Grade 2 · List 2 of 15 · 36 words

er, ir, ur words

Three spellings, one sound: learn which word uses which. A free 2nd grade spelling list: hear each word, print a practice sheet, or take the test.

The words

  • her
  • fern
  • bird
  • girl
  • shirt
  • turn
  • burn
  • nurse
  • first
  • dirt
  • hurt
  • purple
  • herd
  • curl
  • third
  • turtle
  • skirt
  • fur
  • circus
  • thirty
  • thirteen
  • perch
  • germ
  • verb
  • purse
  • surf
  • burst
  • hurry
  • firm
  • birch
  • curve
  • serve
  • clerk

Tricky words to learn by heart

These come up alongside this pattern but don't follow it.

  • learn
  • earth
  • early

In a sentence

  • her: The little elf smiled and waved at her friend the dragon.
  • fern: A soft green fern grew beside the little stream.
  • bird: A bright blue bird sang from the top of the tall tree.
  • girl: The girl rode a friendly dragon over the green hills.
  • shirt: My new shirt has a shiny dragon on the front.
  • turn: The dragon will turn around to wave at us.

Mistakes to watch for

For grown-ups helping at home: these are the kinds of slips this pattern tends to bring.

WordOften written as
herhur, herr
fernfurn, firn
birdburd, berd
girlgerl, grl
shirtshert, shurt

Take the er, ir, ur words spelling test

10 words, read aloud. No sign-up, no timer, and nothing is saved.

FOR GROWN-UPS

Sheets built around your child's tricky words

This free sheet is the same for every child. With Hero Membership, Wordstone prints practice sheets from the sounds and words your child finds hard, and a certificate for each spelling unit they master.

  • Practice sheets from your child's own trickiest sounds
  • A certificate for every unit they master
  • Detailed reports and a weekly email
  • One price for the family, up to 4 children

Hero Membership: usually $5.99 $2.99 for the first month, then $5.99/month, or $59/year. First month offer for new families. Cancel anytime.

The account is free, and all the learning stays free. See a sample dashboard.

A sample practice sheet for a hero named BraveOtter42, with the letters ai and ou blanked out of words and sentences to fill in.
Sample practice sheet
A sample certificate of mastery for BraveOtter42, for the spelling of ai and ay.
Sample certificate