ll Words for Kids with Pictures

Learning LL words for kids is an important and fun part of your child’s phonics and reading journey. Words with double "L" like ball, call, and small are easy to say and help kids learn spelling, vocabulary, and reading fluency. This guide is perfect for learning to read, phonics 2 letter words and teaching LL words in an engaging way, especially for kids in 1st grade and third grade. It’s also helpful for children with dyslexia, as it supports phonemic awareness, word recognition, and speech clarity. With fun activities like LL word worksheets, flashcards, and phonics games, kids can practice double consonant words while building a strong foundation in reading. From simple words like all to longer words like brilliant, this guide has everything to help your child learn. Let’s explore LL words and make learning exciting!

How can you Introduce ‘ll’ Words for Kids?

Introducing the 'll' sound to kids involves several steps to ensure they understand the sound and can use it correctly. Help children learn to decode words by recognizing the ll sound at the end of nouns like "bell" and "doll." This approach strengthens their phonics skills and builds confidence in reading. Here's a breakdown of how to teach phonics step by step:

1. Introduce the Letter and Sound: Start by teaching the sound of 'l' as "/el/". Focus on the /l/ sound at the start of words. Say words like "lamp," "love," "light," "lap," and "lick," and ask first-grade kids what sound they hear at the beginning. Talk about how the mouth moves when making the /l/ sound. Let them put their hand on their throat to feel the sound. Explain that it’s a noisy sound because their voice is used.

2. Start with simple Syllable and Words: Once they can spell the 'L' sound, teach syllables like "la," "le," "li," "lo," and "lu." Start with easy one- or two-syllable words like "lip," "lap," "log," "less," and "let." Say the word slowly, stressing the "L" sound, and have them repeat it. If they find it hard, break the word into syllables.

3. Use Visual Aids: Show images of words that have the letter 'L' alphabet in them or begin with it.

4. Word Position:  Pay attention to where the /l/ sound is in the word. In "lion," it’s at the start, in "pillow," it’s in the middle, and in "ball," it’s at the end. Start with the easiest words so your child can feel successful.

5. Practice Printing the letter L: Practice writing the letter L. Use a fun worksheet that lets kids trace the letter. It’s an easy and fun way for pre-k learners to learn.

Why Is 'll' Tricky, and Why Do Some Kids Struggle?

The ‘l’ sound can be tricky for some children to read here is the reason why : 

1. Typical Development: Children usually learn the 'L' sound by age five, and it's normal to mispronounce it while developing.

2. Tongue Strength and Placement: Making the 'L' sound needs the tongue tip to touch the roof of the mouth, which can be tricky for some kids.

3. Sound Substitution: Kids might replace 'L' with easier sounds like "w" or "y" (e.g., saying "wemon" instead of "lemon").

4. Speech Sound Disorders (SSD): Some children have difficulties with speech movements and may need help from speech therapists.

5. Underlying Issues: Hearing problems or physical challenges can also affect the pronunciation of the 'L' sound.

The Best Age to Start Teaching 'll' Words to Kids

The best age to start teaching 'll' words to kids is typically around 5-6 years old, when they begin learning phonics and basic reading skills. At this stage, children can recognize letter sounds and blend them to form simple words like ball or call. Introduce "ll" words list through fun activities, such as games, songs, and storytelling, to make learning engaging. With patience and practice, kids will quickly build confidence in reading and spelling these words! 

Benefits of learning ‘ll’ Words

1. Improves Reading Fluency: Recognizing double 'll' words helps kids read smoothly and quickly.

2. Boosts Spelling Skills: Strengthens spelling patterns and reduces mistakes.

3. Enhances Vocabulary: Expands word families knowledge with common words like "call," "ball," and "small."

4. Builds Phonics Awareness: Helps children understand sound patterns for easier word decoding.

5. Supports Writing Confidence: Increases confidence in writing, memorization and storytelling.

Understanding Voiced and Voiceless ‘ll’ words

Understanding whether the 'll' in words is voiced or voiceless depends on vocal cord vibration. Voiced 'll' words, like ball, involve vibration, while voiceless ones, like bell, do not. Plural forms are created by adding -s or -es, such as balls or bells. Proper punctuation is important when using these words.

Voiced ‘ll’

When ‘ll’ is voiced, it means the vocal cords vibrate when producing the sound. This typically occurs when ‘ll’ is surrounded by sounds, such as vowels or voiced consonants.

Examples:

• Ball /bɔːl/ – The ‘a’ before the ‘ll’ is a voiced vowel, making the ‘ll’ voiced.

• Bell /bɛl/ – The ‘e’ before the ‘ll’ is a voiced vowel, making the ‘ll’ voiced.

• Fill /fɪl/ – The ‘i’ before the ‘ll’ is a voiced vowel, making the ‘ll’ voiced.

Voiceless ‘ll’

When ‘ll’ is voiceless, it means the vocal cords do not vibrate when producing the sound. This is less common in English, but it can occur in certain dialects or in specific phonetic contexts.

Examples:

• Hill /hɪl/ – In some dialects, the ‘h’ at the beginning can influence the ‘ll’ to be less voiced, though it’s still generally voiced.

• Pull /pʊl/ – The ‘u’ before the ‘ll’ is a voiced vowel, but in some dialects, the ‘ll’ might be less voiced, especially in rapid speech.

Phonics 2 letter ‘ll’ words

Here are more 2-letter combinations related to 'll' words in phonics, perfect for teaching and helping kids with read-and-write skills:

• ll (as in "tall" or "call")

• al(as in "mall" or "fall")

• el (as in "sell" or "fell")

• il (as in "hill" or "fill")

• ul(as in "full" or "pull")

• ol (as in "doll" or "roll")

• ll at the end of words, emphasizing the double consonant sound (e.g., "will," "bill," "tell")

Double ‘ll’ sound words

The pronunciation of ‘ll’ can vary depending on the word and its origin, but it generally produces a clear /l/ sound. Below is a list of double ‘ll’ sound words along with their phonetic pronunciations and examples to help you understand and practice.

1. Ball – /bɔːl/

• Example: She kicked the ball across the field.

2. Bell – /bɛl/

• Example: The bell rang loudly at noon.

3. Fill– /fɪl/

• Example: Please fill the glass with water.

4. Hill – /hɪl/

• Example: They climbed to the top of the hill.

5. Pull – /pʊl/

• Example: He tried to pull the door open.

6. Will – /wɪl/

• Example: She will arrive at 5 p.m.

7. Doll – /dɒl/

• Example: The child played with her doll.

8. Tell – /tɛl/

• Example: Can you tell me the time?

9. Well – /wɛl/

• Example: She sings very well.

10. Small – /smɔːl/

• Example: The small kitten slept quietly.

ll Three letter words

Three-letter words with double ‘ll’ are quite limited, but here’s a list of the most common ones. These words are great for practicing phonics, spelling, and pronunciation.

3-Letter Words with ‘ll’

1. All – /ɔːl/

• Example: All the children played together.

2. Ill – /ɪl/

• Example: She felt ill after eating too much.

3. Ell – /ɛl/

• Example: The old house had an ell added to it.
  (Note: "Ell" is an old unit of measurement or a type of architectural extension.)

Voiced ‘ll’ phrases

1. The ball rolled down the hill.

• Words with ‘ll’: ball, rolled, hill

• Pronunciation: /ðə bɔːl roʊld daʊn ðə hɪl/

2. She will tell you the story.

• Words with ‘ll’: will, tell

• Pronunciation: /ʃi wɪl tɛl ju ðə ˈstɔːri/

3. The small doll fell off the shelf.

• Words with ‘ll’: small, doll, fell

• Pronunciation: /ðə smɔːl dɒl fɛl ɒf ðə ʃɛlf/

4. He pulled the bell to call for help.

• Words with ‘ll’: pulled, bell, call

• Pronunciation: /hi pʊld ðə bɛl tə kɔːl fɔːr hɛlp/

5. The yellow balloon floated in the sky.

• Words with ‘ll’: yellow, balloon

• Pronunciation: /ðə ˈjɛloʊ bəˈluːn ˈfloʊtɪd ɪn ðə skaɪ/

Voiceless ‘ll’ phrases

1. Please pull the plug.

1. Word with ‘ll’: pull

2. Pronunciation: /pliːz pʊl ðə plʌɡ/

2. The cat will sleep on the pillow.

1. Word with ‘ll’: will

2. Pronunciation: /ðə kæt wɪl sliːp ɒn ðə ˈpɪloʊ/

3. He took the small path.

1. Word with ‘ll’: small

2. Pronunciation: /hi tʊk ðə smɔːl pæθ/

4. She whispered, “Tell me the truth.”

1. Word with ‘ll’: tell

2. Pronunciation: /ʃi ˈwɪspərd, tɛl mi ðə truːθ/

5. The clock struck twelve.

1. Word with ‘ll’: twelve

2. Pronunciation: /ðə klɒk strʌk twɛlv/

Voiced 'll' Paragraphs

The small yellow ball rolled down the hill and landed near the willow tree. The children ran to retrieve it, laughing and yelling as they played. One of them picked up the ball and said, ‘I’ll throw it this time!’ The others cheered and waited eagerly. The ball flew through the air, landing softly on the grass. They all agreed it was the best game they had played all day. The kids enjoyed the rhyme of words like ball and call, adding to the fun of the game.

Voiceless 'll' Paragraphs

On a quiet hill, a small cat sat still, watching leaves fall gently from a tall tree. The wind began to swirl, making the branches twirl. Nearby, a well stood, surrounded by yellow flowers. A butterfly landed on the wall, its wings soft and delicate. The sun started to set, casting a golden glow over the field. All was peaceful and calm. A squirrel ran up the tree with skill, then jumped to another branch. As night fell, the world grew still, and the moonlight filled the valley. It was a beautiful, tranquil evening on the hill.

ll Words in Sentences

1. Ball – He kicked the ball across the field.

2. Call – I will call you after dinner.

3. Tall – The tall tree swayed in the wind.

4. Fall – Be careful, or you might fall on the slippery floor.

5. Wall – She painted a picture on the wall.

6. Well – He is feeling well after a good night's sleep.

7. Sell – They plan to sell their old car.

8. Yell – Don’t yell inside the library.

9. Smell – The flowers smell sweet.

10. Hill – We climbed the steep hill together.

ll Words in Stories

Once upon a time, a tall boy named Sam played with his red ball near a big hill. He loved to call his friends to join him. One day, the ball rolled down the hill and hit a stone wall. Sam ran fast but stumbled and almost had a big fall. Luckily, he was well and didn’t get hurt. His friends began to yell with laughter, and the air was filled with the sweet smell of flowers nearby. They all decided to play by the hill every day, having fun until the sun would finally fall behind the mountains.

Fun 'll' Word Activities and Games for Kids

1. 'Ll' Word Hunt

• How to Play: Create a list of 'll' words and write them on flashcards. Hide the cards around the room or outdoors, and let kids search for them, reading the words aloud when they find each card. Afterward, take a quiz where kids match the words to pictures or use them in sentences, reinforcing their learning in a fun way.

• Extension: Ask them to use the word in a sentence for extra practice.

2. 'Ll' Word Bingo

• How to Play: Create bingo cards with 'll' words (e.g., ball, call, fall, wall, small). Call out the words randomly, and kids mark them on their cards. The first to get a line or full card wins!

• Materials: Bingo cards, markers, and a list of 'll' words.

3. 'Ll' Word Memory Match

• How to Play : Write 'll' words on pairs of index cards. Place them face down and have kids flip two cards at a time to find matching pairs. When they find a match, they read the word aloud.

• Extension: Add pictures to the cards for visual learners.

4. 'Ll' Word Charades

• How to Play: Write 'll' words on slips of paper. Kids take turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking while others guess the word.

• Example Words: fall, call, ball, wall, small, tall.

5. 'Ll' Word Scavenger Hunt

• How to Play: Give kids a list of 'll' words and ask them to find objects or pictures that match the words (e.g., a ball or a picture of a wall).

• Extension: Take it outdoors and look for things like a tree (tall) or a rock (small).

6. 'Ll' Word Story Time

• How to Play: Write a short story with several 'll' words missing. Kids fill in the blanks with the correct 'll' words from a word bank.

• Example: "The ___ (ball) rolled down the ___ (hill)."

Helpful Tools for Learning and Improving 'll' Words

1. ll words like book

I highly recommend Jolly Phonics books for fun and effective phonics learning.They are great for helping kids master sounds and improve their reading level skills!

2. Youtube Video 

I highly recommend the Miss Phonics YouTube channel for learning the 'll' sound. It offers fun and engaging lessons that help kids master phonics easily!

ll Words Worksheets 1 : Word Identification

Worksheets 2 : Sentence Completion

Worksheets 3 : Fill in the Blanks

Safehugs provides helpful parenting blogs with tips on homeschooling, child development, and positive behaviour, offering practical advice for raising confident and well-rounded children in a nurturing environment.