listbeeShort vowels
Short i words
Short i words are some of the most common in early reading books. These lists move from CVC words to blends and digraphs, then to two-syllable words.
- Sound
- /ĭ/ as in sit
- Usually taught
- Kindergarten–1st grade
- Words on this page
- 38 in 3 lists
Short i 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.
CVC words
15 words- sit
- hit
- pin
- win
- big
- dig
- pig
- fit
- lip
- zip
- kid
- lid
- mix
- six
- him
Short i with blends and digraphs
15 words- swim
- spin
- twin
- trip
- drip
- gift
- milk
- list
- hill
- fish
- dish
- ship
- chin
- thin
- stick
Challenge words
8 words- kitten
- mitten
- picnic
- sister
- window
- insect
- dinner
- finish
How the pattern works
Short i says /ĭ/ as in sit. It is a short, relaxed sound, so children sometimes hear it as short e.
In two-syllable words like kitten and dinner, each syllable is closed. Clapping the syllables and spelling one at a time makes longer words manageable.
Common mistakes
- Writing e for i (pen for pin).
- Spelling x as ks or cks: six, mix, fix all end with a single x.
- In two-syllable words, dropping one of the double letters: kitten, mitten, dinner.
Practice ideas
- Spell kit, then add letters to make longer words: kit → kitten → mitten.
- Find short i words in a favorite picture book and add them to this week’s list.
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