AVKO Educational Research Foundation
A non-profit organization devoted to helping
teachers, parents, and researchers since 1974

 [ For Parents and Home Schoolers ] [ Classroom Teachers ]
[ Catalog ] [ Workshops ] [ Home Page ]
 [ Research ] [
Freebies ] [ Media ]

AVKO comes from Audio, Visual, Kinesthetic, & Oral a multi-sensory approach.

AVKO Educational Research Foundation's

A List of Essential Phonic Patterns
Seldom Systematically Taught

Pattern

Sample Words Containing Pattern

Page in

Patterns of English Spelling

"un" Suffixes

-on = "un" common London apron pardon person reckon summon carbon Vol. 8   832-851
-an = "un" urban human African pagan slogan veteran Mexican Canadian American Vol. 8   852-856
-en = "un" leaden rotten dozen deaden lengthen listen widen lengthen happen Vol. 8   857-860
-in = "un" robin Franklin assassin toxin bulletin insulin Vol. 8   861-862
-ion = "yun" opinion union reunion onions rebellion battalion communion   Vols. 8/9  837 & 935
-ian = "yun" Italian civilian Sicilian Canadian Indian Vols. 8/9  853 & 936
-ain = "un" mountain certain chieftain fountain bargain Vol. 4            419

"unt" Suffixes

-ant = "unt" elegant ignorant significant applicant occupant lieutenant Vol. 2            254
-ent = "unt" different convenient innocent confident residents Vol. 2            255

"un-ss" Suffixes

-ance = "un-ss" elegance ignorance significance inheritance defiance Vol. 2            258
-ence = "un-ss"  violence coincidence experience evidence obedience Vol. 2            260

"und" Suffixes

-and = "und" Ireland Scotland Holland England Portland Maryland island Vol. 2            281

"ur" Suffixes

-or = "ur" labor   neighbor   harbor    rigor   valor   color   humor    glamor Vol. 6   675-681
-our = "ur" labour neighbour harbour rigour valour colour humour glamour Vol. 6            682
-ar = "ur" muscular cedar scholar popular particular peculiar Vol. 6   673-674
-ir = "ur" nadir elixir astir tapir kaffir bestir Vol. 6            675

"ul" Suffixes

el = "ul" label angel camel panel chapel barrel weasel travel Vol. 6   624-627
al = "ul" verbal medal decimal criminal trial rival withdrawal Vol. 8   818-827
ol = "ul" symbol idol pistol carol gambol petrol Bristol capitol Vol. 6            628
ul = "ul" mogul consul eyeful truthful respectful Vol. 6   629-631

"AK," "EK" & "IK" Suffixes

-ac = "ak" maniac zodiac shellac cognac almanac kleptomaniac Vol. 8            801
-ec = "ek" Aztek Alec Vol. 8            801
-ic = "ik" cubic Nordic terrific tragic psychic frolic cosmic picnic Vol. 8   802-816

"uh KUL" Suffixes

-ical = "uh KUL" chemical technical historical mathematical Vol. 8   802-816
-acal = "uh kul" maniacal kleptomaniacal xenomaniacal pyromaniacal Vol. 8            801

"uh BUL" Suffixes

-able = "uh bul" probable readable noticeable available variable Vol. 6   613-621
-ible = "uh bul" possible edible credible compatible irresistible Vol. 6   621-623

"uh TEE" Suffixes

ity = "uh TEE" probability possibility reality legality nationality Vol. 7   730-738
ety = "uh TEE" variety society piety anxiety fidgety notoriety Vol. 7            729

"us" Suffixes
Also combine with ci, ti, xi, gi, & ge digraphs

-ous = "us" tremendous fabulous ridiculous famous poisonous Vol. 8   867-874
-ious = EE us envious previous dubious amphibious studious Vol. 8   868-871
-eous = EE us hideous igneous miscellaneous spontaneous Vol. 8            867

ci = "sh" combines with
-ous, -on, -an, -al, -ent, -a, & -o Suffixes

-cious = "shus" precious suspicious gracious ferocious delicious Vol. 8            868
-cion = "shun" suspicion coercion Vol. 8            837
-cian = "shun" magician physician electrician musician politician Vol. 8            854
-cial = "shul" racial commercial special social crucial artificial Vol. 8            818
-cient = "shunt" efficient deficient sufficient ancient coefficient Vol. 9            912
-cia = "shuh" Marcia Felicia Alicia Patricia Vol. 9            912
-cio = "shoh" Ignacio pasticcio libeccio braggadocio Vol. 9            912

ti = "sh" combines with
-ous, -on, -an, -al, -ent, -a, & -o Suffixes

-tious = "shus" ambitious infectious repetitious cautious Vol. 8   870-871
-tion = "shun" ambitions infections repetitions cautions Vol. 8   838-851
-tial = "shul" partial initial credentials essential sequential martial Vol. 8            825
-tient = "shunt" patient quotient sentient impatient insentient Vol. 9            914
-tia = "shuh" militia inertia Portia Nova Scotia dementia Vol. 9            914
-tio = "shoh" ratio Horatio Vol. 9            914

xi = "sh" combines only with -ous

-xious = "shus" anxious noxious obnoxious fluxious influxious Vol. 9            917

Consonant + si digraph combines with -on

-sion = "shun" tension expulsion expansion suspension comprehension Vol. 8            836

ss = "sh" combines with -ure

-ssure = "shur" assure reassure pressure fissure Vol. 9            915

ssi = "sh" combines with -on & -an

-ssion = "shun" passion compassion impression obsession admission Vol. 8            834
-ssian = "shun" Russian Prussian Hessian Vol. 9            916

si = "zh" combines with -a, -an & -on

-sia = "zhuh" Asia euthanasia Tunisia anesthesia amnesia Persia Vol. 9            917
-sian = "zhun" Asian Caucasian artesian Persian Eurasian

Vol. 9            917

-sion = "zhun" vision invasion contusions exclusion corrosion explosion Vol. 9            918

s = "zh" combines with -ure

-sure = "zhur" pleasure exposure leisure treasure measure Vol. 9            919

t = "ch" combines with -ue, -ure, -une

-tue = "choo" virtue statue habitué ("huh BICH choo AY") Vol. 9            923
-ture = "chur" feature nature fracture picture culture furniture vulture

Vol. 9   923-924

-tune = "chun" fortune fortunate unfortunate misfortune Vol. 9            924

ti = "ch" combines with -an and -on

-tian = "chun" Christian Sebastian Christianity Vol. 9            854
-tion = "chun" question suggestion combustion exhaustion indigestion

Vol. 8            851

gi = "j" combines with -on & -ous

-gion = "jun" region religion legion contagion regional

Vol. 9            920

-gious = "jus" religious contagious sacrilegious prodigious prestigious Vol. 9            920

gi = "j" combines with -on, -ous, & -ant

-geon = "jun" surgeon dungeon bludgeon pigeon Vol. 9            920
-geous = "jus" courageous gorgeous outrageous advantageous

Vol. 9            920

-geant = "junt" pageant sergeant  pageantry Vol. 9            920

gu & gue = "g"

-gu = "guh" guild guise disguise guitar guilt guilty Guinness Vol. 9            921
-gue = "guh" fatigue morgue vague league plague intrigue

Vol. 9            921

In words whose base is polysyllabic
the "SILENT E" does NOT
make the vowel say its name!"

-age = "ij" cabbage garbage carriage marriage sausage percentage

Vol. 3            327

-age = "AH'zh" garage mirage sabotage camouflage entourage barrage

Vol. 9            919

-ige = "EE'zh" prestige (c.f. loge, rouge, deluge) Vol. 9            919
-ace = "iss" menace palace terrace furnace solace tenace Vol. 3            343
-ice = "iss" service cowardice chalice armistice Eunice notice Vol. 3            343
-ice = "EE-ss" police Bernice (Nice, France) policemen Vol. 3            344
-ate = "it" private appropriate certificates illiterate ultimate Vol. 3   354-355
-ite = "it" definite exquisite prerequisite composite hypocrite Vol. 3            357
-ite = "eet" petite elite suite Vol. 3            358
-ile = "il" agile fragile futile fertile sterile facile docile Vol. 3            330
-ile = "eel" Mobile, automobile, Castile Vol. 3            330
-ine = "in" feminine masculine genuine discipline imagine Catherine Vol. 3            338
-ine = "een" gasoline submarine ravine machine quarantine sardines Vol. 3            336
In words that entered English from the French the letters ch make the "sh" and the letters qu = "k"
ch = "sh" chef chute parachute cache mustache crèche charades

Vol. 9   909-910

ique = "eek" technique unique pique Monique antique boutique Vol. 9            901
sque = "sk" Basque picturesque mosque bisque burlesque grotesque Vol. 9            902

In words that entered English from the German the letters sch = "sh"

sch = "sch" Schick Schmidt schuss Schneider schlimazel schlep Vol. 9            911

In words that entered English from the Greek  the letters ch = "k" & ph = "f"

ch = "k" ache chaos anchor Michael character stomach Christ Vol. 9   905-908
sch = "sk" school scholar scheme scholastic Schenectady Vol. 9            908
ph = "f" prophet sphere nephew emphatic phases photograph Vol. 9   925-934

Reversals:   When the sounds DON'T
follow the letter order

-re = "ur" centre acre theatre mediocre orchestre ogre Vol. 6            683
-cle = "kul" miracle circle vehicle obstacle spectacle icicles Vol. 6   610-611

Even silent letters follow patterns

Silent b lamb comb dumb climb limb numb thumb plumb Vol. 9            958
Silent g gnat sign design foreign reign deign gneiss gnome Vol. 9            959
Silent h ghost spaghetti silhouette ghetto Vol. 9            960
Silent k know knowledge knife knit knee kneel knights Vol. 9            959
Silent l palm calm qualms psalms alms Vol. 9            960
Silent p pneumonia ptomaine pseudo coup psychology Vol. 9            961
Silent s debris corps rendezvous apropos (entrée nous) Vol. 9            959
Silent t debut depot rapport escargot Vol. 9            959
Silent w wrap sword whole wrong Wright writ writing wrist Vol. 9            960
Silent x faux pas, nouveaux riches, beaux Vol. 9           949

Vowel sounds in words whose base is polysyllabic often are quite different than what is taught in grades 1 & 2

-e = "AY" debut fiancé fiancée suede cliché attaché rendezvous Vol. 9   939-940
-et = "AY" buffet cabaret Chevrolet croquet bouquet valet Vol. 9            940
-er = "AY'r"(air) merit cherub inherit perish Sheraton therapist Bering Vol. 9    941-944
-eu = "OO" Reuben neutral deuce sleuth leukemia euchre Vol. 9            957
-ou = "OO" tourists goulash routine rouge cougar croupe rendezvous Vol. 9            950
-ou = "uh" courage double cousin journey trouble Vol. 9            952
-i = "EE" macaroni pinochle debris technique fatigue Rita Vol. 9            961
-y = long i cycle analyze psychopath dynamite dynasty dynamic Vol. 9    953-956
-y= short i gym dyslexia physical physician gypped gypsies Vol. 9    953-956
-i = "y" onion union junior savior behavior battalion Vol. 9    953-956
-au = "OH" chauffeur chauvinist gauche mauve Vol. 9            949
-eau = "OH" beau bureau plateau trousseau chateau Rousseau Vol. 9            949
-en= "AW'n" ensemble détente entree entrepreneur ennui rendezvous Vol. 9            949
-oi = "WAH" moi reservoir boudoir repertoire memoirs voila Vol. 9            949
-u= "w" suite suede cuisine suave linguistic persuasion Vol. 9            949

To find out more about the The Patterns of English Spelling, Click here.

All donations are greatly appreciated.  If you would like to support our mission which is to raise the level of literacy to the point where the words, illiteracy, phonemic awareness, learning disabilities, dysgraphia, family literacy, adult literacy, and illegible handwriting will no longer have relevance, please mail your tax-deductible check (in U.S. dollars) to The AVKO Foundation, 3084 Willard Road, Suite W, Birch Run, MI 48415-7801.  The AVKO Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(C)3 publicly supported organization working with teachers, parents, tutors, and home schooling parents, publishing materials developed by its research, and providing free daily tutoring at its local reading clinic.

If you have comments about this website or questions concerning spelling, phonics, learning disabilities, homeschooling, etc., you may always e-mail to DonMcCabe@aol.com.  We appreciate any comments that will help us make this website even more useful. 

Call Toll Free:  1-866-285-6612
Fax:  (810) 686-1101
E-mail: Webmaster: avkoemail@aol.com 
or  Write:  
Don McCabe, Research Director
AVKO Educational Research Foundation
3084 Willard Road, Suite W
Birch Run, MI 48415-7801