Word family

Short i word families

The answer

Short i word families are groups of one-syllable words that share a rime with the short i sound, like -ill, -it, -ick and -ink. Our lexicon has 259 public words in 27 such families of three or more words, listed family by family.

What do these families share?

Short i families include some of the largest in our lexicon: ill, ick, ing, it and ip. Many end in a doubled letter or a two-letter spelling (ill, iss, iff, ick, itch), so this group is a natural place to teach the floss, ck and tch rules alongside the families. Families ending in nk and ng (ink, ing) add practice with welded sounds.

The families and their words

The -ill family, as in ill

23 words

The -ill family, as in ill
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
ill	(none) + ill	Lesson 42
bill	b + ill	Lesson 42
fill	f + ill	Lesson 42
hill	h + ill	Lesson 42
till	t + ill	Lesson 42
will	w + ill	Lesson 42
skill	sk + ill	Lesson 42
still	st + ill	Lesson 42
mill	m + ill	Lesson 42
pill	p + ill	Lesson 42
drill	dr + ill	Lesson 42
spill	sp + ill	Lesson 42
dill	d + ill	Lesson 42
gill	g + ill	Lesson 42
sill	s + ill	Lesson 42
chill	ch + ill	Lesson 48
frill	fr + ill	Lesson 42
grill	gr + ill	Lesson 42
quill	qu + ill	Lesson 42
swill	sw + ill	Lesson 42
trill	tr + ill	Lesson 42
shrill	shr + ill	Lesson 45
thrill	thr + ill	Lesson 47

The -ip family, as in chip

22 words

The -ip family, as in chip
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
chip	ch + ip	Lesson 48
ship	sh + ip	Lesson 45
slip	sl + ip	Lesson 26
trip	tr + ip	Lesson 24
dip	d + ip	Lesson 13
hip	h + ip	Lesson 23
lip	l + ip	Lesson 26
rip	r + ip	Lesson 24
tip	t + ip	Lesson 8
clip	cl + ip	Lesson 26
drip	dr + ip	Lesson 24
flip	fl + ip	Lesson 26
grip	gr + ip	Lesson 24
skip	sk + ip	Lesson 22
strip	str + ip	Lesson 24
nip	n + ip	Lesson 9
sip	s + ip	Lesson 8
zip	z + ip	Lesson 34
blip	bl + ip	Lesson 26
quip	qu + ip	Lesson 32
snip	sn + ip	Lesson 9
whip	wh + ip	Lesson 50

The -it family, as in it

18 words

The -it family, as in it
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
it	(none) + it	Lesson 8
bit	b + it	Lesson 17
fit	f + it	Lesson 8
hit	h + it	Lesson 23
sit	s + it	Lesson 8
quit	qu + it	Lesson 32
split	spl + it	Lesson 26
kit	k + it	Lesson 22
lit	l + it	Lesson 26
pit	p + it	Lesson 8
wit	w + it	Lesson 28
spit	sp + it	Lesson 8
nit	n + it	Lesson 9
flit	fl + it	Lesson 26
grit	gr + it	Lesson 24
knit	kn + it	Lesson 98
skit	sk + it	Lesson 22
writ	wr + it	Lesson 98

The -in family, as in in

17 words

The -in family, as in in
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
in	(none) + in	Lesson 9
tin	t + in	Lesson 9
win	w + in	Lesson 28
thin	th + in	Lesson 47
bin	b + in	Lesson 17
gin	g + in	Lesson 117
pin	p + in	Lesson 9
sin	s + in	Lesson 9
skin	sk + in	Lesson 22
spin	sp + in	Lesson 9
twin	tw + in	Lesson 28
din	d + in	Lesson 13
fin	f + in	Lesson 9
kin	k + in	Lesson 22
chin	ch + in	Lesson 48
grin	gr + in	Lesson 24
shin	sh + in	Lesson 45

The -ick family, as in pick

17 words

The -ick family, as in pick
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
pick	p + ick	Lesson 44
quick	qu + ick	Lesson 44
stick	st + ick	Lesson 44
trick	tr + ick	Lesson 44
kick	k + ick	Lesson 44
nick	n + ick	Lesson 44
sick	s + ick	Lesson 44
tick	t + ick	Lesson 44
brick	br + ick	Lesson 44
click	cl + ick	Lesson 44
thick	th + ick	Lesson 47
hick	h + ick	Lesson 44
lick	l + ick	Lesson 44
wick	w + ick	Lesson 44
chick	ch + ick	Lesson 48
flick	fl + ick	Lesson 44
slick	sl + ick	Lesson 44

The -ing family, as in king

15 words

The -ing family, as in king
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
king	k + ing	Lesson 51
ring	r + ing	Lesson 51
bring	br + ing	Lesson 51
thing	th + ing	Lesson 51
spring	spr + ing	Lesson 51
string	str + ing	Lesson 51
sing	s + ing	Lesson 51
wing	w + ing	Lesson 51
swing	sw + ing	Lesson 51
ting	t + ing	Lesson 51
cling	cl + ing	Lesson 51
fling	fl + ing	Lesson 51
sling	sl + ing	Lesson 51
sting	st + ing	Lesson 51
wring	wr + ing	Lesson 98

The -ink family, as in link

14 words

The -ink family, as in link
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
link	l + ink	Lesson 52
drink	dr + ink	Lesson 52
think	th + ink	Lesson 52
ink	(none) + ink	Lesson 52
pink	p + ink	Lesson 52
sink	s + ink	Lesson 52
blink	bl + ink	Lesson 52
mink	m + ink	Lesson 52
rink	r + ink	Lesson 52
wink	w + ink	Lesson 52
brink	br + ink	Lesson 52
clink	cl + ink	Lesson 52
stink	st + ink	Lesson 52
shrink	shr + ink	Lesson 52

The -id family, as in bid

11 words

The -id family, as in bid
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bid	b + id	Lesson 17
did	d + id	Lesson 13
hid	h + id	Lesson 23
kid	k + id	Lesson 22
rid	r + id	Lesson 24
id	(none) + id	Lesson 13
lid	l + id	Lesson 26
grid	gr + id	Lesson 24
slid	sl + id	Lesson 26
skid	sk + id	Lesson 22
squid	squ + id	Lesson 32

The -im family, as in him

11 words

The -im family, as in him
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
him	h + im	Lesson 23
dim	d + im	Lesson 13
grim	gr + im	Lesson 24
slim	sl + im	Lesson 26
swim	sw + im	Lesson 28
whim	wh + im	Lesson 50
rim	r + im	Lesson 24
brim	br + im	Lesson 24
prim	pr + im	Lesson 24
skim	sk + im	Lesson 22
trim	tr + im	Lesson 24

The -int family, as in hint

11 words

The -int family, as in hint
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
hint	h + int	Lesson 23
print	pr + int	Lesson 24
mint	m + int	Lesson 9
lint	l + int	Lesson 26
tint	t + int	Lesson 9
flint	fl + int	Lesson 26
glint	gl + int	Lesson 26
stint	st + int	Lesson 9
splint	spl + int	Lesson 26
sprint	spr + int	Lesson 24
squint	squ + int	Lesson 32

The -ig family, as in big

10 words

The -ig family, as in big
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
big	b + ig	Lesson 17
dig	d + ig	Lesson 16
gig	g + ig	Lesson 16
pig	p + ig	Lesson 16
fig	f + ig	Lesson 16
jig	j + ig	Lesson 29
rig	r + ig	Lesson 24
wig	w + ig	Lesson 28
swig	sw + ig	Lesson 28
twig	tw + ig	Lesson 28

The -ilt family, as in guilt

10 words

The -ilt family, as in guilt
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
guilt	gu + ilt	not taught
gilt	g + ilt	Lesson 26
hilt	h + ilt	Lesson 26
jilt	j + ilt	Lesson 29
kilt	k + ilt	Lesson 26
lilt	l + ilt	Lesson 26
silt	s + ilt	Lesson 26
tilt	t + ilt	Lesson 26
wilt	w + ilt	Lesson 28
quilt	qu + ilt	Lesson 32

The -itch family, as in switch

9 words

The -itch family, as in switch
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
switch	sw + itch	Lesson 69
ditch	d + itch	Lesson 69
pitch	p + itch	Lesson 69
witch	w + itch	Lesson 69
itch	(none) + itch	Lesson 69
hitch	h + itch	Lesson 69
snitch	sn + itch	Lesson 69
stitch	st + itch	Lesson 69
twitch	tw + itch	Lesson 69

The -ift family, as in lift

8 words

The -ift family, as in lift
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
lift	l + ift	Lesson 26
shift	sh + ift	Lesson 45
gift	g + ift	Lesson 16
drift	dr + ift	Lesson 24
rift	r + ift	Lesson 24
sift	s + ift	Lesson 8
swift	sw + ift	Lesson 28
thrift	thr + ift	Lesson 47

The -inch family, as in inch

7 words

The -inch family, as in inch
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
inch	(none) + inch	Lesson 48
pinch	p + inch	Lesson 48
cinch	c + inch	Lesson 117
finch	f + inch	Lesson 48
winch	w + inch	Lesson 48
clinch	cl + inch	Lesson 48
flinch	fl + inch	Lesson 48

The -ist family, as in list

7 words

The -ist family, as in list
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
list	l + ist	Lesson 26
mist	m + ist	Lesson 8
twist	tw + ist	Lesson 28
wrist	wr + ist	Lesson 98
fist	f + ist	Lesson 8
gist	g + ist	Lesson 117
wist	w + ist	Lesson 28

The -imp family, as in imp

7 words

The -imp family, as in imp
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
imp	(none) + imp	Lesson 8
limp	l + imp	Lesson 26
blimp	bl + imp	Lesson 26
chimp	ch + imp	Lesson 48
primp	pr + imp	Lesson 24
skimp	sk + imp	Lesson 22
shrimp	shr + imp	Lesson 45

The -inge family, as in fringe

6 words

The -inge family, as in fringe
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
fringe	fr + inge	Lesson 61
hinge	h + inge	Lesson 61
singe	s + inge	Lesson 61
tinge	t + inge	Lesson 61
cringe	cr + inge	Lesson 61
twinge	tw + inge	Lesson 61

The -isk family, as in disk

5 words

The -isk family, as in disk
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
disk	d + isk	Lesson 22
risk	r + isk	Lesson 24
brisk	br + isk	Lesson 24
frisk	fr + isk	Lesson 24
whisk	wh + isk	Lesson 50

The -iff family, as in cliff

5 words

The -iff family, as in cliff
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
cliff	cl + iff	Lesson 42
sniff	sn + iff	Lesson 42
stiff	st + iff	Lesson 42
tiff	t + iff	Lesson 42
whiff	wh + iff	Lesson 50

The -ib family, as in bib

5 words

The -ib family, as in bib
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bib	b + ib	Lesson 17
fib	f + ib	Lesson 17
rib	r + ib	Lesson 24
crib	cr + ib	Lesson 24
glib	gl + ib	Lesson 26

The -ish family, as in fish

4 words

The -ish family, as in fish
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
fish	f + ish	Lesson 45
wish	w + ish	Lesson 45
dish	d + ish	Lesson 45
swish	sw + ish	Lesson 45

The -iss family, as in miss

4 words

The -iss family, as in miss
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
miss	m + iss	Lesson 42
kiss	k + iss	Lesson 42
bliss	bl + iss	Lesson 42
hiss	h + iss	Lesson 42

The -ince family, as in since

4 words

The -ince family, as in since
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
since	s + ince	Lesson 60
prince	pr + ince	Lesson 60
mince	m + ince	Lesson 60
wince	w + ince	Lesson 60

The -ix family, as in fix

3 words

The -ix family, as in fix
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
fix	f + ix	Lesson 31
mix	m + ix	Lesson 31
six	s + ix	Lesson 31

The -isp family, as in crisp

3 words

The -isp family, as in crisp
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
crisp	cr + isp	Lesson 24
lisp	l + isp	Lesson 26
wisp	w + isp	Lesson 28

The -ilk family, as in milk

3 words

The -ilk family, as in milk
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
milk	m + ilk	Lesson 26
ilk	(none) + ilk	Lesson 26
silk	s + ilk	Lesson 26

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 i families
Step	Word	The change
1	in	start here
2	it	change /n/ to /t/
3	ill	change /t/ to /l/
4	id	change /l/ to /d/
5	bid	add /b/
6	big	change /d/ to /g/
7	bit	change /g/ to /t/
8	bill	change /t/ to /l/
9	bin	change /l/ to /n/
10	tin	change /b/ to /t/

How do you teach it?

Begin with it, ip and in, then move to ill and ick, naming the spelling rule each time: short i in one syllable, so ll; short i before /k/, so ck. End with ing and ink as chunks.

"This is the ick family, /ik/. Every word in it ends with c-k. Let's read: stick, trick, quick. So what do you write when you hear /ik/ at the end of a short word? C-k."

What is the common error, and the fix?

Students write "pik" for pick and "stil" for still. The fix is the rule attached to the family: ick and ill are spelled the same way in every word of the family, so learning the family teaches the spelling.

Sort it: a hands-on activity

Give students rime cards for ill, ick and ink and a pile of onsets. They build words, read them and keep only the real ones. Then they write each family as a list and underline the spelling at the end.

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 i word families are there?

In our lexicon, 27 rimes with the short i sound have at least three public one-syllable words, 259 words in all. Smaller families exist, but two words are not enough to practice a pattern.

Why do so many short i families end in double letters?

The floss rule and the ck rule both apply right after a short vowel in one syllable. Short i is very common in short words, so those spellings show up often.

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.