Short a
The a sound in cat.
- cat
- hat
- rat
- map
- fan
- bat
- pan
- jam
Free online and printable set
CVC flashcards with pictures
A focused set of 40 consonant-vowel-consonant words, grouped by short vowel. Use the picture cues, practise on screen, or print the cards for a quick reading warm-up.
Practise this setReadPals collectionReady
Short-vowel CVC picture words40 words · 5 short-vowel groups · picture cues included
Practise online
Open the complete set
Tap a card to begin. Choose Print in the activity for paper cards, or make a different collection for more practice.
No account is needed to practise or print. Treat the cards as a short practice activity, not a reading assessment.
What is in the set
CVC words by short vowel
Each word begins and ends with a consonant sound, with one short vowel in the middle. The pictures give a meaning cue without replacing the reading work.
Short e
The e sound in bed.
- bed
- hen
- net
- pen
- ten
- red
- web
- jet
Short i
The i sound in pig.
- pig
- pin
- sit
- fin
- lip
- kid
- dig
- wig
Short o
The o sound in dog.
- dog
- log
- mop
- top
- hot
- hop
- pop
- pot
Short u
The u sound in cup.
- cup
- bug
- sun
- nut
- mug
- bus
- tub
- rug
Use the cards your way
Online practice and a printable set
Use pictures when they help
Every word in this set has a curated ReadPals picture. Keep pictures on for a meaning cue, or print word-only cards when the child is ready.
Move from sounds to the whole word
Say each sound, blend without a pause, then read the word once more. Choose five words from the visible list for a short warm-up.
Print the cards for offline practice
Choose Print in the activity, then decide whether the cards should include pictures.
A five-minute routine
Keep practice small and specific
Stop while the reading still feels successful. A few careful turns with five cards are more useful than rushing through the whole pack.
- 1
Choose one vowel
Use the visible list to pick five words from one short-vowel group, or print the cards and set the others aside. Mixing every vowel at once can make the first round harder than it needs to be.
- 2
Say, stretch and blend
Point to the letters, say the sounds and sweep through the word: c–a–t, cat. Keep the sounds close together.
- 3
Mix only after success
When one group feels comfortable, add a second vowel group and ask the child to notice what changes in the middle.
Questions
About this flashcard set
What is a CVC word?
A CVC word has a consonant, a vowel and a consonant, such as cat, bed or sun. These short words are useful for early blending practice.
Can I print these CVC flashcards?
Yes. Use the print control in the flashcard activity and choose whether to include the picture cues.
Should a child memorise CVC words?
Use the cards to practise looking at the letters, saying the sounds and blending them into a word. The goal is a repeatable reading strategy, not guessing from the picture.