How it works
These eigh words are the common English words with e, i, g and h in a row. In 26 of them the four letters say long a, as in eight. In height, heighten and sleight they say long i.
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Four lists, shortest words first
List 1 has the seven one-syllable words: eight, eighth, weigh, weight, sleigh, neigh, freight. List 2 grows from eight and neighbor: eighteen, eighty, neighborhood. List 3 puts weigh, weight and freight inside longer words: outweigh, paperweight, freighter. List 4 is the three long i words.
- Outweigh, overweight and paperweight each hold a word from List 1, so start there.
Questions and answers
What sound does eigh make?
Long a in most words: eight, weigh, sleigh, neighbor, freight. The g and h are not heard. In height, heighten and sleight the same four letters say long i.
Which eigh words sound like another word?
Eight and ate, weigh and way, weight and wait, sleigh and slay, neigh and nay, sleight and slight. The sentence read with each word says which one to write.
Which words start with eigh?
Six on these lists, all built on eight: eight, eighth, eighteen, eighteenth, eighty and eightieth. In every other word here the eigh follows a consonant, as in weigh and freight.
Is it neighbor or neighbour?
Neighbor is the American spelling, and these lists use it. The dictionary marks neighbour as chiefly British. Both have the same eigh and the same long a.