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Bob Books
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Short u CVC words
Printable list of short u CVC words · 1 page
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Short u is the sound in up and bug, a short "uh." It's easy to say but easy to confuse with short o in fast speech, so it helps to practice the pair (hut, hot; cup, cop).
This list gives the short u CVC words from our bank in families: -ug, -un, -ut, -ub and -um, plus bud, mud, cup, pup and bus. The -ug family is a classic first family because bug, hug, mug and rug are all words young children know.
We left out common words that look like short u but don't sound like it, such as put and full. Those come later as exceptions.
Tips for using it
- Keep put and push out of early short u practice: the u in them says a different sound.
- Bus ends in s that sounds like /s/, but in his and has the s says /z/. Point it out if your child asks.
Variations
All cvc words listQuestions
What is the short u sound?
It's the vowel sound in up, sun and duck. Long u says its name, as in cube or mule.
Why aren't put and full on the list?
In put, push, pull and full, the u makes the vowel sound in book, not the short u sound. They're best taught as exceptions after short u is solid.