Phonics & Number DenPlay freeTricky words, year by year
Tricky words are common words with a part that does not follow the sounds a child knows yet, like the "o" in "to". Children learn to read them at a glance, a few at a time.
Reception tricky words (49)
Reception Level 2
- is
- I
- the
Reception Level 3
- put
- pull
- full
- as
- and
- has
- his
- her
- go
- no
- to
- into
- she
- push
- he
- of
- we
- me
- be
Reception Level 4
- was
- you
- they
- my
- by
- all
- are
- sure
- pure
Reception Level 5
- said
- so
- have
- like
- some
- come
- love
- do
- were
Reception Level 6
- here
- little
- says
- there
- when
- what
- one
- out
- today
Year 1 tricky words (42)
Year 1 Level 2
- their
- people
- oh
- your
- Mr
- Mrs
- Ms
- ask
- could
- would
- should
- our
- house
- mouse
- water
- want
Year 1 Level 3
- any
- many
- again
- who
- whole
- where
- two
- school
- call
- different
- thought
- through
- friend
- work
Year 1 Level 4
- once
- laugh
- because
- eye
Year 1 Level 6
- busy
- beautiful
- pretty
- hour
- move
- improve
- parents
- shoe
Year 2 tricky words (34)
Year 2 Level 1
- people
- eye
- whole
- through
- improve
- move
- prove
- shoe
- two
- who
- beautiful
- their
- parents
- thought
- sure
- once
- again
- any
- many
- friend
- busy
- pretty
- because
- laugh
Year 2 Level 2
- door
- floor
- poor
- find
- kind
- mind
- behind
- child
- children
- wild
Year 2 Level 3
- once
- two
- any
- many
Year 2 Level 4
- who
- whole
- people
- friend
- move
- improve
Year 2 Level 5
- beautiful
- laugh
- busy
- pretty
- parents
- because
Helping with tricky words at home
- Sound out the parts that do follow the rules, then point out the tricky part.
- Look for the words in books you share, and let your child spot them.
- A few minutes often works better than a long session.
More on Reception phonics, Year 1 phonics and Year 2 phonics.