A CVC word is a three-letter word built consonant-vowel-consonant with a short vowel in the middle — the first words most children decode, because each letter makes its most common sound. This reference lists all 147 classroom-ready CVC words in 25 word families, grouped by short vowel, with every family's words in teaching order. Print this page for a wall reference, or turn any family into a practice sheet with the free CVC words worksheet generator.
Short a CVC words — 45 words in 7 families
The short a is the vowel sound in apple. Families are listed in the order primary classrooms usually introduce them, and each family's words run most common first.
-at family · 7 words
cat
hat
bat
mat
rat
sat
pat
-an family · 7 words
can
man
fan
pan
ran
tan
van
-ap family · 7 words
cap
map
nap
tap
lap
gap
zap
-ad family · 7 words
dad
sad
mad
bad
had
pad
lad
-ag family · 6 words
bag
tag
rag
wag
nag
sag
-ab family · 6 words
cab
dab
jab
lab
nab
tab
-am family · 5 words
ham
jam
ram
yam
dam
Short e CVC words — 21 words in 4 families
The short e is the vowel sound in egg. Families are listed in the order primary classrooms usually introduce them, and each family's words run most common first.
-et family · 8 words
get
let
met
net
pet
jet
vet
wet
-en family · 5 words
hen
pen
ten
men
den
-ed family · 5 words
bed
red
fed
led
wed
-eg family · 3 words
leg
beg
peg
Short i CVC words — 31 words in 5 families
The short i is the vowel sound in igloo. Families are listed in the order primary classrooms usually introduce them, and each family's words run most common first.
-ig family · 6 words
big
pig
dig
wig
fig
jig
-it family · 7 words
sit
hit
bit
fit
kit
lit
pit
-ip family · 7 words
tip
sip
dip
hip
lip
rip
zip
-in family · 5 words
pin
win
bin
fin
tin
-id family · 6 words
kid
lid
hid
bid
did
rid
Short o CVC words — 25 words in 4 families
The short o is the vowel sound in octopus. Families are listed in the order primary classrooms usually introduce them, and each family's words run most common first.
-og family · 7 words
dog
log
fog
hog
jog
bog
cog
-ot family · 8 words
hot
pot
dot
got
lot
not
cot
rot
-op family · 5 words
top
hop
mop
pop
cop
-ob family · 5 words
job
cob
sob
mob
rob
Short u CVC words — 25 words in 5 families
The short u is the vowel sound in umbrella. Families are listed in the order primary classrooms usually introduce them, and each family's words run most common first.
-ug family · 7 words
bug
hug
rug
mug
jug
dug
tug
-un family · 4 words
sun
run
fun
bun
-ut family · 5 words
cut
but
hut
nut
gut
-ub family · 5 words
cub
tub
rub
hub
sub
-um family · 4 words
gum
hum
sum
yum
How to use this list
Work through one short vowel at a time, one family at a time — a family a day is a realistic pace, because every word in it rhymes and only the first letter changes.
Turn the current family into trace-and-write, missing-vowel or sound-box practice with the CVC words worksheets tool — it draws on exactly this list. If letter formation still needs work first, start with letter tracing worksheets.
CVC decoding is one half of early reading; the high-frequency words that can't be sounded out are the other. Pair this page with the Dolch and Fry sight words list so both halves get practice.
Blending is where most beginning readers stall — knowing all three sounds in cat is not the same as hearing the word. The guide to CVC words and how to teach blending covers the continuous blending method step by step.
What counts as a CVC word here
Every word on this page is exactly consonant-vowel-consonant with one letter per sound: no digraphs (ship), no blends (stop), and no x-final words (box, fox) — x spells the two sounds /ks/, so those belong to a later stage. Each word is filed under the family named by its last two letters, is a real word a K–1 child can meet, and is classroom-safe. Word lists are uncopyrightable facts: this reference is free to print, share, and cite; a link back is always appreciated.