2 Syllable Words | The Ultimate Word List
If your child is doing really well beginning to read, it may be time to move along to 2 syllable words.
Let’s take a look at what syllables are and some common two syllable word lists!
What is a syllable?
A syllable is a single vowel sound, pronounced as a unit as a word itself or as part of a word. Sometimes it can be called a “word chunk” or a “beat”.
Typically early readers will learn single syllable word families and once those have been mastered they are ready to move onto 2 syllable words.
How do you identify two syllable words?
A two syllable word is a word that when spoken has two specific sounds or beats to them. Perhaps when you were younger your teacher had you clap out the syllables.
For each vowel sound (read: not number of vowels) is the number of syllables in the word.
Example:
A one syllable word: Bat
A two syllable word: But-ter
A three syllable sound: Ba-na-na

What is the longest 2-syllable word?
In the English language there are many long 2 syllable words. Here are a few of them:
- Breaststroke
- Outstretched
- Strengthened
- Breakthrough
Open vs Closed Syllable Words
An open syllable ends in a vowel and almost always has a long vowel sound.
Example of open syllable words:
- Pa-per
- Ba-con
- Be-gin
- Ti-dy
- Pi-lot
In a closed syllable, the vowels are typically surrounded by consonants and tend to have short vowel sounds.
Examples of closed syllable words:
- Bas-ket
- Hel-met
- Muf-fin
- Bet-ter
- Hap-py

2 Syllable Words for Kindergarten
Panda | Number |
Father | Also |
Under | Music |
Purple | Seven |
Zebra | Better |
Also | About |
Again | Pizza |
People | Water |
Happy | Pumpkin |
Christmas | Woman |
Yellow | Away |
Mother | Money |
Over | Today |
Story | Brother |
2 Syllable Words with Long Vowels
Sunshine | Sunrise |
Complete | Dislike |
Sidewalk | Confuse |
Mistake | Upgrade |
Conclude | Intrude |
Explode | Pancake |
Music | Paper |
Firehouse | Bacon |
Tidy | Caper |
Exclude |
2 Syllable Words Ending in -y
Crazy | Lonely |
Penny | Daily |
Sorry | Money |
Today | Story |
Body | Baby |
Monday | Away |
Tuesday | Friday |
Sunday | City |
Country | Ugly |
Lovely | Sorry |
Easy | Cherry |
Hungry | Lazy |
2 syllable words ending in -ing
Swimming | Running |
Breathing | Walking |
Nothing | Ending |
Loving | Morning |
Wedding | Thinking |
Faking | Climbing |
Standing | Jumping |
Saying | Praying |
Looking | Bringing |
2 syllable words that end in -er
Flower | Never |
Wonder | Better |
Under | Over |
After | River |
Monster | Winter |
Water | Sister |
Mother | Brother |
Letter | Sweater |