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Letter U

Letter U for Kids

Sound /u/, as in umbrella. See 5 example words, a fun fact, and how to teach it in 5 minutes.

Uu

5 words that start with U

  • umbrella
  • up
  • us
  • under
  • ugly

Did you know?

U is a vowel that sneaks consonant duty: in 'queen', the 'u' acts like a /w/.

How to teach the letter U

  1. Say the sound first. Not the name “u” — the sound /u/. Kids who learn the sound first read 6 months earlier on average.
  2. Trace it on the table. Use your finger to trace both the capital U and lowercase u while saying the sound 3 times each.
  3. Find U around you. Books, food labels, road signs. Aim for 3 spots before changing activities.
  4. Build a word. Pick one of the 5 example words above and tap it into Letter Trace or Flashcards.
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ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids