What are words called that are recognized automatically without sounding them out?

The term for words that are recognized automatically without sounding them out is "sight words." Sight words are commonly used in early reading and literacy development. They are typically high-frequency words that children learn to recognize by sight so that they can read more fluidly and efficiently. Recognizing sight words instantly allows young readers to focus on understanding and enjoying the text rather than getting bogged down in decoding every individual word.

Learning sight words helps improve reading fluency because it enables students to read texts with greater speed and comprehension. This automatic recognition is crucial, especially since many of these words do not follow phonetic rules or cannot be easily deciphered through phonics alone. Consequently, sight word instruction is a fundamental component of reading programs targeting early literacy skills.