Spelling list: ir words

The /er/ sound is commonly found in words like fern, earn, stir and blur. It is important to recognise that this sound can be spelt in different ways and learn how to use each spelling pattern.

This list includes words that use the letter combination ir to spell the /er/ sound. Ir words can be adjectives like dirty, adverbs like firmly, nouns like circle, and verbs like squirm.

As there are four different ways of spelling the /er/ sound, you need to rely on your memory to know when to use which spelling pattern. Use the Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check activity and spelling games to learn the ir words in this list.

fir	A fir tree is evergreen.
sir	He wasn't sure whether or not to call his teacher sir or master.
stir	We need to stir the soup.
bird	The bird sat in a tree. *
third	My brother is in third grade. *
girl	The girl came home on the train.
swirl	As the tide came in, she felt the water swirl around her legs.
dirt	Mary got some dirt on her new dress.
shirt	I need to sew a button on my shirt.
thirst	Water is best for quenching your thirst.
first	I was gripped by the very first sentence of this book.
skirt	I tore my skirt on a nail.
squirt	Add a small squirt of lemon juice to the dish. *
squirm	The horror film made me squirm.
birthday	What are you doing for your birthday?
circle	The children sat in a circle. *
circus	I object to animals performing in a circus.
thirty	She is thirty years old on her birthday. *
thirteen	Fourteen is the number after thirteen. *