Letters make sounds
Every word we say is made of small sounds. When we write, we use a letter to show each sound. Connecting a letter with its sound is one of the first big steps in learning to read.
Say the word mop slowly: /m/ … /o/ … /p/. That is three sounds. We write them with three letters: m, o, p.
Learning which letter goes with which sound is called phonics. When you know phonics, you can look at letters and turn them into a word.
A letter’s name and a letter’s sound
Every letter has a name and a sound. They are not always the same.
- The letter name of B is “bee.” Its sound is /b/, like in ball.
- The letter name of S is “ess.” Its sound is /s/, like in sun.
- The letter name of H is “aitch.” Its sound is /h/, like in hat.
When we read, we use the sound, not the name. If we read bat with letter names, we get “bee-ay-tee,” which is not a word. If we use sounds, we get /b/ /a/ /t/ … bat!
Consonants and vowels
The alphabet has two kinds of letters.
Vowels are a, e, i, o and u. Every word has at least one vowel sound. Vowels are like glue. They hold the other sounds together.
Consonants are all the other letters, like b, c, d, f, g, m, s and t. To make a consonant sound, you use your lips, your tongue or your teeth.
Try it:
- Say /m/. Your lips press together and hum.
- Say /t/. Your tongue taps behind your top teeth.
- Say /f/. Your top teeth touch your bottom lip.
Short vowel sounds
When you start reading, you meet the short vowel sounds first. Here is a sound and a word for each one:
- a says /a/ as in cat
- e says /e/ as in bed
- i says /i/ as in pig
- o says /o/ as in hot
- u says /u/ as in bug
A fun way to remember them is to make a motion for each one. Pretend to bite an apple for /a/. Pretend to hold an egg for /e/. Wiggle like an itchy bug for /i/. Make an octopus with your arms for /o/. Point up for /u/.
Sounds for some consonants
Here are some consonants that are good to learn early. Each has one main sound:
| Letter | Sound | Word |
|---|---|---|
| m | /m/ | moon |
| s | /s/ | sun |
| t | /t/ | top |
| p | /p/ | pan |
| n | /n/ | net |
| b | /b/ | bus |
| d | /d/ | dog |
| f | /f/ | fan |
Some letters make more than one sound. C can say /k/ in cat or /s/ in city. G can say /g/ in goat or /j/ in gem. You will learn those later. Start with the main sounds.
How to practise a letter sound
- Look at the letter. Let’s use s.
- Say its sound, not its name: /sss/.
- Think of a word that starts with that sound: sun, sock, seal.
- Write the letter while you say the sound.
- Hunt for it in a book or on a sign.
Let’s try some examples
Example 1: What sound does the letter m make?
It says /m/, like the first sound in mom and milk.
Example 2: Which letter makes the first sound in fish?
Say fish slowly: /f/ … /i/ … /sh/. The first sound is /f/. The letter is f.
Example 3: What is the vowel sound in pig?
Say /p/ … /i/ … /g/. The middle sound is /i/, the short i.
Example 4: Read a small word.
Look at s-a-t. Say each sound: /s/ /a/ /t/. Now say them faster and faster: sat!
Common mistakes
- Adding “uh” to sounds. Say /m/, not “muh.” Say /t/, not “tuh.” Keep sounds short and clean. Extra “uh” sounds make blending harder.
- Using letter names to read. Remember to use sounds.
- Mixing up b and d. Say the sound as you write the letter. This helps your hand and ear work together.
- Skipping the vowel. Every word has one. Look for it in the middle of short words.
Try it yourself
- Say the sound for each letter: t, a, n, p, o.
- What letter makes the first sound in each word? dog, sun, map, top.
- What vowel sound do you hear in bug? In bed?
- Read these words by saying each sound: m-a-p, h-o-t, s-i-t.
Answers: 1. /t/, /a/, /n/, /p/, /o/. 2. d, s, m, t. 3. /u/ and /e/. 4. map, hot, sit.
Grown-up tip
Practise for five minutes a day. Play “I spy” with sounds: “I spy something that starts with /b/.” Use magnetic letters on the fridge and make three-letter words together. Always say the sound when you point at a letter, so your child hears the connection again and again.
Quick recap
- Each letter stands for a sound.
- Use the letter’s sound, not its name, when you read.
- Vowels are a, e, i, o and u. All other letters are consonants.
- Learn the five short vowel sounds: cat, bed, pig, hot, bug.
- Say sounds short and clean, then blend them into words.