listbeeLong vowels
EW and UE words
Ew and ue both spell the long u sound, which can sound like “oo” (blue) or “you” (few). Both usually come at the end of a word or syllable.
- Sound
- /oo/ as in grew and /yoo/ as in few
- Usually taught
- 2nd grade
- Words on this page
- 18 in 2 lists
EW and UE 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.
How the pattern works
Ew and ue usually appear at the end of a word or syllable: new, blue. In the middle of a one-syllable word, long u is usually spelled u_e (rule, cute) or oo (moon).
There is no simple rule for choosing between ew and ue, so practice from memory helps.
Several ew words are past tenses (grew, flew, drew, blew, threw), which gives them a meaningful group.
Common mistakes
- Writing oo at the end: “bloo,” “groo.”
- Using the wrong team: “blew” for blue, “threw” for through.
- Leaving off the e: “blu,” “tru.”
Practice ideas
- Match present and past: grow → grew, fly → flew, draw → drew, blow → blew, throw → threw.
- Practice blue and blew in sentences: “The wind blew my blue hat.”
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