If your child is beginning to read, you may come across the term CVC Words.

Not sure what that means?

I’m here to share a brief overview, explain why they’re important, and offer ideas for how you can practice these at home.

What Are CVC Words?

The term CVC stands for Consonant /Vowel/Consonant.

It may have been a while since you’ve reviewed your grammar, so here’s a quick recap.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary,

A vowel is “one of a class of speech sounds in the articulation of which the oral part of the breath channel is not blocked and is not constricted enough to cause audible friction. Broadly : the one most prominent sound in a syllable.”

A consonant is “one of a class of speech sounds (such as \p\, \g\, \n\, \l\, \s\, \r\) characterized by constriction or closure at one or more points in the breath channel.”*

The vowels in English are a, e, I, o, and u.

The rest of the English letters are consonants.

Examples of CVC Words

CVC words are just what they sound like: words with a consonant, then a vowel, then a consonant.

Each word has three phonemes (sounds) and is one syllable.

Below are some examples.

Word Families

Keep a lookout for these words in activities that involve word families, or a group of words that rhyme.

Below is a list of word families from my Mini Rhyming Word Books.

You’ll notice that not all of the word family words follow the CVC pattern.

These four and five letter words include blends and digraphs, which will discuss later.

Mini Rhyming Word Books. Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Why are CVC Words Important?

Children are commonly taught CVC Words in kindergarten as a first step to reading.

Here’s why they give kids a boost in early literacy:

Builds phonics skills for letter-sound awareness
Follows a simple pattern before complex blends and digraphs are introduced
Introduces phonemic awareness for the beginning/middle/end of words
Encourages independent reading with short, decodable words
Learning this syllable structure helps in breaking down longer words

Ideas for Practicing CVC Words at Home

1) Practice with Common Objects

Build your own awareness for CVC words. Look for them in early reader books and school work.

Notice and/or collect items from around your house that fit the CVC pattern.

Use these familiar objects as an opportunity to sound out the letters and write the words on notecards.

Place the notecards in a place where your child can see them and practice reading them together.

Get creative and think of ways to celebrate mastered words, like adding them to an “I can read” word wall.

2) Check out CVC Word books from the library.

Look for early reader books at the library. Think Hop on Pop or Cat in the Hat.

3) Write Them Out

Practice writing CVC words. Make it simple or fun!

Pencil and paper
Sidewalk chalk outside
Using a stick in the dirt
With finger paints in the bathtub

Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary(MWD), 8 Jun 2025, https://www.merriam-webster.com/

What Are CVC Words? A Simple Guide for Parents