Evidence-based curriculum for ages 2-8

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Free printable long I word list from ABCmouse.com.

140+ Long I Words List (Free Printable List)

Help your child master the long i sound with these comprehensive lists, activities, and teaching tips.

Table of Contents

The Long I Sound

The Different Ways to Spell Long I

Long I Word Lists

Long I Words with Sentences

Print Long I Words Lists

Long I Words Activities

These long i word lists are designed to help children practice identifying the long i sound (/ī/) in different spelling patterns, such as words with a silent -e, vowel teams like -ie or -igh, and more.

Recognizing the long i sound (/ī/) is a key part of phonics instruction, helping children with decoding and spelling.

This collection includes both beginner and advanced words. Pick the words that best suit your child’s skill level. We’ve also included examples in sentences and engaging activities to help reinforce learning.

Free printable long I word list from ABCmouse.com.

What is the Long I Sound?

The long i sound (/ī/) is heard in words like kite, pie, and high. It can be represented in various ways in writing, such as:

Examples:

  • A vowel followed by a consonant and a silent -e (kite, bite)
  • Vowel teams like -ie (pie, lie) and -igh (high, light)
  • A word ending in -y (sky, fly)
  • A word that has a y in it and ends in a silent -e (type, style)

In phonetics, the long i sound is represented as /ī/. We’ll explore the different ways to create the long i sound in more detail below.

The Different Ways to Spell the Long I Sound

The long i sound (/ī/) is one of the most versatile vowel sounds in the English language, appearing in words through several distinct spelling patterns. Learning these spelling patterns can help children decode and spell long i words in everyday language. Here’s a closer look at each pattern:

  1. Vowel-Consonant-e (VCe)

    This pattern, often called the “magic E,” is one of the most common ways to spell the long i sound (/ī/). For example, in words like kite and bike, the silent -e at the end of the word changes the short i (/ǐ/) sound into a long i sound (/ī/). Understanding this rule is essential for decoding many English words and helps children distinguish between words like bit and bite or kit and kite.
  1. -igh (Three-Letter I)

    The vowel team -igh creates the long i sound (/ī/), as in light or sight. Teaching children to recognize it as a “three-letter i” helps them decode these words more easily, despite their uncommon structure.
  1. y at the End of a Word

    The letter y at the end of one-syllable words often represents the long i sound (/ī/), as in my, cry, and fly.
  1. y-Consonant-e Pattern (y with Silent -e)

    Words like type and style use the y-consonant-e pattern, where y acts as a vowel, producing the long i sound (/ī/).
  1. -ie Vowel Team

    The -ie vowel team produces the long i sound (/ī/) in a smaller set of words, such as pie, tie, and lie.

Tip: This vowel team can be taught as a word family, where the -ie sound stays the same as different consonants are inserted before them.

  1. I Alone or Open Syllables

    An open syllable occurs when a vowel is at the end of a syllable, making the vowel long. For example, in words like idea (i-dea), pilot (pi-lot), or item (i-tem), the i is pronounced as a long vowel. The long i sound (/ī/) is also heard in closed, single-syllable words, such as child and kind.
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Long I Word Lists

These lists include a mix of simple and more advanced words, making them suitable for learners at various levels.

Long I Words with Vowel-Consonant-e:

These words feature the long i sound (/ī/) where the letter i is followed by a consonant and a silent -e.

  • bike
  • bite
  • bride
  • crime
  • dime
  • dive
  • drive
  • file
  • fine
  • fire
  • five
  • glide
  • hide
  • hive
  • knife
  • life
  • lime
  • line
  • mine
  • mile
  • prize
  • ride
  • rise
  • shine
  • side
  • smile
  • slide
  • spine
  • stride
  • stripe
  • tide
  • time
  • vine
  • wide
  • wife

Long I Words with the Vowel Team -igh

These words feature the long i sound (/ī/) created by the vowel team -igh.

  • airtight
  • bright
  • candlelight
  • delight
  • fight
  • flight
  • foresight
  • fortnight
  • fright
  • high
  • highlight
  • insight
  • light
  • midnight
  • might
  • night
  • oversight
  • right
  • sigh
  • sight
  • slight
  • tight
  • twilight
  • upright ​​

Long I Words with -y at the End

When –y appears at the end of a word, it often produces the long i sound (/ī/).

  • ally
  • amplify
  • apply
  • beautify
  • by
  • clarify
  • comply
  • cry
  • deny
  • dry
  • fly
  • fry
  • imply
  • magnify
  • my
  • rely
  • reply
  • shy
  • simplify
  • sky
  • spy
  • testify
  • try
  • unify

Words with the Long I Sound in y-Consonant-e Pattern

The y-consonant-e pattern is a special case where the letter y acts as a vowel, making the long i sound (/ī/). This occurs in words where y is followed by a consonant and a silent -e.

  • analyze
  • archetype
  • argyle
  • byte
  • enzyme
  • freestyle
  • genotype
  • gigabyte
  • hairstyle
  • hype
  • mistype
  • paralyze
  • style
  • thyme
  • tyke
  • type
  • typewriter

Long I Words with the Vowel Team –ie

These words feature the long i sound (/ī/) created by the vowel team -ie.

  • allied
  • applied
  • cried
  • defied
  • denied
  • die
  • dried
  • fried
  • justified
  • lie
  • pie
  • relied
  • replied
  • spied
  • supplied
  • terrified
  • tie
  • tried
  • untied

Long I Words with Open Syllables or I Alone

Open syllables occur when a vowel is left at the end of a syllable, causing it to produce a long vowel sound. The long i sound (/ī/) is also heard in closed, single-syllable words, such as child and kind.

  • bicycle – bi·cy·cle
  • final – fi·nal
  • finally – fi·nal·ly
  • Friday – Fri·day
  • giant – gi·ant
  • hi – hi
  • idea – i·de·a
  • iron – i·ron
  • item – i·tem
  • I – I
  • library – li·bra·ry
  • lion – li·on
  • pilot – pi·lot
  • quiet – qui·et
  • science – sci·ence
  • silent – si·lent
  • spider – spi·der
  • trial – tri·al
  • tricycle – tri·cy·cle

Long I Words Used in Sentences

Using long i words in sentences helps children understand their meanings and how to use them in everyday conversation and also allows them to practice pronunciation.

  • bike – I like to ride my bike to the park every morning.
  • kite – The colorful kite soared in the sky, dancing with the wind.
  • crime – Solving the mystery of the missing jewels was a thrilling crime story.
  • light – The soft light from the candle made the room feel cozy.
  • pie – Grandma’s apple pie is my favorite dessert to eat during the holidays.
  • high – The balloon floated so high in the air that we could barely see it.
  • my – My sister and I enjoy playing outside when the weather is nice.
  • fly – I watched a butterfly fly gracefully from flower to flower in the garden.
  • dry – After the rain, the sun came out and helped dry the wet streets.
  • try – It’s important to always try your best, even if something is difficult.
  • sky – The night sky was filled with bright, twinkling stars.
  • bright – The bright sunlight made it the perfect day to go to the beach.
  • fight – The knights prepared for a fight to defend their kingdom.
  • night – On a clear night, you can see so many stars in the sky.
  • tight – He tied his shoelaces so tight that they wouldn’t come undone during the race.
  • might – With a little extra practice, you might win the competition next time.
  • line – Please stand in line to get your tickets for the movie.
  • shine – The sun’s rays began to shine through the clouds after the storm.
  • time – It’s time to go to bed after finishing your bedtime story.
  • smile – Her big smile lit up the room when she saw her birthday cake.
  • hive – We saw a hive filled with buzzing bees in the tree.
  • life – A happy life is filled with family, friends, and laughter.
  • mile – They ran a mile during gym class and felt very proud of themselves.
  • file – The office worker carefully placed the documents into a neat file.

Long I Word Activities

Long Vowel Sounds Worksheets:

Our free printable Long Vowel Sounds Worksheets can help your child practice their understanding of long vowels through fun coloring pages and crossword puzzles.

Free printable long vowel sounds worsksheets from ABCmouse.com.

Long I Word Scavenger Hunt

Objective:

Help children identify and associate the long i sound (/ī/) with everyday objects and words.

Materials Needed:

  • A basket or small bag for collecting the items.
  • Picture cards or printed images of items representing long i words (kite, pie, bike, light)

Steps:

  • Place the picture cards or objects around the room or outdoor space.
  • Explain to the children that they are “word detectives” searching for items with the long i sound (/ī/).
  • As they find each object, ask them to say the word aloud and emphasize the long i sound, for example “Kite—/ī/.”
  • After all items are collected, gather the children and review the words together, discussing the spelling patterns (silent -e in kite or vowel team -ie in pie).

Extension Idea:

Have children draw or color a picture of their favorite item and write the word underneath.

 Long I Word Puzzle Match

Objective:

Teach children to recognize spelling patterns for the long i sound.

Materials Needed:

  • Pre-made word puzzles with long i words, for example bike split into bi- and -ke)
  • Laminated cards or sturdy paper

Steps:

  • Create a set of puzzles by writing long i words onto pieces of paper or notecards. Then, cut the words apart into two pieces (pi and e for pie).
  • Scatter the pieces on a table and challenge children to match the parts to form a complete long i word.
  • Once they create a word, ask them to read it aloud and identify the long i sound (/ī/).
  • Group the completed puzzles by spelling patterns (silent -e, vowel teams -ie and -igh).

Extension Idea:

Turn the activity into a timed challenge to increase engagement.

Long I Sound Sorting Game

Objective:

Help children differentiate between long i words and other vowel sounds.

Materials Needed:

  • A large poster or chart with two columns labeled “Long I Words” and “Other Words.”
  • A stack of word cards (a mix of long i words like kite, pie, high and other vowel words like cat, boat, bed).

Steps:

  • Introduce the long i sound (/ī/) with examples and emphasize the spelling patterns.
  • Give each child a card and ask them to read the word aloud.
  • Have the child decide whether the word belongs in the “Long I Words” column or the “Other Words” column and place the card accordingly.
  • Once all cards are sorted, review them together and discuss why certain words have the long i sound (/ī/).

Extension Idea:

Ask children to brainstorm additional long i words to add to the list.

Long I Sound Rhyming Relay

Objective:

Reinforce recognition of long i words through rhyming.

Materials Needed:

  • Word cards with long i words (bike, like, hike, kite, light, sight).

Steps:

  • Divide children into two teams.
  • Place a stack of word cards at the starting line and an empty basket at the finish line.
  • The first child in each team picks a word card, reads it aloud, and says a rhyming word (“Bike—hike“).
  • They then run to the finish line, place the card in the basket, and return to tag the next teammate.
  • Continue until all cards are in the basket.

Extension Idea:

Encourage older children to spell the rhyming word they come up with for extra practice.

Long I Word Art Collage

Objective:

Help children visualize the long i sound (/ī/) and associate it with real-world objects.

Materials Needed:

  • Magazines, newspapers, or printed pictures
  • Glue, scissors, large poster paper, and markers

Steps:

  • Provide children with magazines and newspapers to search for pictures of items representing long i words (kite, pie, light, etc.).
  • Have them cut out the pictures and paste them onto a poster to create a collage.
  • Ask them to label each picture with the corresponding long i word.
  • Once completed, have children present their collages, emphasizing the long i sound in each word.

Extension Idea:

Add a creative element by letting children draw additional long i objects that they couldn’t find in magazines.

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