The most typical vowel sounds in English are short vowels. The good news is that it’s not too difficult to spell these vowels. Today, let’s start with the letter I.
Short vowels are frequently the first vowel sounds we can learn because they are so common in English. In All About Reading, we always start by introducing the short i words list for the different sounds.
This is a fantastic starting point. We can decode hundreds of words once they learn the short vowel sounds and short consonant sounds! However, mastering the short i words’ straightforward spelling alone is insufficient.
Here are some short i words to help us delve a little deeper.
The following list of short i words shows the most common ways to spell short i letter words.
List of short i words: 2-Letter Words
- id
- if
- in
- io
- is
- it
List of short i words- 4 Letter Words
- iamb
- ibex
- ibis
- iced
- icer
- ices
- ichs
- icky
- icon
- idea
- idee
- idem
- ides
- idle
- idly
- idol
- idyl
- iffy
- igad
- iggs
- iglu
- ikan
- ikat
- ikon
- ilea
- ilex
- ilia
- ilka
- ilks
- ills
- illy
- imam
- imid
- immy
- impi
- imps
- inby
- inch
- info
- ingo
- inia
- inks
- inky
- inly
- inns
- inro
- inti
- into
- ions
- iota
- ired
- ires
- irid
- iris
- irks
- iron
- isba
- isit
- isle
- isms
- isna
- isos
- itas
- itch
- item
- iure
- iwis
- ixia
- izar
3 Letter Words
- ice
- ich
- ick
- icy
- ide
- ids
- iff
- ifs
- igg
- ilk
- ill
- imp
- ink
- inn
- ins
- ion
- ios
- ire
- irk
- ish
- ism
- iso
- ita
- its
- ivy
- iwi
List of short i words- 5 Letter Words
- iambi
- iambs
- icers
- iched
- iches
- ichor
- icier
- icily
- icing
- icker
- ickle
- icons
- ictal
- ictic
- ictus
- idant
- ideal
- ideas
- idees
- ident
- idiom
- idiot
- idled
- idler
- idles
- idola
- idols
- idyll
- idyls
- iftar
- igapo
- igged
- igloo
- iglus
- ihram
- ikans
- ikats
- ikons
- ileac
- ileal
- ileum
- ileus
- iliac
- iliad
- ilial
- ilium
- iller
- illth
- image
- imago
- imams
- imari
- imaum
- imbar
- imbed
- imbue
- imide
- imido
- imids
- imine
- imino
- immew
- immit
- immix
- imped
- impel
- impis
- imply
- impot
- imshi
- imshy
- inane
- inapt
- inarm
- inbye
- incle
- incog
- incur
- incus
- incut
- indew
- index
- indie
- indol
- indow
- indri
- indue
- inept
- inerm
- inert
- infer
- infix
- infos
- infra
- ingan
- ingle
- ingot
- inion
- inked
- inker
- inkle
- inlay
- inlet
- inned
- inner
- inorb
- input
- inrun
- inset
- intel
- inter
- intil
- intis
- intra
- intro
- inula
- inure
- inurn
- inust
- invar
- inwit
- iodic
- iodid
- iodin
- ionic
- iotas
- ippon
- irade
- irate
- irids
- iring
- irked
- iroko
- irone
- irons
- irony
- isbas
- ishes
- isled
- isles
- islet
- isnae
- issei
- issue
- istle
- itchy
- items
- ither
- ivied
- ivies
- ivory
- ixias
- ixora
- ixtle
- izard
- izars
6 Letter Words
- iambic
- iambus
- iatric
- iberis
- ibexes
- ibices
- ibidem
- ibises
- icebox
- icecap
- iceman
- icemen
- iching
- ichors
- icicle
- iciest
- icings
- ickers
- ickier
- ickily
- ickler
- icones
- iconic
- idants
- ideaed
- ideals
- ideata
- ideate
- idents
- idiocy
- idioms
- idiots
- idlers
- idlest
- idling
- idolum
- idylls
- iffier
- iftars
- igapos
- igging
- igloos
- ignaro
- ignify
- ignite
- ignomy
- ignore
- iguana
- ihrams
- ilexes
- iliads
- ilices
- illest
- illiad
- illipe
- illite
- illths
- illude
- illume
- illupi
- imaged
- imager
- images
- imagos
- imaret
- imaris
- imaums
- imbalm
- imbark
- imbars
- imbase
- imbeds
- imbibe
- imbizo
- imbody
- imbosk
- imboss
- imbrex
- imbrue
- imbued
- imbues
- imides
- imidic
- imines
- immane
- immask
- immesh
- immews
- immies
- immits
- immune
- immure
- impact
- impair
- impala
- impale
- impark
- imparl
- impart
- impave
- impawn
- impede
- impels
- impend
- imphee
- impies
- imping
- impish
- impled
- implex
- impone
- import
- impose
- impost
- impots
- improv
- impugn
- impure
- impute
- inaner
- inanes
- inanga
- inarch
- inarms
- inbent
- inborn
- inbred
- incage
- incant
- incase
- incave
- incavi
- incavo
- incede
- incent
- incept
- incest
- inched
- incher
- inches
- incise
- incite
- incles
- inclip
- incogs
- income
- incony
- incubi
- incult
- incurs
- incuse
- indaba
- indart
- indeed
- indene
- indent
- indews
- indict
- indies
- indign
- indigo
- indite
- indium
- indole
- indols
- indoor
- indows
- indris
- induce
- induct
- indued
- indues
- indult
- induna
- inerts
- infall
- infame
- infamy
- infant
- infare
- infect
- infeft
- infelt
- infere
- infers
- infest
- infill
- infima
- infirm
- inflow
- influx
- infold
- inform
- infula
- infuse
- ingans
- ingate
- ingenu
- ingest
- ingine
- ingles
- ingoes
- ingots
- ingram
- ingrum
- ingulf
- inhale
- inhaul
- inhere
- inhoop
- inhume
- inions
- inisle
- inject
- injera
- injure
- injury
- inkers
- inkier
- inking
- inkjet
- inkled
- inkles
- inkpot
- inlace
- inlaid
- inland
- inlays
- inlets
- inlier
- inlock
- inmate
- inmesh
- inmost
- innage
- innate
- inners
- inning
- inorbs
- inpour
- inputs
- inroad
- inruns
- inrush
- insane
- inseam
- insect
- inseem
- insert
- insets
- inship
- inside
- insist
- insole
- insoul
- inspan
- instal
- instar
- instep
- instil
- insula
- insult
- insure
- intact
- intake
- intels
- intend
- intent
- intern
- inters
- intima
- intime
- intine
- intire
- intoed
- intomb
- intone
- intort
- intown
- intron
- intros
- intuit
- inturn
- intuse
- inulas
- inulin
- inured
- inures
- inurns
- invade
- invars
- invent
- invert
- invest
- invite
- invoke
- inwall
- inward
- inwick
- inwind
- inwith
- inwits
- inwork
- inworn
- inwove
- inwrap
- inyala
- iodate
- iodide
- iodids
- iodine
- iodins
- iodise
- iodism
- iodize
- iodous
- iolite
- ionics
- ionise
- ionium
- ionize
- ionone
- ipecac
- ippons
- irades
- irater
- ireful
- irenic
- iridal
- irides
- iridic
- irised
- irises
- iritic
- Iritis
- isabel
- isatin
- ischia
- island
- islets
- isling
- isobar
- isogon
- isohel
- isolex
- isolog
- isomer
- isopod
- isseis
- issued
- issuer
- issues
- istana
- isthmi
- istles
- italic
- itched
- itches
- itemed
- iterum
- itself
- ixodid
- ixoras
- ixtles
- izards
- izzard
- izzats
List of short i words- 7 Letter Words
- iambics
- iambist
- iceball
- iceberg
- iceboat
- icecaps
- icefall
- iceless
- icelike
- icepack
- icewine
- ichabod
- ichnite
- ichthic
- ichthys
- icicled
- icicles
- iciness
- ickiest
- icklest
- iconify
- iconise
- iconize
- icteric
- icterid
- icterus
- ictuses
- ideally
- ideated
- ideates
- ideatum
- identic
- idiotcy
- idiotic
- idlesse
- idolise
- idolism
- idolist
- idolize
- idylist
- idyllic
- iffiest
- igarape
- ignaros
- ignatia
- igneous
- ignited
- igniter
- ignites
- ignitor
- ignoble
- ignobly
- ignored
- ignorer
- ignores
- iguanas
- iguanid
- ijtihad
- ikebana
- ileitis
- ileuses
- iliacus
- ilkaday
- illapse
- illegal
- illiads
- illicit
- illipes
- illites
- illitic
- illness
- illogic
- illuded
- illudes
- illumed
- illumes
- illupis
- illuvia
- imagers
- imagery
- imagine
- imaging
- imagism
- imagist
- imagoes
- imamate
- imarets
- imbalms
- imbarks
- imbased
- imbases
- imbathe
- imbibed
- imbiber
- imbibes
- imbizos
- imblaze
- imbosks
- imbosom
- imbower
- imbrast
- imbrown
- imbrued
- imbrues
- imbrute
- imbuing
- imburse
- imitant
- imitate
- immasks
- immense
- immerge
- immerse
- immewed
- immixed
- immixes
- immoral
- immunes
- immured
- immures
- impacts
- impaint
- impairs
- impalas
- impaled
- impaler
- impales
- impanel
- imparks
- imparls
- imparts
- impasse
- impaste
- impasto
- impaved
- impaves
- impavid
- impawns
- impeach
- impearl
- impeded
- impeder
- impedes
- impedor
- impends
- imperia
- imperil
- impetus
- imphees
- impiety
- impinge
- impings
- impious
- implant
- implate
- implead
- implete
- implied
- implies
- implode
- implore
- imponed
- impones
- imports
- imposed
- imposer
- imposes
- imposts
- impound
- impower
- impregn
- impresa
- imprese
- impress
- imprest
- imprint
- improve
- improvs
- impugns
- impulse
- impurer
- imputed
- imputer
- imputes
- inanely
- inanest
- inangas
- inanity
- inaptly
- inarmed
- inbeing
- inboard
- inbound
- inbreak
- inbreds
- inbreed
- inbring
- inbuilt
- inburst
- incaged
- incages
- incants
- incased
- incases
- incaved
- incaves
- inceded
- incedes
- incense
- incents
- incepts
- incests
- inchase
- inchers
- inching
- inchpin
- incipit
- incisal
- incised
- incises
- incisor
- incited
- inciter
- incites
- incivil
- inclasp
- incline
- inclips
- inclose
- include
- incomer
- incomes
- inconie
- inconnu
- incross
- incrust
- incubus
- incudal
- incudes
- incurve
- incused
- incuses
- indabas
- indamin
- indarts
- indenes
- indents
- indewed
- indexal
- indexed
- indexer
- indexes
- indican
- indices
- indicia
- indicts
- indigen
- indigos
- indited
- inditer
- indites
- indiums
- indoles
- indoors
- indorse
- indowed
- indoxyl
- indraft
- indrawn
- induced
- inducer
- induces
- inducts
- induing
- indulge
- indulin
- indults
- indunas
- indusia
- indwell
- indwelt
- inearth
- inedita
- inepter
- ineptly
- inerter
- inertia
- inertly
- inexact
- infalls
- infamed
- infames
- infancy
- infanta
- infante
- infants
- infarct
- infares
- infauna
- infaust
- infects
- infefts
- infeoff
- inferno
- infests
- infidel
- infield
- infight
- infills
- infimum
- infirms
- infixed
- infixes
- inflame
- inflate
- inflect
- inflict
- inflows
- infolds
- inforce
- informs
- infract
- infulae
- infused
- infuser
- infuses
- ingates
- ingener
- ingenue
- ingenus
- ingesta
- ingests
- ingines
- inglobe
- ingoing
- ingoted
- ingraft
- ingrain
- ingrate
- ingress
- ingross
- ingroup
- ingrown
- ingulfs
- ingulph
- inhabit
- inhaled
- inhaler
- inhales
- inhauls
- inhaust
- inherce
- inhered
- inheres
- inherit
- inhibin
- inhibit
- inhoops
- inhuman
- inhumed
- inhumer
- inhumes
- inisled
- inisles
- initial
- injects
- injelly
- injeras
- injoint
- injunct
- injured
- injurer
- injures
- inkblot
- inkhorn
- inkiest
- inkless
- inklike
- inkling
- inkpots
- inkspot
- inkwell
- inkwood
- inlaced
- inlaces
- inlands
- inlayer
- inliers
- inlocks
- inlying
- inmates
- innages
- innards
- innerly
- innerve
- innings
- innless
- innyard
- inocula
- inorbed
- inosine
- inosite
- inphase
- inpours
- inqilab
- inquere
- inquest
- inquiet
- inquire
- inquiry
- inroads
- insaner
- insanie
- inscape
- insculp
- inseams
- insects
- inseems
- inserts
- inshell
- inships
- inshore
- insider
- insides
- insight
- insigne
- insinew
- insipid
- insists
- insnare
- insofar
- insoles
- insooth
- insouls
- inspans
- inspect
- inspire
- install
- instals
- instant
- instars
- instate
- instead
- insteps
- instill
- instils
- insulae
- insular
- insulas
- insulin
- insulse
- insults
- insured
- insurer
- insures
- inswept
- inswing
- intagli
- intakes
- integer
- intends
- intense
- intents
- interim
- interne
- interns
- inthral
- intimae
- intimal
- intimas
- intines
- intitle
- intombs
- intoned
- intoner
- intones
- intorts
- intrada
- intrant
- intreat
- introfy
- introit
- introld
- introns
- intrude
- intrust
- intuits
- inturns
- intuses
- intwine
- intwist
- inulase
- inulins
- inuring
- inurned
- inutile
- invaded
- invader
- invades
- invalid
- inveigh
- invenit
- invents
- inverse
- inverts
- invests
- invexed
- invious
- invital
- invited
- invitee
- inviter
- invites
- invoice
- invoked
- invoker
- invokes
- involve
- inwalls
- inwards
- inweave
- inwicks
- inwinds
- inworks
- inwound
- inwoven
- inwraps
- inyalas
- iodated
- iodates
- iodides
- iodines
- iodised
- iodiser
- iodises
- iodisms
- iodized
- iodizer
- iodizes
- ioduret
- iolites
- ionised
- ioniser
- ionises
- ioniums
- ionized
- ionizer
- ionizes
- ionogen
- ionomer
- ionones
- ipecacs
- ipomoea
- iracund
- irately
- iratest
- ireless
- irenics
- irideal
- iridial
- iridian
- iridise
- iridium
- iridize
- irisate
- irising
- irksome
- ironers
- ironier
- ironies
- ironing
- ironise
- ironist
- ironize
- ironman
- ironmen
- irrupts
- isabels
- isagoge
- isatine
- isatins
- ischial
- ischium
- islands
- isleman
- islemen
- isleted
- ismatic
- isoamyl
- isobare
- isobars
- isobase
- isobath
- isochor
- isodica
- isodoma
- isodont
- isodose
- isoetes
- isoform
- isogamy
- isogeny
- isogone
- isogons
- isogony
- isogram
- isogriv
- isohels
- isohyet
- isokont
- isolate
- isolead
- isoline
- isologs
- isomere
- isomers
- isonome
- isonomy
- isopach
- isopods
- isospin
- isotach
- isotone
- isotope
- isotopy
- isotron
- isotype
- isozyme
- issuant
- issuers
- issuing
- istanas
- isthmic
- isthmus
- itacism
- italics
- itchier
- itchily
- itching
- iteming
- itemise
- itemize
- iterant
- iterate
- ivoried
- ivories
- ivorist
- ivresse
- ivylike
- ixodids
- izzards
An Overview-a handy guide to all short i words
We advise using the chart only as a reference rather than as a learning tool, even though seeing the various spellings for short I word on it, can be helpful for people who already know how to read and spell short I words. We wouldn’t be able to handle teaching all of these words at once.
English does, of course, have exceptions, as we all know.
The short vowel sounds can be spelled in a variety of ways, some of which are uncommon. These different spellings are fortunately uncommon.
