Free printable · word families

-et word family list

The -et word family is every word that ends in et, such as bet, fret, get. It is a good family for practising short e, the vowel children most often mix up with short i.

This list has 15 -et words in 2 groups. The first group is the easiest; the later groups add a blend, a digraph or a second syllable, so your child can keep going as the pattern gets easy.

One-syllable words

  • bet
  • fret
  • get
  • jet
  • let
  • met
  • net
  • pet
  • set
  • vet
  • wet
  • yet

Two-syllable words

  • forget
  • sunset
  • upset

How to use this list

  1. Pair each word with a short i word that differs only in the vowel (bet and bit, pet and pit, set and sit) and ask your child which one you said.
  2. Read this silly sentence together: "My pet got wet at the vet."
  3. Keep sessions short: a few minutes a day beats one long session a week.
  4. Ask your child to say each sound and then blend them into the word. If they guess from the first letter, cover the word and go sound by sound again.
  5. Print the flashcards, mix them up, and read them out of order once the list feels easy, so your child is reading the word and not remembering the list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the -et word family?

A group of words that all end in the same letters and sound, -et. Children read the ending as one chunk, so they only have to work out the sound at the start.

How should my child read the two-syllable words?

Cover the ending, read the first part (sun), then uncover -set and put them together. Each part is a chunk your child already knows.

Should my child memorise these words?

No. The aim is to read the ending as a chunk and blend it with the first sound. If your child can read a word from the list they have never seen before, the pattern has clicked.

Free: the 10-minute daily phonics routine

Four short steps you can do with your child every day: sounds, blending, reading and a quick chat about the story. One printable page.

We'll email you the 10-minute daily phonics routine, a few short reading tips over the next month, then at most one monthly roundup of new guides. Unsubscribe anytime.

Keep reading

More word families

See all free printables →