High Frequency Words

What are High Frequency Words

High-frequency words refer to the most common words that are found in the written text. In addition to printed text, these words are frequently used in our speech, and they usually go unnoticed. High-frequency words are also called sight words and children are taught these words during their early years at school. For example, and, as, now, is, for, but, the, it, for, etc.

These high-frequency words are usually taught to children in their early education through different mediums. The goal is for them to recognize the words and their usage. Knowledge of high-frequency words enables a child to read easily and encourages them to read more during their early years of education. Mostly high frequency words have little to no meaning of their own, but they are extremely important as they are significant in giving a whole meaning to a sentence and helping children read. High-frequency words are a mixture of two kinds of words i.e decodable words and tricky words.

Decodable words are those high-frequency words that can be sounded out and spelled as per their phonics. For example, a, as, at, back, up, off, on, etc.

  • the
  • or
  • out
  • its
  • of
  • by
  • them
  • who
  • and
  • one
  • then
  • now
  • a
  • had
  • she
  • people
  • to
  • not
  • many
  • my
  • in
  • but
  • some
  • made
  • is
  • what
  • so
  • over
  • you
  • all
  • these
  • did
  • that
  • were
  • would
  • down
  • it
  • when
  • other
  • only
  • he
  • we
  • into
  • way
  • for
  • there
  • has
  • find
  • was
  • can
  • more
  • use
  • on
  • an
  • her
  • may
  • are
  • your
  • two
  • water
  • as
  • which
  • like
  • long
  • with
  • their
  • him
  • little
  • his
  • said
  • see
  • very
  • they
  • if
  • time
  • after
  • at
  • do
  • could
  • words
  • be
  • will
  • no
  • called
  • this
  • each
  • make
  • just
  • from
  • about
  • than
  • where
  • I
  • how
  • first
  • most
  • have
  • up
  • been
  • know
  • get
  • work
  • great
  • end
  • through
  • three
  • tell
  • along
  • back
  • word
  • men
  • while
  • much
  • must
  • say
  • might
  • before
  • because
  • small
  • next
  • go
  • does
  • every
  • sound
  • good
  • part
  • found
  • below
  • new
  • even
  • still
  • saw
  • write
  • place
  • between
  • something
  • our
  • well
  • name
  • thought
  • used
  • such
  • should
  • both
  • me
  • here
  • Mr.
  • few
  • man
  • take
  • home
  • those
  • too
  • why
  • big
  • always
  • any
  • things
  • give
  • looked
  • day
  • help
  • air
  • show
  • same
  • put
  • line
  • large
  • right
  • years
  • set
  • often
  • look
  • different
  • own
  • together
  • think
  • away
  • under
  • asked
  • also
  • again
  • read
  • house
  • around
  • off
  • last
  • don’t
  • another
  • went
  • never
  • world
  • came
  • old
  • us
  • going
  • come
  • number
  • left
  • want
  • school
  • live
  • story
  • sun
  • important
  • page
  • boys
  • ways
  • until
  • got
  • since
  • thing
  • money
  • earth
  • white
  • whole
  • form
  • need
  • days
  • hear
  • food
  • far
  • ever
  • example
  • keep
  • hand
  • paper
  • heard
  • children
  • high
  • hard
  • several
  • feet
  • year
  • hear
  • change
  • land
  • mother
  • sentence
  • answer
  • side
  • light
  • better
  • room
  • without
  • parts
  • best
  • sea
  • boy
  • country
  • across
  • against
  • once
  • father
  • during
  • top
  • animals
  • let
  • today
  • turned
  • life
  • night
  • others
  • didn’t
  • enough
  • following
  • however
  • learn
  • took
  • seen
  • sure
  • point
  • sometimes
  • picture
  • means
  • city
  • four
  • being
  • knew
  • play
  • head
  • study
  • it’s
  • toward
  • above
  • second
  • try
  • five
  • kind
  • eyes
  • told
  • using
  • began
  • soon
  • young
  • himself
  • almost
  • times
  • left
  • want