Single letter
The "j" sound — /j/
As in jam. Tap play to hear the sound, see the mouth shape, and learn 5 words to practice.
Mouth shape
Tongue behind teeth, voice it
Gesture
Pretend to wobble like jelly on a plate and say j-j-j
Example words
- jam
- jug
- jet
- jog
- job
How to teach the “j” 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 /j/.
- Do the gesture. Pretend to wobble like jelly on a plate and say j-j-j— 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 /j/ sound: “j–a–m”.
- Spot it around the house. “Can you find something that starts with /j/?” Aim for 3 wins in a row before stopping.
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ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids