Single letter
The "i" sound — /i/
As in ink. Tap play to hear the sound, see the mouth shape, and learn 5 words to practice.
Mouth shape
Mouth slightly open, short sound
Gesture
Pretend a mouse is running and say i-i-i
Example words
- ink
- in
- it
- is
- if
How to teach the “i” sound
- Hear it first. Tap Play three times. Have your child watch your mouth while you copy the sound — no letter name yet, just the pure sound /i/.
- Do the gesture. Pretend a mouse is running and say i-i-i— kids remember sounds 2× faster when there’s a physical action attached.
- Find it in words. Read the 5 example words aloud slowly, stretching the /i/ sound: “i–n–k”.
- Spot it around the house. “Can you find something that starts with /i/?” Aim for 3 wins in a row before stopping.
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ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids