Phonics word list
TW blend words
In short
Tw is a blend of t and w at the start of a word, both heard, as in twin, twig and twelve. Many tw words have to do with two. Our checked list has 38 words that start with the tw blend.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 38
- By syllables
- one syllable: 25 · two syllables: 12 · three or more syllables: 1
- Taught in
- Lesson 35c in the sequence
Tw 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| twice | t·w·i_e·c | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| twelve | t·w·e·l·v·e | 1 | Lesson 60 |
| twin | t·w·i·n | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twins | t·w·i·n·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twist | t·w·i·s·t | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twists | t·w·i·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twig | t·w·i·g | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twang | t·w·a·ng | 1 | Lesson 94 |
| tweak | t·w·ea·k | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tweed | t·w·ee·d | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tweet | t·w·ee·t | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| twigs | t·w·i·g·s | 1 | Lesson 28 |
| twine | t·w·i_e·n | 1 | Lesson 55 |
| twirl | t·w·ir·l | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| tweaks | t·w·ea·k·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| tweets | t·w·ee·t·s | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| twined | t·w·i_e·n·d | 1 | Lesson 64 |
| twinge | t·w·i·n·g·e | 1 | Lesson 61 |
| twirls | t·w·ir·l·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| twitch | t·w·i·tch | 1 | Lesson 69 |
| tweaked | t·w·ea·k·ed | 1 | Lesson 85 |
| twelfth | t·w·e·l·f·th | 1 | Lesson 47 |
| twigged | t·w·i·gg·ed | 1 | Lesson 107 |
| twirled | t·w·ir·l·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| twitched | t·w·i·tch·ed | 1 | Lesson 69 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| twenty | t·w·e·n·t·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| twisted | t·w·i·s·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 64 |
| twisting | t·w·i·s·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 65 |
| tweeted | t·w·ee·t·ed | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| twining | t·w·i·n·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| twister | t·w·i·s·t·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| tweaking | t·w·ea·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 85 |
| twenties | t·w·e·n·t·ie·s | 2 | Lesson 110 |
| twirling | t·w·ir·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| twisters | t·w·i·s·t·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| twitches | t·w·i·tch·es | 2 | Lesson 69 |
| twitching | t·w·i·tch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 69 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| twentieth | t·w·e·n·t·i·e·th | 3 | Not in the sequence |
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 tw words?
Tw is small enough to teach in one sitting. "Win. Put /t/ in front. Twin." Then point out the meaning link: twin, twice, twelve, twenty, between. Students remember the spelling when they see the two inside it.
What mistake do students make with tw words?
Students write tu or chw for tw. Say the word slowly and show the lips rounding for /w/.
Where do tw words come in the sequence?
Tw is often taught last among the beginning blends, since it is the least common. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 35c.
Exceptions worth knowing
In two, the w is silent. In between, tw starts the second syllable.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 35c or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The twin cats sat on a mat.
- A twig is in the pond.
- Twist the lid.
Questions people ask
What are 5 tw words?
Why are so many tw words about two?
Why is the w silent in two?
When can a student read tw 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.