listbeeVowels with r
ER, IR and UR words
Er, ir and ur all make the same sound. Because the sound gives no clue to the spelling, these words are some of the hardest in second grade.
- Sound
- /er/ as in her, bird and fur
- Usually taught
- 2nd grade
- Words on this page
- 33 in 3 lists
ER, IR and UR words: word lists
Practice a list online (each word is read aloud), or open it in the worksheet maker to print a test, word search, or look-cover-write-check sheet.
er words
10 words- her
- fern
- herd
- term
- verb
- perch
- winter
- after
- under
- never
ir words
12 words- bird
- girl
- dirt
- shirt
- first
- third
- skirt
- stir
- birth
- thirst
- circle
- firm
ur words
11 words- fur
- hurt
- turn
- burn
- curl
- nurse
- purse
- church
- burst
- turtle
- purple
How the pattern works
Er, ir and ur sound identical in most American speech. The spelling has to be remembered word by word.
Er is the most common, especially at the end of longer words: winter, after, under.
Grouping words that share a spelling (bird, girl, shirt, skirt) gives memory something to hold on to.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong team: “burd,” “gurl,” “fern” spelled “firn.”
- Writing r alone: “brd,” “hr.”
- Writing ur at the end of longer words: “wintur.”
Practice ideas
- Practice one group per day, then mix them in a readiness check at the end of the week.
- Make silly sentences from one group: “The first bird in a shirt sat on the dirt.”
Practicing a list from school?
Paste your child’s exact words to make listening practice and printables in seconds.