Word Families PDF
Word Families PDF
Word Families PDF
Word Families are groups of words that have a common feature or pattern – they have some
of the same combination of letters in them and a similar sound. For example, at, cat, hat, and
fat are a family of words with the “at” sound and letter combination in common.
The 37 most common word families in English (according to Wylie and Durrell) are: ack, ain,
ake, ale, all, ame, an, ank, ap, ash, at, ate, aw, ay, eat, ell, est, ice, ick, ide, ight, ill, in, ine, ing,
ink, ip, it, ock, oke, op, ore, ot, uck, ug, ump, unk. We do not study all of these word families
in the year, but we do come close. The following is a list of the word families that are
introduced in First Grade and those that are repeated from Kindergarten. We may add more
to the list as we progress in the school year. Please watch for our newsletters to look at
familiar word family patterns we work on throughout the year.
Word Families
at an it ig in ox en et ut ug ee ea ai ay ie igh ou ow
at an bit big bin box Ben bet but bug bee beach bail bay die high bounce bow
bat ban fit dig din fox den get cut dug beep bead brain day fie nigh bound cow
brat bran grit fig grin lox hen jet gut hug fee beak chain gay lie sigh couch how
cat can hit gig in pox men let hut jug feel bean drain hay pie thigh cloud now
chat clan it jig kin sox pen met mutt lug knee bleach fail jay tie knight crouch row
fat Dan kit pig pin ten net nut mug lee deal Gail lay vie light house sow
flat fan lit rig shin wren pet putt put see each grain may ties might loud vow
hat Fran pit wig spin zen set rut rug tee heal hail nay cries night flounce brow
mat Pam quit wiz thin vet tug wee leach jail say dries right found chow
pat pan sit zig tin wet flee meal lain way flies sight mound plow
rat man wit win free pea mail bray fries tight mouse prow
sat Spa knit glee peach main clay skies blight pounce scow
that tan quit tree sea nail fray tries bright pouch fowl
vat flan skit jeep seal pain gray pound howl
gnat scan spit feed tea plain play proud jowl
drat span keep teal pail pray round growl
scat than see flea rail slay sound prowl
slat seed plea sail spray south scowl
splat need veal tail stay scout down
spat weed steal Spain sway spouse gown
that sleep sprain tray clown
speed train down
drown
frown