‘R’ blend words include a two-letter consonant blend where the second letter is ‘r.’ There are seven blends: ‘br,’ ‘cr,’ ‘dr,’ ‘fr,’ ‘gr,’ ‘pr,’ and ‘tr.’ Some common examples of ‘r’ blend words include ‘tree,’ ‘crab,’ and ‘drain.’

What is a consonant blend?

Before we explore consonant blends with ‘r’ in particular, let’s first find out what a consonant blend is.

A consonant blend, also known as a consonant cluster or a consonant sequence, is where two or more consonants are grouped with no vowels in between them. And more essentially, each consonant in a blend retains its sound.

We must be careful not to get blends mixed up with digraphs. While each consonant in a combination keeps its sound, a consonant digraph is where the consonants make up a single phoneme (such as ‘sh’). It can be tricky to tell if a group of consonants is a digraph or a cluster, and if you or your learners are ever in any doubt, it’s a good idea to try sounding it out.

What are ‘r’ blend words?

Now that we know what a consonant cluster is let’s explore some words with consonant blends with ‘r’ in them.

‘r’ blend words contain a consonant cluster in which ‘r’ is the second consonant. There are seven standard consonant blends with ‘r’: ‘br,’ ‘cr,’ ‘dr,’ ‘fr,’ ‘gr,’ ‘pr,’ and ‘str.’ These words include high-frequency ones we regularly use, like ‘tree’ and ‘grow.’

Below, we’ve put together a handy list of words that start with each of these different ‘r’ blends:

‘R’ blend words

/ br /

Let’s start with some words that contain the ‘br’ blend:

  • brick
  • brush
  • braid
  • brown
  • brain
  • bride
  • bread
  • bronze
  • branch
  • bridge
  • broken
  • broomstick
  • brother
  • brownie
  • breakfast
  • bright
  • bracelet
  • broccoli
  • brisk
  • brew

/ cr /

Next up, we have the ‘cr’ blend, which features a variety of different words:

  • crab
  • crack
  • crib
  • crumpet
  • crane
  • cram
  • crisps
  • crumbs
  • crayon
  • criminal
  • cricket
  • crocodile
  • crumble
  • crash
  • crawl
  • crime
  • crown
  • crush
  • crows
  • cross

/ dr /

Now that take a look at the standard ‘dr’ blend:

  • drink
  • drop
  • drag
  • dress
  • drum
  • drill
  • dream
  • drive
  • dragon
  • drawbridge
  • droplet
  • drift
  • droop
  • drain
  • drool
  • drama
  • draft
  • drowsy
  • dramatic
  • dread

/ fr /

Now that we’ve looked at ‘dr’ words, let’s read through some words with consonant blends with ‘r’ that have ‘f’ as the first consonant:

  • frog
  • frost
  • fruit
  • freeze
  • fries
  • friends
  • frame
  • fridge
  • freckles
  • fringe
  • fractions
  • fright
  • front
  • free
  • fryer
  • freshen
  • fraud
  • frayed
  • frantic
  • frown

/ gr /

Up next, we’ve got the ‘gr’ consonant blend:

  • grin
  • green
  • grass
  • gravel
  • groan
  • grill
  • gran
  • grapes
  • grey
  • graph
  • grease
  • groom
  • ground
  • gravy
  • grew
  • grate
  • groggy
  • greed
  • group
  • grade

/ pr /

Now let’s investigate the ‘pr’ consonant cluster:

  • press
  • present
  • print
  • pram
  • prank
  • prom
  • prince
  • pray
  • problem
  • prize
  • proof
  • prove
  • property
  • pretzel
  • prime
  • price
  • prison
  • prune
  • prism
  • pride

/ tr /

And last but not least, let’s read through some words that feature the ‘tr’ blend:

  • tree
  • tractor
  • tram
  • trap
  • train
  • trick
  • trail
  • triangle
  • traffic
  • trumpet
  • triplets
  • trophy
  • training
  • trace
  • trust
  • trolley
  • trivial
  • trousers
  • trapeze
  • tremble
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