Syllable type
Closed syllable words
The answer
A closed syllable has one vowel followed by at least one consonant, so the vowel is short: cat, mask, rab/bit. Our lexicon has 1277 one-syllable closed words and 737 two-syllable words with a closed syllable, shown divided.
How does it work?
The closed syllable is the first type students learn and the one they meet most. The consonant after the vowel closes it in, and the vowel says its short sound. That is the whole definition, and it holds whether one consonant follows the vowel (sit) or three (stretch is still one closed syllable). The two-syllable tables are the most useful part for older students: words like nap/kin and pic/nic are two closed syllables they can already read once they see the split.
The word lists, divided
One-syllable closed words
| Word | Spelling units | Readable after |
|---|---|---|
| am | a·m | Lesson 2 |
| an | a·n | Lesson 9 |
| as | a·s | Lesson 21 |
| at | a·t | Lesson 4 |
| if | i·f | Lesson 8 |
| in | i·n | Lesson 9 |
| is | i·s | Lesson 21 |
| it | i·t | Lesson 8 |
| of | o·f | Lesson 8 (heart word) |
| on | o·n | Lesson 12 |
| up | u·p | Lesson 15 |
| us | u·s | Lesson 15 |
| act | a·c·t | Lesson 14 |
| add | a·dd | Lesson 67b |
| all | a·ll | Lesson 43 |
| and | a·n·d | Lesson 13 |
| ask | a·s·k | Lesson 22 |
| bad | b·a·d | Lesson 17 |
| ban | b·a·n | Lesson 17 |
| bed | b·e·d | Lesson 18 |
| bet | b·e·t | Lesson 18 |
| bid | b·i·d | Lesson 17 |
| big | b·i·g | Lesson 17 |
| bit | b·i·t | Lesson 17 |
| box | b·o·x | Lesson 31 |
| bug | b·u·g | Lesson 17 |
| bus | b·u·s | Lesson 17 |
| but | b·u·t | Lesson 17 |
| can | c·a·n | Lesson 14 |
| cat | c·a·t | Lesson 14 |
| cup | c·u·p | Lesson 15 |
| cut | c·u·t | Lesson 15 |
| did | d·i·d | Lesson 13 |
| dog | d·o·g | Lesson 16 |
| end | e·n·d | Lesson 18 |
| fan | f·a·n | Lesson 9 |
| fed | f·e·d | Lesson 18 |
| fit | f·i·t | Lesson 8 |
| fix | f·i·x | Lesson 31 |
| fun | f·u·n | Lesson 15 |
| gap | g·a·p | Lesson 16 |
| gas | g·a·s | Lesson 16 |
| get | g·e·t | Lesson 18 |
| got | g·o·t | Lesson 16 |
| had | h·a·d | Lesson 23 |
| has | h·a·s | Lesson 23 |
| hat | h·a·t | Lesson 23 |
| hid | h·i·d | Lesson 23 |
| him | h·i·m | Lesson 23 |
| his | h·i·s | Lesson 23 |
| hit | h·i·t | Lesson 23 |
| hot | h·o·t | Lesson 23 |
| ill | i·ll | Lesson 42 |
| job | j·o·b | Lesson 29 |
| kid | k·i·d | Lesson 22 |
| led | l·e·d | Lesson 26 |
| leg | l·e·g | Lesson 26 |
| let | l·e·t | Lesson 26 |
| log | l·o·g | Lesson 26 |
| lot | l·o·t | Lesson 26 |
| mad | m·a·d | Lesson 13 |
| man | m·a·n | Lesson 9 |
| map | m·a·p | Lesson 6 |
| men | m·e·n | Lesson 18 |
| met | m·e·t | Lesson 18 |
| mix | m·i·x | Lesson 31 |
| mod | m·o·d | Lesson 13 |
| net | n·e·t | Lesson 18 |
| not | n·o·t | Lesson 12 |
| odd | o·dd | Lesson 67b |
| off | o·ff | Lesson 42 |
| old | o·l·d | Lesson 72 |
| pen | p·e·n | Lesson 18 |
| pop | p·o·p | Lesson 12 |
| put | p·u·t | Lesson 89 |
| ran | r·a·n | Lesson 24 |
| red | r·e·d | Lesson 24 |
| rid | r·i·d | Lesson 24 |
| run | r·u·n | Lesson 24 |
| sad | s·a·d | Lesson 13 |
| sat | s·a·t | Lesson 4 |
| set | s·e·t | Lesson 18 |
| sit | s·i·t | Lesson 8 |
| six | s·i·x | Lesson 31 |
| son | s·o·n | Lesson 62 |
| sum | s·u·m | Lesson 15 |
| sun | s·u·n | Lesson 15 |
| tax | t·a·x | Lesson 31 |
| ten | t·e·n | Lesson 18 |
| tin | t·i·n | Lesson 9 |
| top | t·o·p | Lesson 12 |
| van | v·a·n | Lesson 33 |
| was | w·a·s | Lesson 94 |
| win | w·i·n | Lesson 28 |
| won | w·o·n | Lesson 62 |
| yes | y·e·s | Lesson 30 |
| yet | y·e·t | Lesson 30 |
| back | b·a·ck | Lesson 44 |
| ball | b·a·ll | Lesson 43 |
| band | b·a·n·d | Lesson 17 |
| bank | b·a·n·k | Lesson 52 |
| best | b·e·s·t | Lesson 18 |
| bill | b·i·ll | Lesson 42 |
| bind | b·i·n·d | Lesson 72 |
| both | b·o·th | Lesson 68 |
| bulk | b·u·l·k | Lesson 26 |
| call | c·a·ll | Lesson 43 |
| cell | c·e·ll | Lesson 117 |
| cent | c·e·n·t | Lesson 117 |
| chip | ch·i·p | Lesson 48 |
| club | c·l·u·b | Lesson 26 |
| cold | c·o·l·d | Lesson 72 |
| cost | c·o·s·t | Lesson 14 |
| desk | d·e·s·k | Lesson 22 |
| disc | d·i·s·c | Lesson 14 |
| disk | d·i·s·k | Lesson 22 |
| drop | d·r·o·p | Lesson 24 |
| dumb | d·u·mb | Lesson 98 |
| dump | d·u·m·p | Lesson 15 |
| edge | e·dge | Lesson 70 |
| fact | f·a·c·t | Lesson 14 |
| fall | f·a·ll | Lesson 43 |
| fast | f·a·s·t | Lesson 7 |
| fell | f·e·ll | Lesson 42 |
| felt | f·e·l·t | Lesson 26 |
| fill | f·i·ll | Lesson 42 |
| film | f·i·l·m | Lesson 26 |
| find | f·i·n·d | Lesson 72 |
| fish | f·i·sh | Lesson 45 |
| flag | f·l·a·g | Lesson 26 |
| flat | f·l·a·t | Lesson 26 |
| folk | f·o·l·k | not taught |
| from | f·r·o·m | Lesson 62 |
| full | f·u·ll | Lesson 43 |
| fund | f·u·n·d | Lesson 15 |
| glad | g·l·a·d | Lesson 26 |
| hack | h·a·ck | Lesson 44 |
| half | h·a·l·f | not taught |
| hall | h·a·ll | Lesson 43 |
| hand | h·a·n·d | Lesson 23 |
| hang | h·a·ng | Lesson 51 |
| held | h·e·l·d | Lesson 26 |
| help | h·e·l·p | Lesson 26 |
| hill | h·i·ll | Lesson 42 |
| hint | h·i·n·t | Lesson 23 |
| hold | h·o·l·d | Lesson 72 |
| host | h·o·s·t | Lesson 72 |
| hung | h·u·ng | Lesson 51 |
| hunt | h·u·n·t | Lesson 23 |
| inch | i·n·ch | Lesson 48 |
| jump | j·u·m·p | Lesson 29 |
| junk | j·u·n·k | Lesson 52 |
| just | j·u·s·t | Lesson 29 |
| kept | k·e·p·t | Lesson 22 |
| kind | k·i·n·d | Lesson 72 |
| king | k·i·ng | Lesson 51 |
| lack | l·a·ck | Lesson 44 |
| land | l·a·n·d | Lesson 26 |
| last | l·a·s·t | Lesson 26 |
| left | l·e·f·t | Lesson 26 |
Two syllables, both closed
| Word | Divided | Readable after |
|---|---|---|
| edit | ed/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| admit | ad/mit (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| album | al/bum (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| digit | dig/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| dozen | doz/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| given | giv/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| habit | hab/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| index | in/dex (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| level | lev/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| limit | lim/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| logic | log/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| magic | mag/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| metal | met/al (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| model | mod/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| novel | nov/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| often | of/ten (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| rapid | rap/id (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| seven | sev/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| solid | sol/id (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| topic | top/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| until | un/til (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| valid | val/id (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| visit | vis/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| woman | wom/an (closed + closed) | not taught |
| women | wom/en (closed + closed) | not taught |
| accept | ac/cept (closed + closed) | not taught |
| access | ac/cess (closed + closed) | not taught |
| affect | af/fect (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| almost | al/most (closed + closed) | Lesson 93 |
| aspect | as/pect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| attach | at/tach (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| attack | at/tack (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| attend | at/tend (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| bitten | bit/ten (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| bottom | bot/tom (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| bucket | buck/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| budget | budg/et (closed + closed) | not taught |
| button | but/ton (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| cannot | can/not (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| column | col/umn (closed + closed) | not taught |
| common | com/mon (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| credit | cred/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| driven | driv/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| effect | ef/fect (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| expand | ex/pand (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| expect | ex/pect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| extend | ex/tend (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| extent | ex/tent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| fallen | fal/len (closed + closed) | Lesson 94 |
| fiscal | fis/cal (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| gotten | got/ten (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| happen | hap/pen (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| hidden | hid/den (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| impact | im/pact (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| insist | in/sist (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| intend | in/tend (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| invent | in/vent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| lesson | les/son (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| listen | lis/ten (closed + closed) | Lesson 118 |
| method | meth/od (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| object | ob/ject (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| packet | pack/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| petrol | pet/rol (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| planet | plan/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| pock/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b | |
| public | pub/lic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| random | ran/dom (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| second | sec/ond (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| signal | sig/nal (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| status | stat/us (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| submit | sub/mit (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| sudden | sud/den (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| symbol | sym/bol (closed + closed) | not taught |
| syntax | syn/tax (closed + closed) | not taught |
| system | sys/tem (closed + closed) | not taught |
| ticket | tick/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| travel | trav/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| ancient | an/cient (closed + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| attempt | at/tempt (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| bracket | brack/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| central | cen/tral (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| channel | chan/nel (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| collect | col/lect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| command | com/mand (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| comment | com/ment (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| complex | com/plex (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| concept | con/cept (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| connect | con/nect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| consist | con/sist (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| contact | con/tact (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| content | con/tent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| context | con/text (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| distant | dis/tant (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| drastic | dras/tic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| extract | ex/tract (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| graphic | graph/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| hundred | hun/dred (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| husband | hus/band (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| install | in/stall (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| instant | in/stant (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| longest | lon/gest (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| nothing | noth/ing (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| plastic | plas/tic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| present | pres/ent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| problem | prob/lem (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| process | proc/ess (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| product | prod/uct (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| project | proj/ect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| publish | pub/lish (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| special | speci/al (closed + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| subject | sub/ject (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| success | suc/cess (closed + closed) | not taught |
| traffic | traf/fic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| written | writ/ten (closed + closed) | Lesson 98 |
| children | chil/dren (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| constant | con/stant (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| contract | con/tract (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| contrast | con/trast (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| progress | prog/ress (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| prospect | pros/pect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| quitting | quit/ting (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| simplest | sim/plest (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| acid | ac/id (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| atom | at/om (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| epic | ep/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| adult | ad/ult (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| angel | an/gel (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| asset | as/set (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| atlas | at/las (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| bigot | big/ot (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| civil | civ/il (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| comic | com/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| cynic | cyn/ic (closed + closed) | not taught |
| devil | dev/il (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| embed | em/bed (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| ethic | eth/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| havoc | hav/oc (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| lemon | lem/on (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| mimic | mim/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| optic | op/tic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| panel | pan/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| panic | pan/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| pedal | ped/al (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| rabid | rab/id (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| rigid | rig/id (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| risen | ris/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| vomit | vom/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| absent | ab/sent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| accent | ac/cent (closed + closed) | not taught |
| addict | ad/dict (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| advent | ad/vent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| append | ap/pend (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| assess | as/sess (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| assign | as/sign (closed + closed) | Lesson 118 |
| assist | as/sist (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| ballot | bal/lot (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| basket | bas/ket (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| bishop | bish/op (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| campus | cam/pus (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| cancel | can/cel (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| chapel | chap/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| clinic | clin/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| closet | clos/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| combat | com/bat (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| commit | com/mit (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| compel | com/pel (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| cosmic | cos/mic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| cotton | cot/ton (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| critic | crit/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| custom | cus/tom (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| detach | det/ach (closed + closed) | not taught |
| dismal | dis/mal (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| dragon | drag/on (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| drivel | driv/el (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| ethnic | eth/nic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| extant | ex/tant (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| fabric | fab/ric (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| fossil | fos/sil (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| golden | gol/den (closed + closed) | Lesson 72 |
| gospel | gos/pel (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| gossip | gos/sip (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| helmet | hel/met (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| impend | im/pend (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| indent | in/dent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| infant | in/fant (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| infect | in/fect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| inject | in/ject (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| insect | in/sect (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| insult | in/sult (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| intact | in/tact (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| intent | in/tent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| invest | in/vest (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| jacket | jack/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| legend | leg/end (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| mental | men/tal (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| metric | met/ric (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| modest | mod/est (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| mystic | mys/tic (closed + closed) | not taught |
| obsess | ob/sess (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| offend | of/fend (closed + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| patent | pat/ent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| pedant | ped/ant (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| pencil | pen/cil (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| prison | pris/on (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| profit | prof/it (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| rabbit | rab/bit (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| racket | rack/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| reckon | reck/on (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| ribbon | rib/bon (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| ridden | rid/den (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| rocket | rock/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| rotten | rot/ten (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| sadden | sad/den (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| seldom | sel/dom (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| sicken | sick/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| socket | sock/et (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| spigot | spig/ot (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| static | stat/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| suffix | suf/fix (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| tactic | tac/tic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| talent | tal/ent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| tennis | ten/nis (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| tragic | trag/ic (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| tunnel | tun/nel (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| vessel | ves/sel (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| victim | vic/tim (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| wallet | wal/let (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| wisdom | wis/dom (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| wombat | wom/bat (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| blanket | blan/ket (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| bogging | bog/ging (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| chemist | chem/ist (closed + closed) | Lesson 118 |
| chicken | chick/en (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| classic | clas/sic (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| compact | com/pact (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| condemn | con/demn (closed + closed) | not taught |
| conduct | con/duct (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| confess | con/fess (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
| congest | con/gest (closed + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| consent | con/sent (closed + closed) | Lesson 67b |
Closed first syllable
| Word | Divided | Readable after |
|---|---|---|
| any | an/y (closed + open) | Lesson 32 (heart word) |
| also | al/so (closed + open) | Lesson 93 |
| body | bod/y (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| busy | bus/y (closed + open) | not taught |
| city | cit/y (closed + open) | Lesson 117 |
| data | dat/a (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| ever | ev/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| info | in/fo (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| many | man/y (closed + open) | Lesson 32 (heart word) |
| only | on/ly (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| onto | on/to (closed + open) | not taught |
| ugly | ug/ly (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| after | af/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| allow | al/low (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 96 |
| alter | al/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 93 |
| angle | an/gle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| angry | an/gry (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| annoy | an/noy (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 95 |
| apple | ap/ple (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| cover | cov/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| ditto | dit/to (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| empty | emp/ty (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| enjoy | en/joy (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 95 |
| enter | en/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| entry | en/try (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| extra | ex/tra (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| fancy | fan/cy (closed + open) | Lesson 117 |
| happy | hap/py (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| hello | hel/lo (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| imply | im/ply (closed + open) | Lesson 73 |
| issue | is/sue (closed + vowel team) | not taught |
| money | mon/ey (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| nasty | nas/ty (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| never | nev/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| occur | oc/cur (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 81 |
| other | oth/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| river | riv/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| under | un/der (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| value | val/ue (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 115 |
| accord | ac/cord (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| advice | ad/vice (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| advise | ad/vise (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| affair | af/fair (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 112 |
| afford | af/ford (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| always | al/ways (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 93 |
| appeal | ap/peal (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| appear | ap/pear (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 113 |
| assume | as/sume (closed + silent e) | Lesson 68 |
| bother | both/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| bottle | bot/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| clever | clev/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| coffee | cof/fee (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| danger | dan/ger (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 117 |
| decade | dec/ade (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| decide | dec/ide (closed + silent e) | not taught |
| differ | dif/fer (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| dollar | dol/lar (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| effort | ef/fort (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| excuse | ex/cuse (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| expert | ex/pert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| father | fath/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 94 |
| finger | fin/ger (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| follow | fol/low (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 86 |
| gather | gath/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| handle | han/dle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| ignore | ig/nore (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| impose | im/pose (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| inform | in/form (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| insert | in/sert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| invite | in/vite (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| latter | lat/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| little | lit/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| longer | lon/ger (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| member | mem/ber (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| middle | mid/dle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| modern | mod/ern (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| mother | moth/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| number | num/ber (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| obtain | ob/tain (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 84 |
| oppose | op/pose (closed + silent e) | Lesson 68 |
| plenty | plen/ty (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| pretty | pret/ty (closed + open) | not taught |
| rather | rath/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| refuse | ref/use (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| sample | sam/ple (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| settle | set/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| simple | sim/ple (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| simply | sim/ply (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| single | sin/gle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| suffer | suf/fer (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| twenty | twen/ty (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| vector | vec/tor (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| volume | vol/ume (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| window | win/dow (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 86 |
| winter | win/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| wonder | won/der (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| yellow | yel/low (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 86 |
| account | ac/count (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 96 |
| brother | broth/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| chapter | chap/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| combine | com/bine (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| compare | com/pare (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 112 |
| compose | com/pose (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| compute | com/pute (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| concern | con/cern (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 117 |
| confirm | con/firm (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 81 |
| confuse | con/fuse (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| contain | con/tain (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 84 |
| convert | con/vert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| extreme | ex/treme (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| incline | in/cline (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| include | in/clude (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| instead | in/stead (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 94 |
| observe | ob/serve (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| pattern | pat/tern (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| simpler | sim/pler (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| succeed | suc/ceed (closed + vowel team) | not taught |
| suffice | suf/fice (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| support | sup/port (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| suppose | sup/pose (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| western | wes/tern (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| whether | wheth/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| although | al/though (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 116 |
| announce | an/nounce (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 96 |
| campaign | cam/paign (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 118 |
| concrete | con/crete (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| increase | in/crease (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| midnight | mid/night (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 87 |
| pressure | pres/sure (closed + r-controlled) | not taught |
| standard | stan/dard (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| ally | al/ly (closed + open) | Lesson 73 |
| echo | ech/o (closed + open) | Lesson 118 |
| envy | en/vy (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| menu | men/u (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| saga | sag/a (closed + open) | Lesson 94 |
| undo | un/do (closed + open) | not taught |
| unto | un/to (closed + open) | not taught |
| yeti | yet/i (closed + open) | not taught |
| alpha | al/pha (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| amber | am/ber (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| ample | am/ple (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| anger | an/ger (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| comma | com/ma (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| delta | del/ta (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| disco | dis/co (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| dogma | dog/ma (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| drama | dram/a (closed + open) | Lesson 94 |
| dummy | dum/my (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| essay | es/say (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 84 |
| fifty | fif/ty (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| hobby | hob/by (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| honey | hon/ey (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| incur | in/cur (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 81 |
| infer | in/fer (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| inter | in/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| jolly | jol/ly (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| lager | lag/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 94 |
| liver | liv/er (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| metro | met/ro (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| motto | mot/to (closed + open) | Lesson 68 |
| sigma | sig/ma (closed + open) | Lesson 67b |
| sixty | six/ty (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| uncle | un/cle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| utter | ut/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| venue | ven/ue (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 115 |
| absorb | ab/sorb (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| absurd | ab/surd (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 81 |
| accuse | ac/cuse (closed + silent e) | Lesson 68 |
| advert | ad/vert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| assert | as/sert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| assort | as/sort (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| attain | at/tain (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 84 |
| baffle | baf/fle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| ballet | bal/let (closed + open) | not taught |
| battle | bat/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| boggle | bog/gle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| bubble | bub/ble (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| bundle | bun/dle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| cancer | can/cer (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 117 |
| castle | cas/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 118 |
| cattle | cat/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| censor | cen/sor (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 117 |
| clumsy | clum/sy (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| collar | col/lar (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| concur | con/cur (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 81 |
| convey | con/vey (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 114 |
| cuckoo | cuck/oo (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 90 |
| desert | des/ert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| doctor | doc/tor (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| employ | em/ploy (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 95 |
| encode | en/code (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| engage | en/gage (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| entail | en/tail (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 84 |
| export | ex/port (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| expose | ex/pose (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| fellow | fel/low (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 86 |
| fiddle | fid/dle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| filter | fil/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| gender | gen/der (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 117 |
| gentle | gen/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 117 |
| govern | gov/ern (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| hassle | has/sle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| hollow | hol/low (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 86 |
| humble | hum/ble (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| humbly | hum/bly (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| hungry | hun/gry (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| immune | im/mune (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| impair | im/pair (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 112 |
| import | im/port (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 78 |
| induce | in/duce (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| injure | in/jure (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 81 |
| insane | in/sane (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| invade | in/vade (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| invert | in/vert (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| invoke | in/voke (closed + silent e) | Lesson 67b |
| jungle | jun/gle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| kettle | ket/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| kidney | kid/ney (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| mangle | man/gle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| midday | mid/day (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 84 |
| monkey | mon/key (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| muddle | mud/dle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| mumble | mum/ble (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| muscle | mus/cle (closed + consonant-le) | not taught |
| puzzle | puz/zle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| rattle | rat/tle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| render | ren/der (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| rescue | res/cue (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 115 |
| shadow | shad/ow (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 86 |
| silver | sil/ver (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| sister | sis/ter (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| sundry | sun/dry (closed + open) | Lesson 74 |
| tackle | tack/le (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| temper | tem/per (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 80 |
| temple | tem/ple (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| toggle | tog/gle (closed + consonant-le) | Lesson 75 |
| unread | un/read (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 94 |
| upward | up/ward (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
| valley | val/ley (closed + vowel team) | Lesson 85 |
| vendor | ven/dor (closed + r-controlled) | Lesson 111 |
Closed second syllable
| Word | Divided | Readable after |
|---|---|---|
| even | e/ven (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| item | i/tem (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| omit | o/mit (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| open | o/pen (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| poem | po/em (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| poet | po/et (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| unit | u/nit (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| basic | ba/sic (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| basis | ba/sis (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| chaos | cha/os (open + closed) | Lesson 118 |
| fatal | fa/tal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| final | fi/nal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| hotel | ho/tel (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| human | hu/man (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| label | la/bel (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| legal | le/gal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| local | lo/cal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| music | mu/sic (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| quiet | qui/et (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| taken | ta/ken (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| token | to/ken (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| total | to/tal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| trial | tri/al (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| vital | vi/tal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| broken | bro/ken (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| chosen | cho/sen (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| crisis | cri/sis (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| decent | de/cent (open + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| global | glo/bal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| moment | mo/ment (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| recent | re/cent (open + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| region | re/gion (open + closed) | not taught |
| social | so/cial (open + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| spoken | spo/ken (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| stupid | stu/pid (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| patient | pa/tient (open + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| protest | pro/test (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| student | stu/dent (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| ion | i/on (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| bias | bi/as (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| dial | di/al (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| diet | di/et (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| dual | du/al (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| evil | e/vil (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| icon | i/con (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| lion | li/on (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| onus | o/nus (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| opus | o/pus (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| riot | ri/ot (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| ruin | ru/in (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| agent | a/gent (open + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| bogus | bo/gus (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| bonus | bo/nus (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| colon | co/lon (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| cubic | cu/bic (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| debug | de/bug (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| fluid | flu/id (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| focus | fo/cus (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| giant | gi/ant (open + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| libel | li/bel (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| minus | mi/nus (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| pilot | pi/lot (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| pupil | pu/pil (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| rival | ri/val (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| robot | ro/bot (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| roman | ro/man (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| vocal | vo/cal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| woken | wo/ken (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| brutal | bru/tal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| client | cli/ent (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| defect | de/fect (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| digest | di/gest (open + closed) | Lesson 117 |
| fluent | flu/ent (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| frozen | fro/zen (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| hyphen | hy/phen (open + closed) | Lesson 73 |
| lethal | le/thal (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| proven | pro/ven (open + closed) | not taught |
| python | py/thon (open + closed) | Lesson 73 |
| racial | ra/cial (open + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| robust | ro/bust (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| shaken | sha/ken (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| silent | si/lent (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| slogan | slo/gan (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| stolen | sto/len (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| thesis | the/sis (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| blatant | bla/tant (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| crucial | cru/cial (open + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| spatial | spa/tial (open + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| species | spe/cies (open + closed) | Lesson 119 |
| triumph | tri/umph (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| nomad | no/mad (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| beheld | be/held (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
| hijack | hi/jack (open + closed) | Lesson 68 |
How do you teach it?
Teach the term once students read short vowel words, so the label names something they already do. Write "me" and "met" side by side and ask what changed: a consonant closed the syllable, and the vowel went short. Then move to two-syllable words. Students find the two vowels, split between the consonants and read each closed syllable.
"Look at 'cactus'. Tap under the vowels: a, u. Two vowels, two syllables. Between them, c and t. We split between the consonants: cac/tus. Is 'cac' closed? Yes, c closes it. Short a. Then 'tus', closed by s. Put it together: cactus."
What is the common error, and the fix?
In two-syllable words, the common error is reading a vowel long, as in "nay-pkin", or treating the whole word as one to memorize. The fix is to find each vowel, split, and check: does a consonant come after the vowel in this syllable? Then it is closed, and the vowel is short.
Sort it: a hands-on activity
Give students one-syllable cards: half closed (sit, plan, shop), half open (she, go, hi). They sort by "ends in a consonant" or "ends in a vowel", then read both piles. Then add two-syllable cards, and students draw the split line before sorting by the type of the first syllable.
How this list was built
Every word comes from our lexicon of about 19,000 common words, each checked against a pronouncing dictionary and split into spelling units. Words a student meets in our assessments and progress-monitoring probes are left out, so practicing a list never rehearses a test. The lexicon gives syllable counts but not boundaries, so each split is worked out from the consonant and vowel units between the first two vowel sounds, using a long or short first vowel to choose V/CV or VC/V, and checked by hand. Words where that method is unreliable are left out. Compound splits come from the two words that make up the compound.
"Readable after" is the first lesson in the lesson sequence at which our decodability engine finds every sound-spelling in the word taught; "not taught" means the word has a spelling the sequence does not cover, so it is read with help. You can check your own lists and passages with the free decodable text checker.
Questions people ask
What is a closed syllable?
A syllable with one vowel letter followed by one or more consonants. The consonant closes the vowel in, and the vowel usually says its short sound: cat, fish, plump.
How many closed syllable words are there?
In our lexicon, 1277 one-syllable words are closed syllables, more than any other type. 312 two-syllable words are made of two closed syllables, like edit, admit, album.
Can a closed syllable have a schwa?
Yes. In lemon, the second syllable is closed by n, but its vowel is reduced to a schwa because the syllable is unstressed. The type is still closed.
Are words like milk and jump closed syllables?
Yes. Two consonants after the vowel still close the syllable. A closed syllable can end in a blend or a digraph: milk, jump, fish.