Phonics word list
Ur words
In short
Ur is an r-controlled vowel that says /er/, as in hurt, turn and purple. It sounds the same as er and ir. Our checked list has 323 words where ur says /er/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 323
- By syllables
- one syllable: 76 · two syllables: 142 · three or more syllables: 105
- Taught in
- Lesson 81 in the sequence
Ur 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| turn | t·ur·n | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| turns | t·ur·n·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| church | ch·ur·ch | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| turned | t·ur·n·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| fur | f·ur | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burn | b·ur·n | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| hurt | h·ur·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| lurk | l·ur·k | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| spur | s·p·ur | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| urge | ur·g·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| blurb | b·l·ur·b | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burns | b·ur·n·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burnt | b·ur·n·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burst | b·ur·s·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curse | c·ur·s·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curve | c·ur·v·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| hurts | h·ur·t·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| lurks | l·ur·k·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| nurse | n·ur·s·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| purge | p·ur·g·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| urged | ur·g·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burned | b·ur·n·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| bursts | b·ur·s·t·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curves | c·ur·v·e·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| lurked | l·ur·k·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| cur | c·ur | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| urn | ur·n | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| blur | b·l·ur | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burp | b·ur·p | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| burr | b·urr | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curb | c·ur·b | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curd | c·ur·d | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curl | c·ur·l | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curt | c·ur·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| furs | f·ur·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| hurl | h·ur·l | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| purr | p·urr | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| slur | s·l·ur | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| surf | s·ur·f | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| turf | t·ur·f | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| blurs | b·l·ur·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| blurt | b·l·ur·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| churn | ch·ur·n | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curbs | c·ur·b·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curds | c·ur·d·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curls | c·ur·l·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| lurch | l·ur·ch | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| purrs | p·urr·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| purse | p·ur·s·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| slurs | s·l·ur·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| spurn | s·p·ur·n | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| spurs | s·p·ur·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| spurt | s·p·ur·t | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| surge | s·ur·g·e | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| blurts | b·l·ur·t·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| churns | ch·ur·n·s | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curbed | c·ur·b·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curled | c·ur·l·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| cursed | c·ur·s·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
| curved | c·ur·v·ed | 1 | Lesson 81 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| hurry | h·urr·y | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| occur | o·cc·ur | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| cursor | c·ur·s·or | 2 | Lesson 111 |
| during | d·ur·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| occurs | o·cc·ur·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| return | r·e·t·ur·n | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| survey | s·ur·v·ey | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| current | c·urr·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| disturb | d·i·s·t·ur·b | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| further | f·ur·th·er | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| measure | m·ea·s·ur·e | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| purpose | p·ur·p·o·s·e | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| returns | r·e·t·ur·n·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| surface | s·ur·f·a·c·e | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| survive | s·ur·v·i_e·v | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| turning | t·ur·n·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| disturbs | d·i·s·t·ur·b·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| furthest | f·ur·th·e·s·t | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| measured | m·ea·s·ur·ed | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| measures | m·ea·s·ur·e·s | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| occurred | o·cc·urr·ed | 2 | Lesson 107 |
| pressure | p·r·e·ss·ur·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| purchase | p·ur·ch·a·s·e | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| returned | r·e·t·ur·n·ed | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| surprise | s·ur·p·r·i_e·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| survived | s·ur·v·i_e·v·d | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| survives | s·ur·v·i_e·v·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| disturbed | d·i·s·t·ur·b·ed | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| surprised | s·ur·p·r·i_e·s·d | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| curly | c·ur·l·y | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| curry | c·urr·y | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| furry | f·urr·y | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| incur | i·n·c·ur | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| urban | ur·b·a·n | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| urges | ur·g·e·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| absurd | a·b·s·ur·d | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| burden | b·ur·d·e·n | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| concur | c·o·n·c·ur | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| incurs | i·n·c·ur·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| injure | i·n·j·ur·e | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| nurses | n·ur·s·e·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| purple | p·ur·p·le | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| pursue | p·ur·s·ue | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| urgent | ur·g·e·n·t | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| urging | ur·g·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| burning | b·ur·n·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| closure | c·l·o·s·ur·e | 2 | Lesson 119 |
| hurting | h·ur·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| injured | i·n·j·ur·ed | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| injures | i·n·j·ur·e·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| leisure | l·ei·s·ur·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| lurking | l·ur·k·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| pursued | p·ur·s·u·ed | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| pursues | p·ur·s·ue·s | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| pursuit | p·ur·s·ui·t | 2 | Lesson 91 |
| surname | s·ur·n·a_e·m | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| surplus | s·ur·p·l·u·s | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| surveys | s·ur·v·ey·s | 2 | Lesson 114 |
| bursting | b·ur·s·t·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 81 |
| churches | ch·ur·ch·es | 2 | Lesson 81 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| century | c·e·n·t·ur·y | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| natural | n·a·t·ur·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| purposes | p·ur·p·o·s·e·s | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| currently | c·urr·e·n·t·l·y | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| measuring | m·ea·s·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| occurring | o·cc·urr·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| returning | r·e·t·ur·n·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| surprises | s·ur·p·r·i_e·s·s | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| surviving | s·ur·v·i·v·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| disturbing | d·i·s·t·ur·b·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| surprising | s·ur·p·r·i·s·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| naturally | n·a·t·ur·a·ll·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| injury | i·n·j·ur·y | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| surgery | s·ur·g·er·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| urgency | ur·g·e·n·c·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| cultural | c·u·l·t·ur·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| currency | c·urr·e·n·c·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| exposure | e·x·p·o·s·ur·e | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| injuries | i·n·j·ur·ie·s | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| injuring | i·n·j·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| pursuing | p·ur·s·u·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| spurious | s·p·ur·i·ou·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| surfaces | s·ur·f·a·c·e·s | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| survival | s·ur·v·i·v·a·l | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| urgently | ur·g·e·n·t·l·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| capturing | c·a·p·t·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 120 |
| centuries | c·e·n·t·ur·ie·s | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| featuring | f·ea·t·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 120 |
| furniture | f·ur·n·i·ture | 3 | Lesson 120 |
| incurring | i·n·c·urr·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| lecturing | l·e·c·t·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 120 |
| purchases | p·ur·ch·a·s·e·s | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| recursive | r·e·c·ur·s·i·v·e | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| turntable | t·ur·n·t·a·b·le | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| occurrence | o·cc·urr·e·n·c·e | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| purchasing | p·ur·ch·a·s·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 109 |
| structural | s·t·r·u·c·t·ur·a·l | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| surrounded | s·urr·ou·n·d·ed | 3 | Lesson 96 |
| disturbance | d·i·s·t·ur·b·a·n·c·e | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| furthermore | f·ur·th·er·m·ore | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| measurement | m·ea·s·ur·e·m·e·n·t | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| structuring | s·t·r·u·c·t·ur·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 120 |
| surrounding | s·urr·ou·n·d·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 96 |
| measurements | m·ea·s·ur·e·m·e·n·t·s | 3 | Lesson 119 |
| surroundings | s·urr·ou·n·d·i·ng·s | 3 | Lesson 96 |
| unnatural | u·n·n·a·t·ur·a·l | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| curriculum | c·urr·i·c·u·l·u·m | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| adventurous | a·d·v·e·n·t·ur·ou·s | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| occurrences | o·cc·urr·e·n·c·e·s | 4 | Lesson 81 |
| resurrection | r·e·s·urr·e·c·tion | 4 | Lesson 119 |
| surprisingly | s·ur·p·r·i·s·i·ng·l·y | 4 | Lesson 81 |
| agricultural | a·g·r·i·c·u·l·t·ur·a·l | 5 | Not in the sequence |
| supernatural | s·u·p·er·n·a·t·ur·a·l | 5 | Not in the sequence |
| manufacturing | m·a·n·u·f·a·c·t·ur·i·ng | 5 | Not in the sequence |
| cursory | c·ur·s·or·y | 3 | Lesson 111 |
| furrier | f·urr·i·er | 3 | Lesson 110 |
| absurdly | a·b·s·ur·d·l·y | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| hurrying | h·urr·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 81 |
| surveyor | s·ur·v·ey·or | 3 | Lesson 114 |
| survivor | s·ur·v·i·v·or | 3 | Lesson 111 |
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 81 | 193 |
| Lesson 96 | 10 |
| Lesson 107 | 13 |
| Lesson 109 | 14 |
| Lesson 110 | 7 |
| Lesson 117 | 7 |
| Lesson 119 | 25 |
| Lesson 120 | 12 |
| Not in the sequence | 20 |
How do you teach ur words?
Teach ur with ir. "Ur also says /er/." Read fur, hurt, turn, burn, nurse, purple. Many ur words come in families (turn, return, turnip), which helps spelling.
What mistake do students make with ur words?
Students spell turn as tern or tirn. Like ir, ur is learned word by word. Keep a chart and add new words as they come.
Where do ur words come in the sequence?
Ur is taught with ir, after er. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 81.
Exceptions worth knowing
In words like hurry and current, urr spells /er/. In jury and rural, u and r split across syllables.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 81 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The nurse can turn.
- Do not hurt the turtle.
- The church has a purple door.
Questions people ask
What are 5 ur words?
Turn, turns, church, turned, hurry. Those are the five most common of the 323 words where ur says /er/ in our checked list.
What sound does ur make?
/er/ as in hurt, the same as er and ir.
How do I teach er, ir and ur spelling?
Teach er first as the most common, then ir and ur. Keep a three-column chart, and group words in families (turn, return).
When can a student read ur words?
Ur words are taught at Lesson 81 in the lesson sequence we use. 193 of the 323 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.