Phonics word list
Y as long i
In short
Y says long i, /ī/, when it ends a short word such as my, cry and fly, and in a few longer words such as reply and type. Our checked list has 179 words where y says /ī/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 179
- By syllables
- one syllable: 40 · two syllables: 69 · three or more syllables: 70
- Taught in
- Lesson 73 in the sequence
One spelling, more than one sound
Most lists mix these up. We count each sound separately, so a student practicing one sound only sees words that make it.
| Sound | Example | Words | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ē/ | any | 1,244 | See the list |
| /ī/ | by | 179 | This page |
| /ĭ/ | symbol | 179 | This page |
| /y/ | yes | 179 | This page |
Y words that say /ī/, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| by | b·y | 1 | Lesson 28 (heart word) |
| my | m·y | 1 | Lesson 28 (heart word) |
| cry | c·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| dry | d·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| fly | f·l·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| fry | f·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| guy | gu·y | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| try | t·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| why | wh·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| byte | b·y·t·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| type | t·y·p·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| bytes | b·y·t·e·s | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| style | s·t·y·l·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| typed | t·y·p·ed | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| types | t·y·p·e·s | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| bye | b·y·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| shy | sh·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| sky | s·k·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| spy | s·p·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| thy | th·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| guys | gu·y·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| rhyme | r·h·y·m·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| styles | s·t·y·l·e·s | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| dye | d·y·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| lye | l·y·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| ply | p·l·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| pry | p·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| rye | r·y·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| sly | s·l·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| wry | wr·y | 1 | Lesson 98 |
| dyed | d·y·ed | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| dyes | d·y·e·s | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| lyre | l·y·r·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| spry | s·p·r·y | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| whys | wh·y·s | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| thyme | th·y·m·e | 1 | Lesson 73 |
| rhymed | r·h·y·m·ed | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| rhymes | r·h·y·m·e·s | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| scythe | sc·y·th·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| styled | s·t·y·l·ed | 1 | Lesson 73 |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| rely | r·e·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| apply | a·pp·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| cycle | c·y·c·le | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| dying | d·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| imply | i·m·p·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| lying | l·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| reply | r·e·p·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| tying | t·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| cycles | c·y·c·le·s | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| flying | f·l·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| hereby | h·e·r·e·b·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| myself | m·y·s·e·l·f | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| nearby | n·ear·b·y | 2 | Lesson 113 |
| supply | s·u·pp·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| trying | t·r·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| typing | t·y·p·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| thereby | th·e·r·e·b·y | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| whereby | wh·e·r·e·b·y | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| ally | a·ll·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| defy | d·e·f·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| deny | d·e·n·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| bypass | b·y·p·a·ss | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| comply | c·o·m·p·l·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| crying | c·r·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| cycled | c·y·c·le·d | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| drying | d·r·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| frying | f·r·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| hyphen | h·y·ph·e·n | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| outcry | ou·t·c·r·y | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| python | p·y·th·o·n | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| cycling | c·y·c·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| cyclist | c·y·c·l·i·s·t | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| goodbye | g·oo·d·b·y·e | 2 | Lesson 89 |
| typeset | t·y·p·e·s·e·t | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| cyclists | c·y·c·l·i·s·t·s | 2 | Lesson 117 |
| lifestyle | l·i_e·f·s·t·y·l·e | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| byway | b·y·w·ay | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| dryer | d·r·y·er | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| retry | r·e·t·r·y | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| slyly | s·l·y·l·y | 2 | Lesson 74 |
| bygone | b·y·g·o·n·e | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| byways | b·y·w·ay·s | 2 | Lesson 84 |
| dryers | d·r·y·er·s | 2 | Lesson 80 |
| dyeing | d·y·e·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| plying | p·l·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| prying | p·r·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| shying | sh·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| spying | s·p·y·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| tryout | t·r·y·ou·t | 2 | Lesson 96 |
| typist | t·y·p·i·s·t | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| bygones | b·y·g·o·n·e·s | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| dryness | d·r·y·n·e·ss | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| plywood | p·l·y·w·oo·d | 2 | Lesson 89 |
| rhyming | r·h·y·m·i·ng | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| shyness | sh·y·n·e·ss | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| skyline | s·k·y·l·i_e·n | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| slyness | s·l·y·n·e·ss | 2 | Lesson 73 |
| standby | s·t·a·n·d·b·y | 2 | Lesson 67a |
| styling | s·t·y·l·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 109 |
| stylish | s·t·y·l·i·sh | 2 | Lesson 73 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| modify | m·o·d·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| notify | n·o·t·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| occupy | o·cc·u·p·y | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| clarify | c·l·a·r·i·f·y | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| justify | j·u·s·t·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| qualify | qu·a·l·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 94 |
| satisfy | s·a·t·i·s·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| specify | s·p·e·c·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| applying | a·pp·l·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| implying | i·m·p·l·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| replying | r·e·p·l·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| supplying | s·u·pp·l·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| identify | i·d·e·n·t·i·f·y | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| modifying | m·o·d·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| occupying | o·cc·u·p·y·i·ng | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| justifying | j·u·s·t·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| qualifying | qu·a·l·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 94 |
| satisfying | s·a·t·i·s·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| specifying | s·p·e·c·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 117 |
| unify | u·n·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| verify | v·e·r·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| denying | d·e·n·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| dynamic | d·y·n·a·m·i·c | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| horrify | h·o·rr·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| rectify | r·e·c·t·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| recycle | r·e·c·y·c·le | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| relying | r·e·l·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| terrify | t·e·rr·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| classify | c·l·a·ss·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| dynamics | d·y·n·a·m·i·c·s | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| hydrogen | h·y·d·r·o·g·e·n | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| megabyte | m·e·g·a·b·y·t·e | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| multiply | m·u·l·t·i·p·l·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| recycled | r·e·c·y·c·le·d | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| recycles | r·e·c·y·c·le·s | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| simplify | s·i·m·p·l·i·f·y | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| megabytes | m·e·g·a·b·y·t·e·s | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| prototype | p·r·o·t·o·t·y·p·e | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| recycling | r·e·c·y·c·l·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 117 |
| typewriter | t·y·p·e·wr·i·t·er | 3 | Lesson 98 |
| typesetting | t·y·p·e·s·e·tt·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 107 |
| unifying | u·n·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| notifying | n·o·t·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| verifying | v·e·r·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| clarifying | c·l·a·r·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| horrifying | h·o·rr·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| hypothesis | h·y·p·o·th·e·s·i·s | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| rectifying | r·e·c·t·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| stereotype | s·t·e·r·e·o·t·y·p·e | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| terrifying | t·e·rr·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| underlying | u·n·d·er·l·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 80 |
| classifying | c·l·a·ss·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| multiplying | m·u·l·t·i·p·l·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| simplifying | s·i·m·p·l·i·f·y·i·ng | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| stereotypes | s·t·e·r·e·o·t·y·p·e·s | 4 | Lesson 73 |
| identifying | i·d·e·n·t·i·f·y·i·ng | 5 | Lesson 73 |
| hypothetical | h·y·p·o·th·e·t·i·c·a·l | 5 | Lesson 73 |
| allying | a·ll·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| defying | d·e·f·y·i·ng | 3 | Lesson 73 |
| bypasses | b·y·p·a·ss·es | 3 | Lesson 67a |
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 67a | 11 |
| Lesson 73 | 115 |
| Lesson 80 | 3 |
| Lesson 94 | 4 |
| Lesson 96 | 3 |
| Lesson 98 | 3 |
| Lesson 109 | 5 |
| Lesson 117 | 14 |
| Not in the sequence | 12 |
How do you teach y words that say /ī/?
Students know y as a consonant at the start of words (yes, yell). Show the switch. "At the start, y is a consonant. At the end of a short word with no other vowel, y works as a vowel and says /ī/." Read my, by, try, dry, sky. Then contrast with happy and baby, where y says /ē/.
What mistake do students make with y words that say /ī/?
Students say /yĭ/ or /ē/ in one-syllable words (cree for cry). Teach the count: "How many syllables? One? Then y says /ī/." Two or more and y at the end usually says /ē/.
Where do y words that say /ī/ come in the sequence?
Y as /ī/ is usually taught just before y as /ē/, after silent e and open syllables. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 73.
Exceptions worth knowing
In words like gym, myth and system, y says /ĭ/. In type, style and rhyme, y_e spells /ī/ like i_e.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 73 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- My cat can fly.
- Try to dry the dish.
- Why is the sky so dim?
Questions people ask
What are 5 y words that say /ī/?
When does y say long i?
When does y say long e?
When can a student read y words that say /ī/?
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.