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Short e CVC words
Printable list of short e CVC words · 1 page
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Short e is the sound in bed and egg. Many children find it the hardest short vowel to hear, because it sits close to short i in the mouth (pet and pit), so a lot of programs teach it last among the short vowels.
This list gives the short e CVC words from our bank in four families, -et, -en, -ed and -eg, plus a few that don't fit a family (web, yes, hem). There are fewer short e CVC words than short a or short i words, which is one more reason it's usually taught later.
If your child mixes up e and i, say the words in pairs (bed, bid; pen, pin) and ask which one they hear before they read. Then try the short e missing-letter or sound box sheet.
Tips for using it
- Show your child the mouth shape: short e has a slightly open smile, short i has a smaller one.
- Use the -et family first. It has the most short e words, and kids can read nine or ten words by changing one letter.
Variations
All cvc words listQuestions
Why is short e hard for kids?
Short e and short i are made with similar mouth positions, and in some regional accents they sound almost the same before n or m (pen and pin). Practice hearing the difference out loud before reading.
What are some short e CVC words?
Bed, red, hen, ten, net, pet, wet, leg, peg and web are all short e CVC words.