What are Fry Words?

Fry Words are commonly encountered words targeted to students in grades 1 through 5. There are 1,000 Fry Words divided into ten groups.

Who was Fry? Edward B. Fry, Ph.D., was a reading researcher who taught at Loyola University and Rutgers University. In 1996, he compiled a list of 1,000 words divided into groups of 100 based on frequency of use. These words make up 90% of the words used in children’s reading materials. Fry Words are an expanded, updated list of sight words (i.e., compared to the Dolch list of 220 sight words compiled in 1948). Many advocates of beginning literacy programs support having their students practice these words to build reading success.

The first hundred Fry words, considered the most frequently occurring in the English language, should be mastered in grade 1. The second hundred Fry words should be mastered in grade 2. The third hundred Fry words should be mastered in grade 3. The remaining Fry words (fourth through tenth hundred) should be mastered in Grades 4-5. Other names for Fry Words are sight words, heart words, camera words, and tricky words.

Do you need Fry Word lists or flashcards? We have them!