The -est word family
11 words that rhyme
Every word here ends in "-est". Keep the ending on the page and change only the sound at the front — that one trick turns a single decoded word into a whole list your child can read.
All -est words
- best
- nest
- pest
- rest
- test
- vest
- west
- chest
- crest
- quest
- zest
How to run a five-minute session
- Say the ending "-est" three times together.
- Add one sound in front and read: best.
- Swap the first sound and read again — nest, pest, rest.
- Read the whole list top to bottom, then shuffled.
- Finish by having your child write two of the words from memory.
Printable sheet
-est word family worksheet
Read each -est word aloud, then trace it. Circle your two favourites and use them in a sentence.
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Common questions
What words are in the -est family?
best, nest, pest, rest, test, vest, west, chest, crest, quest, zest — 11 words in total, all ending in "-est".
What is a -est word?
A word that ends with the letters and sound "-est". Because the ending never changes, a child only has to decode the first sound.
How do you teach the -est word family?
Write "-est" once and keep it fixed. Change only the letter in front, one at a time, and have your child read each new word aloud. Ten words in five minutes is normal.
Play the -est game
Sound Wheels spins the first sound while the ending stays put — kids read the whole family without noticing.
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