Free printable · beginning blends

R blend words

R blends are pairs like br, dr and tr, where a consonant is followed by r at the start of a word. Every word here has a short vowel after the blend, so the blend is the only new step.

This page has 41 r blend words in 7 groups, one for each blend.

br words

  • brag
  • brick
  • brim
  • bring
  • brunch
  • brush

cr words

  • crab
  • crack
  • crib
  • crop
  • crush
  • crust

dr words

  • drag
  • dress
  • drill
  • drip
  • drop
  • drum

fr words

  • fresh
  • fret
  • frill
  • frizz
  • frog
  • frost

gr words

  • grab
  • grass
  • grin
  • grip
  • grub
  • grunt

pr words

  • prank
  • press
  • print
  • prompt
  • prop

tr words

  • track
  • trap
  • trip
  • trot
  • truck
  • trust

How to use this list

  1. Tr and dr can sound like "chr" and "jr" when said fast. That is normal speech; just make sure your child writes and reads the t or d.
  2. Keep sessions short: a few minutes a day beats one long session a week.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 a consonant blend?

Two consonants side by side where you can still hear both sounds, like the f and l in flag. That is different from a digraph such as sh, where two letters make one new sound.

My child cannot say r clearly yet. Can they still read these?

Yes. Reading is about matching letters to sounds, and many young children are still learning to say r. If you are worried about speech, ask your child's teacher or doctor.

What should my child read after r blends?

Words with a blend at the end, such as best, hand and lamp, and then three-letter blends such as the str in strap.

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