Kindergarten Sight Words (List, Flash Cards, Printable)
Kindergarten sight words are usually the first 92 Dolch words: the 40 pre-primer words, like a, the, I and see, and the 52 primer words, like he, was, they and like. The full list is below. Your child can practice it here with flash cards and a find-the-word game, and you can print the words as cards for the fridge or the kitchen table.
Kindergarten sight words
The kindergarten sight word list (92 words)
Dolch pre-primer(40 words)
- 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
Dolch primer(52 words)
- 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
Print kindergarten sight word cards (8 per page)
Start small with the pre-primer words
Do not hand a five-year-old all 92 words at once. Choose 3 to 5 from the pre-primer group. Many families begin with I, a, the, see and can, because together they make a real sentence right away: "I can see a cat."
When those feel easy, add the next few. Move on to the primer words only when most of the pre-primer list is quick and confident.
Sight words and letter sounds go together
In kindergarten, children are also learning letter sounds and blending short words. Many pre-primer words can be sounded out: in, it, up, big, run. Others cannot: the, said, you, come.
Teachers often call the second kind heart words. Point to the part that does not follow the rules, like the middle of said, which sounds like "sed", and say it together. For blending practice, try our CVC words with pictures.
Games that need no screen
- Three piles: sort cards into "know it", "almost" and "not yet".
- Word hunt: find one of this week's words in a picture book.
- Silly sentences: mix sight word cards with a few picture words and read what you build.
- Jump on it: lay cards on the floor, say a word, and your child jumps on it.
Common snags at this age
Mixing up b and d (as in big and down) is normal at five and six. Correct it gently and move on. Pairs like was and saw, or on and no, also trip kids up, which is why the game puts look-alikes side by side.
Keep sessions to about five minutes. If your child gets upset, stop and finish with a word they know well, so practice ends on a win.
How the practice tools work
On the flash cards, your child reads the word and taps "I know it" or "Not yet". "Show me" reveals the letters, and not-yet cards return later. Find the word has 10 rounds and no timer. Words are read aloud by your device's built-in voice, when it has one; otherwise the word is shown and you can read it.
Printable cards come 8 to a US Letter page with cut lines, in color or black and white.
Frequently asked questions
How many sight words should a kindergartner know?
Expectations vary a lot between schools. Ask your child's teacher which words the class uses. Many classrooms work from the same Dolch words shown on this page.
Is pre-primer the same as pre-K?
Not exactly. Pre-primer is Dolch's name for his first and easiest level. Many children meet it in pre-K or early kindergarten, but the name describes a reading stage, not a grade.
My four-year-old wants to try. Is that too early?
If your child enjoys it, a few words at a time is fine. Keep it playful and stop when interest drops. Being read to and learning letter sounds matter just as much at this age.
When does a word count as learned?
When your child reads it in about 3 seconds, without sounding it out, on a few different days.
Can I print the kindergarten list?
Yes. Use the print button to make flash cards or a trace-and-write sheet as a PDF, right in your browser.