120+ Long O Words List (Free Printable Lists)
Grow your child’s understanding of the long o sound (/ō/) with comprehensive word lists, teaching tips, and activities.
Long o word lists can help children learn to identify and better understand the long o sound (ō) in different spelling patterns, such as words with a silent -e, vowel teams like -oa, -ow, and others. Recognizing the long o sound (/ō/) is an important part of phonics instruction, as it helps children with decoding and spelling.
This collection includes both beginner and advanced words, words used in everyday context, and engaging activities to help reinforce learning. Print them out as a free downloadable PDF and work with the words that best suit your child’s skill level.
In phonetics, the long o sound is represented as /ō/.
What is the Long O Sound?
The long o sound (/ō/) is heard in words like boat, snow, and go. It can be represented in various ways in writing, such as:
Examples:
- A vowel (o) followed by a consonant and a silent -e (hope, cone)
- Vowel teams like -oa (boat, road) and -ow (snow, grow)
- Words with -ough (though, although)
We’ll explore the different ways to create the long o sound (/ō/) in more detail below.
The Different Ways to Spell Long O
The long o sound (/ō/) can appear in words through several distinct spelling patterns. Learning these spelling patterns can help children decode and spell long o words. Here’s a closer look at each pattern:
- Open Syllables or O Alone
This occurs when the letter O appears at the end of an open syllable. An open syllable occurs when a vowel is at the end of a syllable, making the vowel long. However, there are a few exceptions where the long o sound (/ō/) appears in closed syllable words, such as in most and ghost.
- Vowel-Consonant-e (VCe)
This pattern, often called the “magic E,” is one of the most common ways to spell the long o sound (/ō/). For example, in words like hope and cone, the silent -e at the end of the word changes the short o sound (/ǒ/) into a long o sound (/ō/). Understanding this rule helps children distinguish between words like hop and hope or not and note.
- Vowel Team -oa
The vowel team -oa creates the long o sound (/ō/), as in boat or road. Teaching children to recognize it as a vowel team helps them decode these words more easily. Tip: A vowel team is when two or more vowels appear together in a word and combine to create a single vowel sound.
- Vowel Team -ow
The -ow vowel team produces the long o sound (/ō/) in words like snow and grow. This pattern is often found at the end of words, making it easier for young learners to recognize.
- Vowel Team -oe
Similarly to the vowel team -ow, this vowel team is often found at the end of words. It produces the long o sound (/ō/) in words like toe and foe.
- -ough Pattern
The -ough pattern can produce the long o sound (/ō/) in words like though and although. This spelling is not very common, but it’s helpful for advanced learners to understand.
Long O Word Lists
These lists include a mix of simple and more advanced words, making them suitable for learners at various levels.
Long O Words with Open Syllables or O Alone
This list features words with the long o sound (/ō/) in open, multi-syllable words and closed, single -syllable words.
- banjo – ban·jo
- both – both
- bonus – bo·nus
- buffalo – buf·fa·lo
- cold – cold
- focus – fo·cus
- frozen – fro·zen
- go – go
- gold – gold
- hello – hel·lo
- hold – hold
- hotel – ho·tel
- moment – mo·ment
- motion – mo·tion
- most – most
- no – no
- ocean – o·cean
- okay – o·kay
- omit – o·mit
- old – old
- over – o·ver
- piano – pi·a·no
- post – post
- potato – po·ta·to
- robot – ro·bot
- so – so
- tomato – to·ma·to
- total – to·tal
Long O Words with Vowel-Consonant-e
These words feature the long o sound (/ō/) where the letter O is followed by a consonant and a silent -e.
- alone
- awoke
- bone
- broke
- clove
- close
- cone
- cope
- drone
- drove
- envelope
- expose
- froze
- globe
- hole
- home
- hope
- hose
- joke
- lone
- mole
- mope
- node
- note
- ode
- phone
- poke
- probe
- prone
- quote
- robe
- rope
- rose
- scope
- slope
- smoke
- sole
- spoke
- stone
- stove
- throne
- those
- tone
- tote
- vote
- woke
- wrote
Long O Words with the Vowel Team -oa
These words feature the long o sound (/ō/) created by the vowel team -oa.
- bloat
- boast
- boat
- coat
- float
- gloat
- goal
- goat
- load
- loaf
- moat
- oat
- road
- roast
- soap
- throat
- toast
- toad
Long O Words with the Vowel Team -ow
These words feature the long o sound (/ō/) created by the vowel team -ow.
- bestow
- blow
- crow
- fallow
- flow
- glow
- grow
- hollow
- know
- low
- mow
- own
- overthrow
- rainbow
- shadow
- show
- slow
- snow
- stow
- throw
- window
Long O Words with the Vowel Team -oe
These words feature the long o sound (/ō/) created by the vowel team -oe.
- aloe
- doe
- foe
- oboe
- toe
- woe
Long O Words with -ough
These words feature the long o sound (/ō/) created by the -ough pattern.
- although
- borough
- dough
- though
- thorough
Long O Words Used in Sentences
Using long o words in sentences helps children understand their meanings and how to use them in everyday conversation.
- blow – The wind began to blow harder in the afternoon.
- boat – We took a boat ride across the lake.
- coat – I wore my winter coat to keep warm.
- cone – She had an ice cream cone after dinner.
- doe–We saw a baby doe with a mama deer when we were hiking in the woods.
- drone – The drone flew high above the trees.
- flow – The river’s flow was steady and calming.
- glow – The fireflies gave off a warm glow in the dark.
- goal – His goal is to become a professional soccer player.
- grow – The plants will grow tall if we water them every day.
- hope – I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow for the picnic.
- loaf – She baked a fresh loaf of bread this morning.
- moat – The castle was surrounded by a deep moat.
- note – Please leave a note if you go out.
- phone – I called my friend on the phone to catch up.
- road – We followed the road until we reached the forest.
- row – Let’s sit in the front row at the concert.
- show – The talent show featured many amazing acts.
- snow – The snow covered the ground like a white blanket.
- soap – Clean the dishes with warm water and soap.
- stone – The stone path led to the garden.
- throat – My throat feels sore after talking so much.
- though – I wanted to play outside, though it was too cold.
- tone – Her tone of voice was cheerful and welcoming.
Long O 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.
-
Thanksgiving Craft for Kids: Pine Cone Turkey
Indulge in the festive spirit of Thanksgiving with this delightful Pine Cone Turkey craft for kids. This activity not only sparks creativity but also aids in…
-
Easy Thanksgiving Craft for Kids: Bead Corn Craft
Enjoy this fun festive thanksgiving craft from ABCmouse! This exciting activity for kids is great for helping young children practice their dexterity and counting. This beaded…
