-ink Word Family: Word List & Practice
-ink Word Family words follow one repeating pattern, so a child who can read one of them has most of what they need to read the rest. This list has 10 grade 1-level words plus 4 decodable sentences. Practice them out loud — the most common error is splitting '-ink' into separate n and k sounds.
- ink
- link
- pink
- rink
- sink
- wink
- blink
- drink
- think
- stink
Practice these words out loud
Have your child read these sentences to Word Wiz AI. It listens and shows exactly which sounds they missed, not just whether the word was right. Free, no sign-up needed to try.
Try these out loudDecodable Sentences
Every word in these sentences uses sounds your child has already learned, so they can be read by decoding rather than guessing.
- Think pink by the sink.
- Wink and blink at the rink.
- Link the ink to the drink.
- Do not stink at the rink.
How to Teach -ink Word Family Words
The -ink family pairs naturally with -ank as another nasalized ending, and comparing the two side by side ('bank' versus 'blink') helps children hear how the vowel changes the whole word even though the 'nk' ending chunk stays constant. 'Think' and 'drink' both start with digraphs or blends, so those are good words to practice once the simpler 'ink,' 'pink,' 'sink,' and 'wink' feel automatic.
As with all the nasal endings, treat '-ink' as one connected unit rather than three separate letter sounds. If your child is stalling out between the vowel and the ending, have them practice saying just '-ink' by itself several times in a row before reattaching a beginning sound.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Splitting '-ink' into separate n and k sounds
- Confusing -ink with -ank when reading quickly
- Sounding out 'th' separately in 'think'