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 |
