S blends word list
Printable list of s-blend words · 2 pages
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S-blends start with s and add a second consonant: sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st and sw. The s is easy to stretch (ssstop), which makes these good blends to start with.
This list has about 45 s-blend words, all short-vowel and grouped by blend. St has the most words, from stack to stuff. Sl words (slip, sled) are on the l-blends list.
S-blends are where children most often leave out the second sound, reading stop as sop or snap as sap. Ask your child to point under each letter as they say it, or use sound boxes so each sound gets its own space.
Tips for using it
- Stretch the s, then add the next sound: sss-t-op. Stop the stretch as soon as the second sound comes in.
- Sc and sk both say /sk/. Use sk before e and i (skin, skid) and sc before a, o and u (scab, scuff).
Variations
All consonant blends word listQuestions
What are s blends?
S blends begin with s plus another consonant: sc, sk, sl, sm, sn, sp, st and sw, as in scab, skip, slip, smell, snap, spin, stop and swim.
Why do kids skip sounds in s-blends?
The second consonant is short and quiet next to a long s, so it's easy to miss. Slow, finger-tracked reading or sound boxes usually fix it.