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CVC words list
Printable list of CVC words · 2 pages
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CVC words are three-letter words spelled consonant, vowel, consonant, like cat, bed, pig, hot and sun. Each letter stands for one sound, and the vowel is short, so a child who knows the letter sounds can read the word by saying each sound and blending them together. That is why CVC words are the first real words most phonics programs teach.
This list groups about 170 CVC words by short vowel, short a first. Within each vowel the words sit in their word families (bat, cat, hat), which makes the shared ending easy to see. We left out words that break the pattern or read awkwardly at this stage, such as words ending in x (two sounds), w or y (not consonant sounds at the end), and r (which changes the vowel).
Use it as a check-off list: your child reads each word and ticks the box when it's smooth. Switch the activity to make sound boxes, missing-letter or dictation pages from the same words.
Tips for using it
- Start with short a and one other vowel, like short i. Mixing all five vowels too soon is the most common reason CVC reading stalls.
- If your child says the sounds but can't blend them, try continuous sounds first (m, s, f) and words like mat and sun, where you can stretch the first sound.
- Read across the rows on day one, down the columns on day two. A different order stops children memorizing the list.
Variations
All word lists for kidsQuestions
What are CVC words?
CVC stands for consonant-vowel-consonant. A CVC word has three letters and three sounds, with a short vowel in the middle, like map, ten, sit, dog and bus.
Why are there no words like fox or box?
The letter x makes two sounds, /k/ and /s/, so fox has four sounds, not three. That trips up sound boxes and blending, so x words are better taught a little later.
How many CVC words should a kindergartner know?
There is no official number. Most kindergarten standards expect children to read common CVC words by the end of the year. Being able to blend any CVC word, not memorizing a list, is the real goal.