Dolch Sight Words: Full List by Grade Level

The Dolch sight words are a list of 220 high-frequency "service words" plus 95 common nouns, compiled by Edward William Dolch from children's books of his time and published in the 1930s and 1940s. The 220 words are grouped into five levels: pre-primer (40), primer (52), first grade (41), second grade (46) and third grade (41). Below is the full list of 220 words by level, with tips for practising them at home.

What are Dolch sight words?

Edward William Dolch was an American educator who studied the words that appeared most often in children's reading material. He grouped them into levels that roughly match early grades. The words are mostly function words, such as the, of, and, was, said, that carry a sentence together but are hard to picture. Because they appear so often, recognizing them quickly helps children read fluently.

The Dolch list is one of two widely used lists; the other is the Fry list, compiled later by Edward Fry, which runs to 1,000 words. Many schools use one or the other, or a blend. The best approach combines sight word practice with phonics, so children connect the letters to sounds even in "tricky" words.

Dolch sight words by grade level at a glance

Schools may assign levels differently, so check with your child's teacher.

Pre-primer Dolch words (40)

a, and, away, big, blue, can, come, down, find, for, funny, go, help, here, I, in, is, it, jump, little, look, make, me, my, not, one, play, red, run, said, see, the, three, to, two, up, we, where, yellow, you

Primer Dolch words (52)

all, am, are, at, ate, be, black, brown, but, came, did, do, eat, four, get, good, have, he, into, like, must, new, no, now, on, our, out, please, pretty, ran, ride, saw, say, she, so, soon, that, there, they, this, too, under, want, was, well, went, what, white, who, will, with, yes

First grade Dolch words (41)

after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, going, had, has, her, him, his, how, just, know, let, live, may, of, old, once, open, over, put, round, some, stop, take, thank, them, then, think, walk, were, when

Second grade Dolch words (46)

always, around, because, been, before, best, both, buy, call, cold, does, don't, fast, first, five, found, gave, goes, green, its, made, many, off, or, pull, read, right, sing, sit, sleep, tell, their, these, those, upon, us, use, very, wash, which, why, wish, work, would, write, your

Third grade Dolch words (41)

about, better, bring, carry, clean, cut, done, draw, drink, eight, fall, far, full, got, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, keep, kind, laugh, light, long, much, myself, never, only, own, pick, seven, shall, show, six, small, start, ten, today, together, try, warm

Dolch nouns

Dolch also listed 95 common nouns that appear often in early books, such as apple, baby, bed, bird, boy, cat, day, dog, door, egg, farm, girl, home, house, money, mother, night, rain, school, sun, tree, water and window. They are easier to learn because they can be pictured, so many families teach them with pictures or real objects.

How to practise Dolch words at home

1. Find your child's level. Show the pre-primer list and note which words they read instantly. Start where they hesitate.
2. Learn three to five new words a week. Small sets stick better.
3. Use "say, spell, say". Read it, spell it, read it again.
4. Connect to phonics. Point out the sounds that do follow the rules in each word.
5. Play games: memory match, word hunt, bingo, swat-the-word, sight word hopscotch.
6. Read real books. Spotting said or because in a story makes the word meaningful.
7. Review weekly. Mix old cards in with new ones.
8. Track progress kindly. A chart with stickers works for many children.

Dolch words in a bedtime story

Stories naturally repeat Dolch words. This short original story uses many first- and second-grade words. Older children can read it aloud to you:

Once there was a small owl who could not sleep. "Why are you still awake?" asked the moon. "Because I want to fly around one more time," said the owl. "Then fly," said the moon, "but come back before the stars go out." So the owl flew over the green hill, around the old tree and upon the cold river. She saw five fish and a sleepy fox. Then she found her way home, made her nest warm and soft, and said, "Thank you, moon. Now I am ready to sleep." And she did.

Reading together every night is one of the simplest ways to build fluency; see Bedtime stories for kids: a research-based guide.

Dolch vs Fry: which list should you use?

The lists overlap heavily. Use whichever your child's school uses, so practice at home matches class.

How Nori Tales helps early readers

Nori Tales creates a personalized 7-chapter book each week starring your child, one chapter per night, in text, illustrated or audio formats. Hearing and seeing the same everyday words in a story about themselves keeps early readers motivated. See the programmes for ages 4–6 and ages 7–8.

A 10-minute daily routine

1. Warm up (2 min): read through cards your child already knows for a quick win.
2. New words (3 min): introduce one or two new words with "say, spell, say".
3. Play (3 min): a quick round of memory match, swat-the-word or a word hunt.
4. Read (2 min): find today's words in a real book or bedtime story.

Keep a "known" pile and a "learning" pile. When a word is read instantly three days in a row, move it to the known pile. Mix a few known words back in each week so they stay fresh.

Common mistakes

• Too many words at once. Twenty new cards in a week is overwhelming for most young readers.
• Only flash cards. Children need to see words in sentences to remember them.
• Skipping phonics. Even "tricky" words usually contain regular sounds; pointing them out helps memory.
• Turning practice into a test. Celebrate effort, keep it short, and stop while it is fun.

If your child continues to struggle with reading despite regular practice, talk to their teacher, who can suggest next steps that fit your child.

Frequently asked questions

How many Dolch sight words are there?

There are 220 Dolch "service words" divided into five levels, plus a separate list of 95 common nouns, for 315 words in total.

What are the Dolch sight words for kindergarten?

Kindergartens usually work on the pre-primer (40 words) and primer (52 words) lists, such as a, and, the, see, said, are, have, like, she, they. Your child's school may set its own targets.

What are the Dolch sight words for grade 1?

The first grade list has 41 words, including after, again, could, every, from, know, once, thank, then, when.

What are the Dolch sight words for grade 2 and grade 3?

Second grade has 46 words (such as because, before, many, would, write) and third grade has 41 (such as about, together, laugh, myself, never). The full lists are above.

Is there a Dolch list for grade 4?

The original Dolch service word list stops at third grade. Some schools create their own fourth-grade lists, often borrowing from the Fry words.

Spot the words in a real story

Turn practice into reading. Read chapter 1 free, no account needed, then create a free account to get a weekly personalized book with your child's name.