3 Letter Words in English for Kids
Table of Contents
3 letter words are short and simple words that have only three letters, like cat, sun, or toy. These words are easy to say and remember, which makes them perfect for children who are just starting to read and write.
Learning 3 letter words helps kids build a strong base in reading, spelling, and phonics. They learn how letters join together to make sounds and form words. When children practice these small words, they gain confidence to read bigger and longer words later on.
3 Letter Words in English with Pictures

List of 3 Letter Words for Kids
Here is a list of easy and common 3 letter words that kids can start learning.
Common 3 Letter Words:
|
cat |
dog |
sun |
|
hat |
pen |
car |
|
bag |
cup |
bed |
|
fan |
mat |
bat |
|
pig |
jam |
toy |
|
box |
run |
tap |
|
leg |
ear |
eye |
|
ice |
lip |
map |
|
hen |
pot |
net |
|
red |
sit |
cap |
|
log |
man |
boy |
|
cow |
sky |
sea |
|
pan |
egg |
fox |
|
jet |
key |
nut |
|
van |
zip |
arm |
|
toe |
bun |
jar |
|
rat |
web |
fan |
Simple 3 Letter Words in English
Here are some simple 3 letter words that are often used in daily life, it can help children build confidence when they start reading and writing.
|
cat |
sun |
bag |
|
dog |
pen |
car |
|
bat |
fan |
cup |
|
bed |
mat |
jam |
|
hat |
run |
toy |
|
lip |
egg |
box |
|
map |
key |
net |
|
pan |
pot |
arm |
|
rat |
log |
red |
|
man |
boy |
cow |
3 Letter Sight Words
Sight words are words that children learn to recognize by looking, they don't need to sound them out. These words appear often in books and daily conversations, so learning them helps kids read more smoothly and quickly.
|
and |
the |
you |
|
can |
not |
are |
|
for |
was |
all |
|
but |
had |
her |
|
his |
she |
out |
|
him |
our |
any |
|
one |
too |
now |
|
saw |
say |
get |
|
let |
new |
why |
|
use |
how |
who |
3 Letter Words with Meaning
Here is a list of simple 3 letter words along with their meanings.
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
cat |
A small animal that is often kept as a pet. |
|
dog |
A friendly animal that barks and is kept as a pet. |
|
sun |
The bright light in the sky that gives us heat and light. |
|
pen |
A tool used for writing. |
|
bed |
A piece of furniture used for sleeping. |
|
fan |
A machine that moves air to keep us cool. |
|
cup |
A small container used for drinking. |
|
hat |
A covering worn on the head. |
|
run |
To move quickly on your feet. |
|
map |
A drawing that shows places and directions. |
|
red |
A bright color often seen in apples and roses. |
|
bag |
Something used to carry things. |
|
car |
A vehicle used for travelling on roads. |
|
toy |
Something children play with. |
|
box |
A container with flat sides and a lid. |
|
egg |
A round object laid by birds; people often eat it. |
|
key |
A small metal object used to open locks. |
|
jam |
A sweet spread made from fruits and sugar. |
|
man |
An adult male person. |
|
cow |
A farm animal that gives milk. |

3 Letter Words with 'A' in the Middle
These words have the letter 'A' in the middle and help kids practice the short 'a' sound.
|
cat |
bag |
|
fan |
hat |
|
man |
pan |
|
bat |
rat |
|
cap |
map |
|
jam |
tap |
|
van |
wax |
|
nap |
lad |
3 Letter Words with 'I' in the Middle
These words have the letter 'I' in the middle and help children learn the short 'i' sound.
|
pin |
win |
|
lip |
sit |
|
pig |
dip |
|
tip |
mix |
|
fin |
kid |
|
fix |
lid |
|
fig |
rim |
|
him |
bin |
3 Letter Words with 'AT'
These 'AT' ending words are great for rhyming practice and word family learning.
|
cat |
bat |
|
mat |
hat |
|
rat |
pat |
|
sat |
fat |
|
vat |
tat |
|
nat |
pat |
3 Letter Verbs
Verbs are action words, they tell us what someone or something is doing. Here are some simple 3 letter verbs that kids can easily learn and use in sentences.
|
run |
hop |
|
sit |
dig |
|
cut |
win |
|
eat |
mix |
|
cry |
hug |
|
fix |
jog |
|
nap |
tip |
|
pat |
fit |
|
hit |
row |
|
hum |
tap |
|
sew |
nod |

3 Letter Words in English (A to Z)
Learning 3 letter words from A to Z helps children recognize words alphabetically and makes reading practice more fun. Below are lists of 3 letter words starting with each letter to build vocabulary step by step.
3 Letter Words Starting with A
|
and |
ant |
|
arm |
any |
|
ace |
age |
|
add |
all |
|
ape |
ash |
3 Letter Words Starting with B
|
bag |
bat |
|
bed |
bus |
|
bad |
big |
|
bit |
bun |
|
box |
bay |
3 Letter Words Starting with C
|
cat |
car |
|
cup |
can |
|
cap |
cow |
|
cut |
cry |
|
cod |
cop |
3 Letter Words Starting with D
|
dig |
dip |
|
dog |
dot |
|
dry |
day |
|
dam |
den |
|
did |
dew |
|
dub |
dug |
|
dim |
dye |
|
dad |
due |
|
duo |
doc |
|
dig |
don |
3 Letter Words Starting with E
|
egg |
end |
|
ear |
eat |
|
elk |
elf |
|
era |
ewe |
|
eye |
eve |
|
ebb |
err |
|
ego |
elm |
|
eke |
eta |
|
ens |
emo |
|
eve |
eon |
3 Letter Words Starting with F
|
fan |
fat |
|
fig |
fun |
|
fix |
fit |
|
fox |
fog |
|
far |
fin |
|
fib |
fur |
|
fad |
fee |
|
for |
fry |
|
few |
fob |
|
fab |
foe |
3 Letter Words Starting with G
|
gas |
got |
|
gap |
gum |
|
gun |
get |
|
got |
guy |
|
gem |
god |
|
gig |
gal |
|
gag |
gym |
|
gut |
gab |
|
gob |
geo |
|
gnu |
gas |
3 Letter Words Starting with H
|
hat |
hen |
|
hop |
hit |
|
hot |
hug |
|
him |
how |
|
has |
her |
|
ham |
hum |
|
hay |
hip |
|
hub |
hut |
|
hid |
hey |
|
hem |
hog |
3 Letter Words Starting with I
|
ice |
ink |
|
ill |
ivy |
|
ion |
its |
|
imp |
inn |
|
ire |
icy |
|
iso |
ism |
|
ire |
ilk |
|
ins |
ink |
|
ibs |
iso |
|
ice |
inn |
3 Letter Words Starting with J
|
jam |
jet |
|
job |
joy |
|
jog |
jar |
|
jaw |
jab |
|
jug |
jus |
|
jut |
jim |
|
jay |
joe |
|
jog |
jip |
|
jen |
jew |
|
jut |
jog |
3 Letter Words Starting with K
|
kid |
kit |
|
key |
keg |
|
kin |
kip |
|
ken |
kat |
|
kay |
kip |
|
k9 |
kob |
|
kat |
kim |
|
koi |
kas |
|
ken |
kap |
|
kex |
keg |
3 Letter Words Starting with L
|
Lab |
Lad |
|
Lag |
Lap |
|
Law |
Lay |
|
Led |
Leg |
|
Let |
Lid |
|
Lip |
Log |
|
Lot |
Low |
|
Lux |
Lug |
|
Lob |
Lye |
|
Lit |
Leo |
3 Letter Words Starting with M
|
Mad |
Man |
|
Map |
Mat |
|
Max |
May |
|
Men |
Met |
|
Mix |
Mom |
|
Mud |
Mug |
|
Mop |
Mob |
|
Mid |
Meg |
|
Maw |
Mel |
|
Mow |
Man |
3 Letter Words Starting with N
|
Nab |
Nag |
|
Nap |
Net |
|
New |
Nil |
|
Nod |
Nor |
|
Not |
Now |
|
Nut |
Nip |
|
Nob |
Nay |
|
Nom |
Nan |
|
Nap |
Nib |
|
Net |
Nor |
3 Letter Words Starting with O
|
Oak |
Oar |
|
Oat |
Odd |
|
Off |
Oft |
|
Old |
One |
|
Ono |
Opt |
|
Our |
Out |
|
Owl |
Owe |
|
Own |
Oxy |
|
Ore |
Orb |
|
Oil |
Ode |
3 Letter Words Starting with P
|
Pad |
Pal |
|
Pan |
Pat |
|
Pen |
Pet |
|
Pig |
Pin |
|
Pop |
Pot |
|
Pup |
Pub |
|
Pit |
Pay |
|
Pie |
Peg |
|
Pod |
Paw |
|
Put |
Pal |
3 Letter Words Starting with Q
|
Qat |
Qis |
|
Qua |
Qin |
|
Que |
Qom |
|
Quo |
Qed |
|
Qaf |
Qab |
|
Qub |
Qap |
|
Qut |
Qik |
|
Qid |
Qel |
|
Qan |
Qor |
|
Qop |
Qab |
3 Letter Words Starting with R
|
Rab |
Rag |
|
Ram |
Ran |
|
Rat |
Raw |
|
Red |
Rid |
|
Rip |
Row |
|
Rub |
Rug |
|
Run |
Ray |
|
Rap |
Rob |
|
Rod |
Roe |
|
Rim |
Ram |
3 Letter Words Starting with S
|
Sad |
Sag |
|
Sam |
Sat |
|
Sea |
See |
|
Set |
Sip |
|
Sit |
Six |
|
Sky |
Son |
|
Sun |
Sop |
|
Sob |
Sow |
|
Spa |
Spy |
|
Sum |
Sap |
3 Letter Words Starting with T
|
Tab |
Tag |
|
Tan |
Tap |
|
Tar |
Ten |
|
Tip |
Tin |
|
Toe |
Top |
|
Toy |
Tow |
|
Try |
Tug |
|
Two |
Tea |
|
Ton |
Tar |
|
Tat |
Tub |
3 Letter Words Starting with U
|
Use |
Urn |
|
Ugh |
Ups |
|
Ump |
Urg |
|
Udo |
Ulu |
|
Uni |
Uzi |
|
Ute |
Udo |
|
Uke |
Use |
|
Urn |
Ufo |
|
Ups |
Ubi |
|
Use |
Uri |
3 Letter Words Starting with V
|
Van |
Vat |
|
Vet |
Vow |
|
Via |
Vie |
|
Vim |
Vex |
|
Vox |
Vug |
|
Vow |
Veg |
|
Vis |
Vee |
|
Vid |
Vae |
|
Van |
Vug |
|
Vex |
Vie |
3 Letter Words Starting with W
|
Wag |
War |
|
Was |
Way |
|
Wet |
Win |
|
Wig |
Who |
|
Why |
Wow |
|
Web |
Wed |
|
Woo |
Won |
|
Wok |
Wax |
|
Wig |
War |
|
Wry |
Wow |
3 Letter Words Starting with X
|
Xis |
Xat |
|
Xyl |
Xus |
|
Xed |
Xef |
|
Xan |
Xim |
|
Xit |
Xor |
|
Xem |
Xus |
|
Xoe |
Xop |
|
Xun |
Xii |
|
Xel |
Xum |
|
Xas |
Xon |
3 Letter Words Starting with Y
|
Yak |
Yam |
|
Yap |
Yar |
|
Yay |
Yaw |
|
Yea |
Yes |
|
Yet |
Yip |
|
Yin |
You |
|
Yon |
Yow |
|
Yum |
Yup |
|
Yen |
Yod |
|
Yaw |
Yam |
3 Letter Words Starting with Z
|
Zap |
Zig |
|
Zip |
Zoo |
|
Zen |
Zed |
|
Zee |
Zoa |
|
Zit |
Zas |
|
Zax |
Zep |
|
Zoe |
Zoa |
|
Zoa |
Zol |
|
Zin |
Zuz |
|
Zag |
Zap |
3 Letter Words for Kindergarten
3 letter words are perfect for kindergarten children who are beginning to read and spell. Here are some short and easy words.
|
cat |
dog |
|
sun |
hat |
|
fan |
pen |
|
cup |
bag |
|
bat |
bed |
|
jam |
run |
|
top |
lip |
|
pot |
map |
|
cap |
rat |
|
box |
toy |
3 Letter Words in English for UKG
For UKG (Upper Kindergarten) children, learning 3 letter words helps improve reading, writing, and speaking skills. Here is a list of words suitable for UKG.
|
man |
pan |
|
sit |
pig |
|
pen |
hen |
|
bed |
red |
|
car |
bar |
|
jam |
ram |
|
toy |
boy |
|
sun |
fun |
|
cup |
pup |
|
box |
fox |
Common 3 Letter Words for Kids
Here is a list of common 3 letter words that children often hear and use in everyday life.
|
cat |
dog |
|
sun |
bed |
|
fan |
pen |
|
bat |
cup |
|
jam |
hat |
|
run |
map |
|
box |
red |
|
car |
toy |
|
man |
pig |
|
pot |
cap |
3 Letter Word Sentences in English
Using short sentences with 3 letter words helps children understand how words come together to make meaning. Here are some sample sentences with three letter words.
|
Sentence |
Sentence |
|
The cat ran. |
The sun is hot. |
|
I see a dog. |
She has a hat. |
|
The man sat. |
The pig can run. |
|
I have a pen. |
The boy has a toy. |
|
The car is red. |
The cup is big. |
|
The bed is soft. |
The fan is on. |
|
The fox ran fast. |
The rat ate jam. |
|
The pot is hot. |
The lid is off. |
|
The hen has an egg. |
The box is new. |
|
The pan is hot. |
The kid can hop. |
3 Letter Words in English Worksheets
Here are some engaging 3 letter word worksheets that help kids learn through fun and practice.


Related:
- Check out our blog on 'ee' Words for Kids.
- Check out our blog on 'Ph' words for kids with pictures.
- Check out our blog on Common Two Letter Words for Kids.
- Check out our blog on List of Words Ending with ing.
- Check out our blog on 5 Letter Words That Start with S.
- Check out our blog on 'Sh' words for kids with pictures.
FAQs
1. What are easy 3 letter words for kids?
Easy 3 letter words for kids include simple and commonly used ones like cat, dog, sun, pen, hat, run, and toy. These words are great for early reading and spelling practice.
2. What is a 3 letter word sentence example in English?
A simple 3 letter word sentence could be The cat ran, I see you, or She has tea. These help children understand sentence structure while using short, easy words.
3. What are the most commonly used 3 letter words in daily conversation?
Some commonly used 3 letter words include and, but, for, you, are, the, can, not, and was. These are often used in everyday communication and early reading materials.
4. How to teach 3 letter words to preschoolers?
You can teach 3 letter words through fun activities like picture cards, phonics games, matching exercises, and storytime. Start with familiar sounds and simple CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words like cat, bat, and sun.
5. Are there 3 letter words with silent letters?
Yes, though they are rare. Examples include hon (short for honey) where "h" can be silent in some accents, and gnu (an animal) where "g" is silent. These can be introduced later as kids advance in reading.



























