Phonics word list
TR blend words
In short
Tr is an r blend: t and r together at the start of a word, both heard, as in trip, truck and tree. Our checked list has 261 words that start with the tr blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 261
- By syllables
- one syllable: 87 · two syllables: 117 · three or more syllables: 57
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
Tr 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| try | t·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| trap | t·r·a·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tree | t·r·ee | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trip | t·r·i·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| true | t·r·ue | 1 | Lesson 91 |
| trace | t·r·a_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| track | t·r·a·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| train | t·r·ai·n | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| traps | t·r·a·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trash | t·r·a·sh | 1 | Lesson 45 |
| treat | t·r·ea·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trees | t·r·ee·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trick | t·r·i·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| tried | t·r·i·ed | 1 | Lesson 110 |
| tries | t·r·ie·s | 1 | Lesson 110 |
| truck | t·r·u·ck | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| trunk | t·r·u·n·k | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| trust | t·r·u·s·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| truth | t·r·u·th | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| tracks | t·r·a·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| trains | t·r·ai·n·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| treats | t·r·ea·t·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| trucks | t·r·u·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| trusts | t·r·u·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trained | t·r·ai·n·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| trapped | t·r·a·pp·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| tray | t·r·ay | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| trek | t·r·e·k | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trade | t·r·a_e·d | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| trail | t·r·ai·l | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| tread | t·r·ea·d | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| trend | t·r·e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tribe | t·r·i_e·b | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| trips | t·r·i·p·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| troop | t·r·oo·p | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| traced | t·r·a·c·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| trades | t·r·a_e·d·s | 1 | Lesson 54 |
| trails | t·r·ai·l·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| trends | t·r·e·n·d·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tribes | t·r·i_e·b·s | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| tricks | t·r·i·ck·s | 1 | Lesson 44 |
| troops | t·r·oo·p·s | 1 | Lesson 90 |
| trunks | t·r·u·n·k·s | 1 | Lesson 52 |
| truths | t·r·u·th·s | 1 | Lesson 68 |
| tracked | t·r·a·ck·ed | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| trailed | t·r·ai·l·ed | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| trim | t·r·i·m | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trod | t·r·o·d | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trot | t·r·o·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tract | t·r·a·c·t | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trait | t·r·ai·t | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| tramp | t·r·a·m·p | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trays | t·r·ay·s | 1 | Lesson 84 |
| treks | t·r·e·k·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| trill | t·r·i·ll | 1 | Lesson 42 |
| trims | t·r·i·m·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
| tripe | t·r·i_e·p | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| trite | t·r·i_e·t | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| troll | t·r·o·ll | 1 | Lesson 43 |
| trots | t·r·o·t·s | 1 | Lesson 24 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| trial | t·r·i·a·l | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| truly | t·r·u·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| travel | t·r·a·v·e·l | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| trying | t·r·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| traffic | t·r·a·ff·i·c | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| treated | t·r·ea·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| trouble | t·r·ou·b·le | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| trusted | t·r·u·s·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| training | t·r·ai·n·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| transfer | t·r·a·n·s·f·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| trapping | t·r·a·pp·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| treating | t·r·ea·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| trusting | t·r·u·s·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| transfers | t·r·a·n·s·f·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| translate | t·r·a·n·s·l·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| transport | t·r·a·n·s·p·or·t | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| treatment | t·r·ea·t·m·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| translates | t·r·a·n·s·l·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| traces | t·r·a_e·c·s | 2 | Lesson 63 |
| traded | t·r·a·d·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| tragic | t·r·a·g·i·c | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| treaty | t·r·ea·t·y | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| trendy | t·r·e·n·d·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| trials | t·r·i·a·l·s | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| tricky | t·r·i·ck·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| trifle | t·r·i·f·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| triple | t·r·i·p·le | 2 | Lesson 75 |
| trusty | t·r·u·s·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| tracing | t·r·a·c·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| trading | t·r·a·d·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| transit | t·r·a·n·s·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| travels | t·r·a·v·e·l·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| trigger | t·r·i·gg·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| triumph | t·r·i·u·m·ph | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| trolley | t·r·o·ll·ey | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| trouser | t·r·ou·s·er | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| trumpet | t·r·u·m·p·e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| tracking | t·r·a·ck·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| trailing | t·r·ai·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| transmit | t·r·a·n·s·m·i·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| treasure | t·r·ea·s·ur·e | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| triggers | t·r·i·gg·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| troubles | t·r·ou·b·le·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| trousers | t·r·ou·s·er·s | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| truncate | t·r·u·n·c·a_e·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| transform | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| transient | t·r·a·n·si·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| transmits | t·r·a·n·s·m·i·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| triggered | t·r·i·gg·er·ed | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| truncates | t·r·u·n·c·a_e·t·s | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| transcript | t·r·a·n·s·c·r·i·p·t | 2 | Lesson 67b |
| transforms | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| transports | t·r·a·n·s·p·or·t·s | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| transformed | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·ed | 2 | Lesson 78 |
| truer | t·r·u·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| trader | t·r·a·d·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| trashy | t·r·a·sh·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| tripod | t·r·i·p·o·d | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| truest | t·r·u·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 68 |
| tryout | t·r·y·ou·t | 2 | Lesson 96 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| trivial | t·r·i·v·i·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| translated | t·r·a·n·s·l·a·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| translating | t·r·a·n·s·l·a·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| translation | t·r·a·n·s·l·a·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| traditional | t·r·a·d·i·tion·a·l | 4 | Lesson 119 |
| trivia | t·r·i·v·i·a | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| tragedy | t·r·a·g·e·d·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| trilogy | t·r·i·l·o·g·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| trinity | t·r·i·n·i·t·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| triangle | t·r·i·a·n·g·le | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| tradition | t·r·a·d·i·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| triangles | t·r·i·a·n·g·le·s | 3 | Lesson 75 |
| truncated | t·r·u·n·c·a·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| traditions | t·r·a·d·i·tion·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| transition | t·r·a·n·s·i·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| translator | t·r·a·n·s·l·a·t·or | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| tremendous | t·r·e·m·e·n·d·ou·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| triggering | t·r·i·gg·er·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| truncating | t·r·u·n·c·a·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| transaction | t·r·a·n·s·a·c·tion | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| transmitted | t·r·a·n·s·m·i·tt·ed | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| transmitter | t·r·a·n·s·m·i·tt·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| transparent | t·r·a·n·s·p·a·r·e·n·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| transported | t·r·a·n·s·p·or·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| transactions | t·r·a·n·s·a·c·tion·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| transforming | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| translations | t·r·a·n·s·l·a·tion·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| transmitters | t·r·a·n·s·m·i·tt·er·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| transmitting | t·r·a·n·s·m·i·tt·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| transporting | t·r·a·n·s·p·or·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 78 |
| tremendously | t·r·e·m·e·n·d·ou·s·l·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| transformation | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·a·tion | 4 | Lesson 119 |
| traditionally | t·r·a·d·i·tion·a·ll·y | 5 | Lesson 119 |
| treasury | t·r·ea·s·ur·y | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| trendier | t·r·e·n·d·i·er | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| trickier | t·r·i·ck·i·er | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| tragedies | t·r·a·g·e·d·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| transited | t·r·a·n·s·i·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| treasurer | t·r·ea·s·ur·er | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| trickiest | t·r·i·ck·i·e·s·t | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| trumpeted | t·r·u·m·p·e·t·ed | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| transiting | t·r·a·n·s·i·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| treasurers | t·r·ea·s·ur·er·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| treasuries | t·r·ea·s·ur·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| trumpeting | t·r·u·m·p·e·t·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 67b |
| truthfully | t·r·u·th·f·u·ll·y | 3 | Lesson 74 |
| transformer | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·er | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| transitions | t·r·a·n·s·i·tion·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| translators | t·r·a·n·s·l·a·t·or·s | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| transformers | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·er·s | 3 | Lesson 80 |
| truthfulness | t·r·u·th·f·u·l·n·e·ss | 3 | Lesson 68 |
| transferable | t·r·a·n·s·f·er·a·b·le | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| transitioning | t·r·a·n·s·i·tion·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 119 |
| transparently | t·r·a·n·s·p·a·r·e·n·t·l·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| transportable | t·r·a·n·s·p·or·t·a·b·le | 4 | Lesson 78 |
| transformations | t·r·a·n·s·f·or·m·a·tion·s | 4 | Lesson 119 |
| traditionalist | t·r·a·d·i·tion·a·l·i·s·t | 5 | Lesson 119 |
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 24 | 21 |
| Lesson 67b | 22 |
| Lesson 68 | 13 |
| Lesson 80 | 17 |
| Lesson 84 | 16 |
| Lesson 85 | 11 |
| Lesson 107 | 10 |
| Lesson 119 | 22 |
| Not in the sequence | 11 |
How do you teach tr words?
Tr is the r blend students most often hear as /ch/. Say it slowly. "Rip. Add /t/. Trip." Then say it at normal speed and admit it sounds close to chip. "It sounds a bit like /ch/, but we write t and r." Sort tr and ch words together.
What mistake do students make with tr words?
Spelling tr as chr or ch (chrip, chuck for truck) is common. It shows a good ear. Reteach the spelling with the sort, and use a key picture for each.
Where do tr words come in the sequence?
Tr comes with the other r blends after short vowels. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
Str is a three-letter blend that contains tr. In words like country and pantry, tr starts a later syllable.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- Trim the plant.
- The trip in the van was fun.
- Trap the bug in the cup.
Questions people ask
What are 5 tr words?
Try, trap, tree, trip, true. Those are the five most common of the 261 words that start with the tr blend in our checked list.
Why do kids spell truck as chuck?
In connected speech, /t/ before /r/ sounds like /ch/. The student is spelling what they hear; teach the tr spelling with a sort.
What are some tr words?
Trip, truck, tree, train, track, trap, true and try.
When can a student read tr words?
Tr words are taught at Lesson 35c in the lesson sequence we use. 21 of the 261 words on this page can be sounded out by then; the rest wait for a pattern taught later, and the tables show the lesson for each word.
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.