Word family

Short a word families

The answer

Short a word families are groups of one-syllable words that share a rime with the short a sound, like -at, -an, -ack and -ash. Our lexicon has 269 public words in 25 such families of three or more words, listed family by family.

What do these families share?

Short a families are where most students start, because the vowel is easy to hear and the rimes are short. Short a and short i have the most families of the five short vowels in our lexicon, from big ones like ack, ank and ash to small ones like atch and asp. Families ending in a blend (amp, and, ant, ast) make a good second step, since they add one consonant without changing the vowel.

The families and their words

The -ack family, as in back

20 words

The -ack family, as in back
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
back	b + ack	Lesson 44
hack	h + ack	Lesson 44
lack	l + ack	Lesson 44
pack	p + ack	Lesson 44
black	bl + ack	Lesson 44
track	tr + ack	Lesson 44
jack	j + ack	Lesson 44
rack	r + ack	Lesson 44
sack	s + ack	Lesson 44
tack	t + ack	Lesson 44
crack	cr + ack	Lesson 44
snack	sn + ack	Lesson 44
stack	st + ack	Lesson 44
clack	cl + ack	Lesson 44
knack	kn + ack	Lesson 98
quack	qu + ack	Lesson 44
shack	sh + ack	Lesson 45
slack	sl + ack	Lesson 44
smack	sm + ack	Lesson 44
whack	wh + ack	Lesson 50

The -ap family, as in gap

19 words

The -ap family, as in gap
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
gap	g + ap	Lesson 16
map	m + ap	Lesson 6
trap	tr + ap	Lesson 24
scrap	scr + ap	Lesson 24
cap	c + ap	Lesson 14
tap	t + ap	Lesson 6
chap	ch + ap	Lesson 48
wrap	wr + ap	Lesson 98
lap	l + ap	Lesson 26
nap	n + ap	Lesson 9
pap	p + ap	Lesson 6
rap	r + ap	Lesson 24
sap	s + ap	Lesson 6
yap	y + ap	Lesson 30
clap	cl + ap	Lesson 26
flap	fl + ap	Lesson 26
slap	sl + ap	Lesson 26
snap	sn + ap	Lesson 9
strap	str + ap	Lesson 24

The -ash family, as in crash

19 words

The -ash family, as in crash
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
crash	cr + ash	Lesson 45
flash	fl + ash	Lesson 45
trash	tr + ash	Lesson 45
ash	(none) + ash	Lesson 45
bash	b + ash	Lesson 45
cash	c + ash	Lesson 45
dash	d + ash	Lesson 45
hash	h + ash	Lesson 45
rash	r + ash	Lesson 45
clash	cl + ash	Lesson 45
slash	sl + ash	Lesson 45
smash	sm + ash	Lesson 45
lash	l + ash	Lesson 45
mash	m + ash	Lesson 45
sash	s + ash	Lesson 45
brash	br + ash	Lesson 45
gnash	gn + ash	Lesson 118
splash	spl + ash	Lesson 45
thrash	thr + ash	Lesson 47

The -at family, as in at

18 words

The -at family, as in at
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
at	(none) + at	Lesson 4
cat	c + at	Lesson 14
hat	h + at	Lesson 23
sat	s + at	Lesson 4
flat	fl + at	Lesson 26
that	th + at	Lesson 46
bat	b + at	Lesson 17
fat	f + at	Lesson 7
pat	p + at	Lesson 6
rat	r + at	Lesson 24
vat	v + at	Lesson 33
chat	ch + at	Lesson 48
mat	m + at	Lesson 4
brat	br + at	Lesson 24
gnat	gn + at	Lesson 118
slat	sl + at	Lesson 26
spat	sp + at	Lesson 6
splat	spl + at	Lesson 26

The -ank family, as in bank

17 words

The -ank family, as in bank
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bank	b + ank	Lesson 52
tank	t + ank	Lesson 52
blank	bl + ank	Lesson 52
thank	th + ank	Lesson 52
rank	r + ank	Lesson 52
sank	s + ank	Lesson 52
drank	dr + ank	Lesson 52
frank	fr + ank	Lesson 52
dank	d + ank	Lesson 52
yank	y + ank	Lesson 52
clank	cl + ank	Lesson 52
crank	cr + ank	Lesson 52
flank	fl + ank	Lesson 52
plank	pl + ank	Lesson 52
prank	pr + ank	Lesson 52
stank	st + ank	Lesson 52
shrank	shr + ank	Lesson 52

The -ag family, as in flag

16 words

The -ag family, as in flag
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
flag	fl + ag	Lesson 26
bag	b + ag	Lesson 17
lag	l + ag	Lesson 26
rag	r + ag	Lesson 24
tag	t + ag	Lesson 16
drag	dr + ag	Lesson 24
slag	sl + ag	Lesson 26
snag	sn + ag	Lesson 16
gag	g + ag	Lesson 16
hag	h + ag	Lesson 23
nag	n + ag	Lesson 16
sag	s + ag	Lesson 16
wag	w + ag	Lesson 28
brag	br + ag	Lesson 24
crag	cr + ag	Lesson 24
stag	st + ag	Lesson 16

The -an family, as in an

15 words

The -an family, as in an
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
an	(none) + an	Lesson 9
ban	b + an	Lesson 17
can	c + an	Lesson 14
fan	f + an	Lesson 9
man	m + an	Lesson 9
ran	r + an	Lesson 24
van	v + an	Lesson 33
plan	pl + an	Lesson 26
scan	sc + an	Lesson 14
than	th + an	Lesson 46
pan	p + an	Lesson 9
span	sp + an	Lesson 9
tan	t + an	Lesson 9
bran	br + an	Lesson 24
clan	cl + an	Lesson 26

The -am family, as in am

14 words

The -am family, as in am
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
am	(none) + am	Lesson 2
cam	c + am	Lesson 14
ham	h + am	Lesson 23
jam	j + am	Lesson 29
ram	r + am	Lesson 24
swam	sw + am	Lesson 28
dam	d + am	Lesson 13
yam	y + am	Lesson 30
clam	cl + am	Lesson 26
cram	cr + am	Lesson 24
gram	gr + am	Lesson 24
sham	sh + am	Lesson 45
slam	sl + am	Lesson 26
scram	scr + am	Lesson 24

The -ab family, as in lab

13 words

The -ab family, as in lab
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
lab	l + ab	Lesson 26
tab	t + ab	Lesson 17
grab	gr + ab	Lesson 24
cab	c + ab	Lesson 17
dab	d + ab	Lesson 17
gab	g + ab	Lesson 17
jab	j + ab	Lesson 29
nab	n + ab	Lesson 17
blab	bl + ab	Lesson 26
crab	cr + ab	Lesson 24
drab	dr + ab	Lesson 24
scab	sc + ab	Lesson 17
slab	sl + ab	Lesson 26

The -ad family, as in bad

12 words

The -ad family, as in bad
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bad	b + ad	Lesson 17
had	h + ad	Lesson 23
mad	m + ad	Lesson 13
sad	s + ad	Lesson 13
glad	gl + ad	Lesson 26
lad	l + ad	Lesson 26
pad	p + ad	Lesson 13
ad	(none) + ad	Lesson 13
cad	c + ad	Lesson 14
dad	d + ad	Lesson 13
fad	f + ad	Lesson 13
clad	cl + ad	Lesson 26

The -and family, as in and

11 words

The -and family, as in and
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
and	(none) + and	Lesson 13
band	b + and	Lesson 17
hand	h + and	Lesson 23
land	l + and	Lesson 26
brand	br + and	Lesson 24
grand	gr + and	Lesson 24
stand	st + and	Lesson 13
sand	s + and	Lesson 13
bland	bl + and	Lesson 26
gland	gl + and	Lesson 26
strand	str + and	Lesson 24

The -ang family, as in hang

11 words

The -ang family, as in hang
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
hang	h + ang	Lesson 51
bang	b + ang	Lesson 51
gang	g + ang	Lesson 51
rang	r + ang	Lesson 51
sang	s + ang	Lesson 51
slang	sl + ang	Lesson 51
sprang	spr + ang	Lesson 51
fang	f + ang	Lesson 51
pang	p + ang	Lesson 51
tang	t + ang	Lesson 51
clang	cl + ang	Lesson 51

The -amp family, as in amp

10 words

The -amp family, as in amp
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
amp	(none) + amp	Lesson 6
camp	c + amp	Lesson 14
damp	d + amp	Lesson 13
lamp	l + amp	Lesson 26
cramp	cr + amp	Lesson 24
stamp	st + amp	Lesson 6
ramp	r + amp	Lesson 24
champ	ch + amp	Lesson 48
clamp	cl + amp	Lesson 26
tramp	tr + amp	Lesson 24

The -ass family, as in mass

9 words

The -ass family, as in mass
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
mass	m + ass	Lesson 42
pass	p + ass	Lesson 42
class	cl + ass	Lesson 42
glass	gl + ass	Lesson 42
bass	b + ass	Lesson 42
brass	br + ass	Lesson 42
crass	cr + ass	Lesson 42
grass	gr + ass	Lesson 42
lass	l + ass	Lesson 42

The -atch family, as in catch

9 words

The -atch family, as in catch
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
catch	c + atch	Lesson 69
match	m + atch	Lesson 69
patch	p + atch	Lesson 69
scratch	scr + atch	Lesson 69
batch	b + atch	Lesson 69
hatch	h + atch	Lesson 69
latch	l + atch	Lesson 69
snatch	sn + atch	Lesson 69
thatch	th + atch	Lesson 69

The -ant family, as in grant

9 words

The -ant family, as in grant
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
grant	gr + ant	Lesson 24
plant	pl + ant	Lesson 26
cant	c + ant	Lesson 14
pant	p + ant	Lesson 9
rant	r + ant	Lesson 24
ant	(none) + ant	Lesson 9
chant	ch + ant	Lesson 48
scant	sc + ant	Lesson 14
slant	sl + ant	Lesson 26

The -ast family, as in fast

7 words

The -ast family, as in fast
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
fast	f + ast	Lesson 7
last	l + ast	Lesson 26
past	p + ast	Lesson 6
vast	v + ast	Lesson 33
cast	c + ast	Lesson 14
blast	bl + ast	Lesson 26
mast	m + ast	Lesson 4

The -ance family, as in chance

7 words

The -ance family, as in chance
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
chance	ch + ance	Lesson 60
dance	d + ance	Lesson 60
glance	gl + ance	Lesson 60
stance	st + ance	Lesson 60
lance	l + ance	Lesson 60
prance	pr + ance	Lesson 60
trance	tr + ance	Lesson 60

The -ask family, as in ask

6 words

The -ask family, as in ask
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
ask	(none) + ask	Lesson 22
task	t + ask	Lesson 22
mask	m + ask	Lesson 22
bask	b + ask	Lesson 22
cask	c + ask	Lesson 22
flask	fl + ask	Lesson 26

The -aft family, as in daft

6 words

The -aft family, as in daft
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
daft	d + aft	Lesson 13
craft	cr + aft	Lesson 24
draft	dr + aft	Lesson 24
raft	r + aft	Lesson 24
graft	gr + aft	Lesson 24
shaft	sh + aft	Lesson 45

The -act family, as in act

5 words

The -act family, as in act
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
act	(none) + act	Lesson 14
fact	f + act	Lesson 14
pact	p + act	Lesson 14
tact	t + act	Lesson 14
tract	tr + act	Lesson 24

The -ath family, as in path

5 words

The -ath family, as in path
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
path	p + ath	Lesson 47
bath	b + ath	Lesson 47
wrath	wr + ath	Lesson 98
lath	l + ath	Lesson 47
math	m + ath	Lesson 47

The -anch family, as in branch

4 words

The -anch family, as in branch
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
branch	br + anch	Lesson 48
ranch	r + anch	Lesson 48
blanch	bl + anch	Lesson 48
stanch	st + anch	Lesson 48

The -asp family, as in gasp

4 words

The -asp family, as in gasp
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
gasp	g + asp	Lesson 16
grasp	gr + asp	Lesson 24
rasp	r + asp	Lesson 24
clasp	cl + asp	Lesson 26

The -ax family, as in tax

3 words

The -ax family, as in tax
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
tax	t + ax	Lesson 31
lax	l + ax	Lesson 31
wax	w + ax	Lesson 31

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 Short a families
Step	Word	The change
1	am	start here
2	an	change /m/ to /n/
3	at	change /n/ to /t/
4	ash	change /t/ to /sh/
5	bash	add /b/
6	bad	change /sh/ to /d/
7	ban	change /d/ to /n/
8	back	change /n/ to /k/
9	bag	change /k/ to /g/
10	bat	change /g/ to /t/

How do you teach it?

Start with the three-letter rimes (at, an, ap, ag, am, ad) and swap only the first sound. Once students swap onsets quickly, change the last sound instead: cat to cap to can. Then add a consonant at the end: an to and, am to amp.

"Cover the f and the l. What's left? /at/. Now uncover the l: /lat/. Uncover the f too: flat. You read the family first, then the beginning."

What is the common error, and the fix?

The common error is reading the onset and guessing the rest, especially when the onset is a blend. The fix is to cover the onset, read the rime, then add the onset back: /at/, then /f/, /l/, /at/, flat.

Sort it: a hands-on activity

Put rime headers on the table (at, an, ap, ack) and mix the word cards. Students sort by family, then read each column down. A second round, sorting by first sound across families, shows that the same onsets work with every rime.

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 short a word families are there?

In our lexicon, 25 rimes with the short a sound have at least three public one-syllable words, 269 words in all. Smaller families exist, but two words are not enough to practice a pattern.

Which short a family should come first?

The at and an families: short, common and easy to swap. Move to families with a digraph (ack, ash) or a blend at the end (and, ant, amp) once those are quick.

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.