Word family

Word families for ou, ow, aw, oo and oi

The answer

Ou, aw, oo and oi word families are groups of one-syllable words that share a rime with the vowel in out, saw, book or boy, like -out, -awn, -all and -oil. Our lexicon has 204 public words in 33 such families of three or more words, listed family by family.

What do these families share?

This group collects the vowels that are neither short nor long: the sound in out and cow, the sound in saw and all, the vowel in book, and oi and oy. Each comes in families with more than one spelling, so the tables are busy: owl rhymes with foul, and lawn rhymes with fawn and with gone in some accents. The out family is the largest; it has a page of its own.

The families and their words

The -out family, as in out

15 words

The -out family, as in out
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
out	(none) + out	Lesson 96
bout	b + out	Lesson 96
rout	r + out	Lesson 96
shout	sh + out	Lesson 96
spout	sp + out	Lesson 96
gout	g + out	Lesson 96
pout	p + out	Lesson 96
tout	t + out	Lesson 96
clout	cl + out	Lesson 96
flout	fl + out	Lesson 96
scout	sc + out	Lesson 96
snout	sn + out	Lesson 96
stout	st + out	Lesson 96
trout	tr + out	Lesson 96
sprout	spr + out	Lesson 96

The -all family, as in all

12 words

The -all family, as in all
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
all	(none) + all	Lesson 43
ball	b + all	Lesson 43
call	c + all	Lesson 43
fall	f + all	Lesson 43
hall	h + all	Lesson 43
wall	w + all	Lesson 43
small	sm + all	Lesson 43
tall	t + all	Lesson 43
stall	st + all	Lesson 43
gall	g + all	Lesson 43
mall	m + all	Lesson 43
squall	squ + all	Lesson 43

The -aw family, as in law

11 words

The -aw family, as in law
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
law	l + aw	Lesson 93
saw	s + aw	Lesson 93
draw	dr + aw	Lesson 93
flaw	fl + aw	Lesson 93
straw	str + aw	Lesson 93
caw	c + aw	Lesson 93
jaw	j + aw	Lesson 93
paw	p + aw	Lesson 93
claw	cl + aw	Lesson 93
gnaw	gn + aw	Lesson 118
thaw	th + aw	Lesson 93

The -ow family, as in how

10 words

The -ow family, as in how
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
how	h + ow	Lesson 96
now	n + ow	Lesson 96
bow	b + ow	Lesson 96
cow	c + ow	Lesson 96
wow	w + ow	Lesson 96
sow	s + ow	Lesson 96
vow	v + ow	Lesson 96
brow	br + ow	Lesson 96
chow	ch + ow	Lesson 96
prow	pr + ow	Lesson 96

The -ook family, as in book

10 words

The -ook family, as in book
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
book	b + ook	Lesson 89
look	l + ook	Lesson 89
took	t + ook	Lesson 89
cook	c + ook	Lesson 89
hook	h + ook	Lesson 89
shook	sh + ook	Lesson 89
nook	n + ook	Lesson 89
rook	r + ook	Lesson 89
brook	br + ook	Lesson 89
crook	cr + ook	Lesson 89

The -ound family, as in bound

9 words

The -ound family, as in bound
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bound	b + ound	Lesson 96
found	f + ound	Lesson 96
pound	p + ound	Lesson 96
round	r + ound	Lesson 96
sound	s + ound	Lesson 96
ground	gr + ound	Lesson 96
wound	w + ound	Lesson 96
hound	h + ound	Lesson 96
mound	m + ound	Lesson 96

The -awn family, as in drawn

9 words

The -awn family, as in drawn
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
drawn	dr + awn	Lesson 93
dawn	d + awn	Lesson 93
lawn	l + awn	Lesson 93
yawn	y + awn	Lesson 93
fawn	f + awn	Lesson 93
pawn	p + awn	Lesson 93
brawn	br + awn	Lesson 93
prawn	pr + awn	Lesson 93
spawn	sp + awn	Lesson 93

The -oil family, as in oil

8 words

The -oil family, as in oil
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
oil	(none) + oil	Lesson 95
boil	b + oil	Lesson 95
soil	s + oil	Lesson 95
spoil	sp + oil	Lesson 95
coil	c + oil	Lesson 95
foil	f + oil	Lesson 95
toil	t + oil	Lesson 95
broil	br + oil	Lesson 95

The -own family, as in down

8 words

The -own family, as in down
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
down	d + own	Lesson 96
town	t + own	Lesson 96
brown	br + own	Lesson 96
gown	g + own	Lesson 96
crown	cr + own	Lesson 96
drown	dr + own	Lesson 96
frown	fr + own	Lesson 96
clown	cl + own	Lesson 96

The -ong family, as in long

8 words

The -ong family, as in long
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
long	l + ong	Lesson 51
wrong	wr + ong	Lesson 98
strong	str + ong	Lesson 51
song	s + ong	Lesson 51
gong	g + ong	Lesson 51
tong	t + ong	Lesson 51
prong	pr + ong	Lesson 51
throng	thr + ong	Lesson 51

The -ouse family, as in house

8 words

The -ouse family, as in house
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
house	h + ouse	Lesson 96
mouse	m + ouse	Lesson 96
douse	d + ouse	Lesson 96
louse	l + ouse	Lesson 96
rouse	r + ouse	Lesson 96
blouse	bl + ouse	Lesson 96
grouse	gr + ouse	Lesson 96
spouse	sp + ouse	Lesson 96

The -ought family, as in ought

7 words

The -ought family, as in ought
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
ought	(none) + ought	Lesson 116
bought	b + ought	Lesson 116
sought	s + ought	Lesson 116
brought	br + ought	Lesson 116
thought	th + ought	Lesson 116
fought	f + ought	Lesson 116
wrought	wr + ought	Lesson 116

The -aunt family, as in aunt

7 words

The -aunt family, as in aunt
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
aunt	(none) + aunt	Lesson 93
daunt	d + aunt	Lesson 93
gaunt	g + aunt	Lesson 93
haunt	h + aunt	Lesson 93
jaunt	j + aunt	Lesson 93
taunt	t + aunt	Lesson 93
flaunt	fl + aunt	Lesson 93

The -awl family, as in crawl

7 words

The -awl family, as in crawl
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
crawl	cr + awl	Lesson 93
bawl	b + awl	Lesson 93
brawl	br + awl	Lesson 93
drawl	dr + awl	Lesson 93
shawl	sh + awl	Lesson 93
scrawl	scr + awl	Lesson 93
sprawl	spr + awl	Lesson 93

The -ouch family, as in vouch

7 words

The -ouch family, as in vouch
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
vouch	v + ouch	Lesson 96
ouch	(none) + ouch	Lesson 96
couch	c + ouch	Lesson 96
pouch	p + ouch	Lesson 96
crouch	cr + ouch	Lesson 96
grouch	gr + ouch	Lesson 96
slouch	sl + ouch	Lesson 96

The -oss family, as in loss

6 words

The -oss family, as in loss
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
loss	l + oss	Lesson 42
cross	cr + oss	Lesson 42
toss	t + oss	Lesson 42
moss	m + oss	Lesson 42
dross	dr + oss	Lesson 42
gloss	gl + oss	Lesson 42

The -owl family, as in owl

6 words

The -owl family, as in owl
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
owl	(none) + owl	Lesson 96
fowl	f + owl	Lesson 96
howl	h + owl	Lesson 96
growl	gr + owl	Lesson 96
prowl	pr + owl	Lesson 96
scowl	sc + owl	Lesson 96

The -oy family, as in boy

5 words

The -oy family, as in boy
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
boy	b + oy	Lesson 95
joy	j + oy	Lesson 95
toy	t + oy	Lesson 95
ploy	pl + oy	Lesson 95
coy	c + oy	Lesson 95

The -ounce family, as in bounce

5 words

The -ounce family, as in bounce
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bounce	b + ounce	Lesson 96
ounce	(none) + ounce	Lesson 96
pounce	p + ounce	Lesson 96
flounce	fl + ounce	Lesson 96
trounce	tr + ounce	Lesson 96

The -og family, as in dog

4 words

The -og family, as in dog
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
dog	d + og	Lesson 16
log	l + og	Lesson 26
cog	c + og	Lesson 16
blog	bl + og	Lesson 26

The -ood family, as in good

4 words

The -ood family, as in good
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
good	g + ood	Lesson 89
stood	st + ood	Lesson 89
wood	w + ood	Lesson 89
hood	h + ood	Lesson 89

The -oud family, as in loud

4 words

The -oud family, as in loud
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
loud	l + oud	Lesson 96
cloud	cl + oud	Lesson 96
proud	pr + oud	Lesson 96
shroud	shr + oud	Lesson 96

The -oth family, as in cloth

4 words

The -oth family, as in cloth
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
cloth	cl + oth	Lesson 47
moth	m + oth	Lesson 47
broth	br + oth	Lesson 47
froth	fr + oth	Lesson 47

The -oin family, as in join

3 words

The -oin family, as in join
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
join	j + oin	Lesson 95
coin	c + oin	Lesson 95
loin	l + oin	Lesson 95

The -alk family, as in talk

3 words

The -alk family, as in talk
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
talk	t + alk	not taught
walk	w + alk	not taught
stalk	st + alk	not taught

The -ause family, as in cause

3 words

The -ause family, as in cause
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
cause	c + ause	Lesson 93
pause	p + ause	Lesson 93
clause	cl + ause	Lesson 93

The -ould family, as in could

3 words

The -ould family, as in could
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
could	c + ould	Lesson 34 (heart word)
would	w + ould	Lesson 34 (heart word)
should	sh + ould	Lesson 34 (heart word)

The -aught family, as in caught

3 words

The -aught family, as in caught
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
caught	c + aught	Lesson 93
taught	t + aught	Lesson 93
fraught	fr + aught	Lesson 93

The -aud family, as in baud

3 words

The -aud family, as in baud
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
baud	b + aud	Lesson 93
fraud	fr + aud	Lesson 93
laud	l + aud	Lesson 93

The -alt family, as in halt

3 words

The -alt family, as in halt
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
halt	h + alt	Lesson 93
salt	s + alt	Lesson 93
malt	m + alt	Lesson 93

The -awk family, as in gawk

3 words

The -awk family, as in gawk
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
gawk	g + awk	Lesson 93
hawk	h + awk	Lesson 93
squawk	squ + awk	Lesson 93

The -art family, as in wart

3 words

The -art family, as in wart
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
wart	w + art	Lesson 93
quart	qu + art	Lesson 93
thwart	thw + art	Lesson 93

The -oist family, as in foist

3 words

The -oist family, as in foist
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
foist	f + oist	Lesson 95
hoist	h + oist	Lesson 95
moist	m + oist	Lesson 95

Word ladder: change one sound at a time

Every step is a real word from the list, and each one changes exactly one sound. Say the change aloud before the student writes the new word.

Word ladder for ou, aw, oo and oi families
Step	Word	The change
1	all	start here
2	ought	change /l/ to /t/
3	out	change /ao/ to /aw/
4	owl	change /t/ to /l/
5	oil	change /aw/ to /oy/
6	boil	add /b/
7	boy	take away /l/
8	bow	change /oy/ to /aw/
9	bout	add /t/
10	bought	change /aw/ to /ao/

How do you teach it?

Teach each sound in its own week: ou and ow first, then aw, au and all, then oi and oy, then the oo in book. Keep the families of one sound together so students hear the rhyme.

"Here's c-o-w. Try long o first. Not a word. Try /ow/: cow. Now s-n-o-w. Try /ow/: it rhymes with cow, but it's not a word. Try long o: snow. When you see ow, try both."

What is the common error, and the fix?

Students read ow as long o (snow) when it should be the sound in cow, and the other way round. The fix is to try both and pick the real word. For spelling, use the position rules: ow, aw and oy at the end of a word.

Sort it: a hands-on activity

Sort cards by vowel sound into four piles: out and cow, saw and all, book, and boy and coin. Then split each pile by spelling.

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. A family is every one-syllable base word (no suffix, not a compound) whose rime, the vowel unit and every unit after it, has the same spelling and the same sounds, so bead and bread are in different families. Ladders use only words from the list, and each step changes exactly one sound.

"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

How many ou, aw, oo and oi word families are there?

In our lexicon, 33 rimes with the vowel in out, saw, book or boy have at least three public one-syllable words, 204 words in all. Smaller families exist, but two words are not enough to practice a pattern.

Why group these vowels together?

They are the vowels left over after short, long and r-controlled: two diphthongs (out, boy), the vowel in saw and the vowel in book. Each has fewer families than the short vowels, so one page holds them all.

Why teach word families at all?

Families let a student read many words from one chunk, which builds speed and confidence. They work best alongside sound-by-sound blending, so a student can still read a word when no family fits.