blend in the spelling.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The cat sat on the strap.
- We can sprint up the hill.
- The shrimp is in the net.
Questions people ask
What are 5 three-letter blend words?
What are the three-letter blends?
When should three-letter blends be taught?
When can a student read three-letter blend 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.