Consonant + LE word family

-kle Words

/kษ™l/ โ€” words that share the -kle pattern

The -kle ending is a final stable syllable, /kษ™l/, as in tickle and ankle. Many -kle words are spelled with a ck before the le, as in tickle and pickle.

How the -kle family works

Keep the ending -kle together, then add or change the beginning sound. Read through the whole word from left to right instead of guessing from its first letter.

1Read the ending-kle /kษ™l/
2Add the beginningtic + -kle
3Blend the wordtickle

8 reviewed examples

-kle word list

Begin with the shorter words. Add the second group only after blends and digraphs in those words have been taught.

Start here

ticklepickleankle

After blends or digraphs

sparkletwinklewrinklebucklefreckle

A speaker appears only where a reviewed recording is currently available. Every listed spelling has still been checked for the target pattern.

Listening check

Listen and choose the -kle word

Question 1 of 5

Move into connected text

Read -kle words in sentences

1Do not tickle me.

2I like a pickle.

3Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

4Buckle your shoe.

5The stars sparkle at night.

Ask the learner to underline the -kle word, decode it, and then reread the complete sentence naturally.

Spelling and pronunciation

Keep this family accurate

Count back three letters from the end: kle. Tic-kle and spar-kle both split right before that final chunk.

Compare with final stable syllabletic-kle ยท spar-kle โ€” the consonant before le always joins it

Five-minute routine

Practise without memorizing the list

Blend three words

Cover the list and reveal one word at a time. Say each sound, blend, then reread the word normally.

Change the beginning

Build tickle, then exchange its first sound to make another real word from this page.

Read and write

Read one sentence, dictate one target word, and ask the learner to explain which letters spell the shared ending.

Ready-to-print practice

Print this -kle word lesson

The print layout keeps the reviewed word list, sentences, contrast, and practice routine while removing navigation and audio controls.