Digraph (2 letters, 1 sound)
The "qu" sound — /qu/
As in queen. Tap play to hear the sound, see the mouth shape, and learn 5 words to practice.
Mouth shape
Quick 'kw' sound
Gesture
Make a duck beak with your hand and say qu-qu-qu
Example words
- queen
- quiz
- quit
- quick
- quest
How to teach the “qu” 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 /qu/.
- Do the gesture. Make a duck beak with your hand and say qu-qu-qu— 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 /qu/ sound: “q–u–e–e–n”.
- Spot it around the house. “Can you find something that starts with /qu/?” Aim for 3 wins in a row before stopping.
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ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids