The letter A: listen, repeat, and write
Alligator · تِمساح
Letter name: إيه · Letter sound: أَ /æ/
How to say the letter A
Open your mouth a little and say a short 'a' as in apple. This short sound is what children learn first.
Note: A also has a long sound that says its name, as in cake and name.
In phonics we teach the sound of a letter before its name, because the sound is what the child uses when reading. The name of A is "إيه" in Arabic script, but when we read Alligator we hear the sound /æ/.
Words that start with A
Tap a word to hear it, then repeat it with your child
Short sentence
An alligator ate an apple.
أكل تمساحٌ تفاحةً.
Trace the letter Aa
Write with your finger or mouse over the faded letter, then try the small letter
Letter A worksheets to print
Trace capital A
Dotted tracing rows for capital A with a Alligator picture.
Trace small a
Dotted tracing rows for small a on handwriting lines.
Picture and word
Aa with a Alligator picture and words that start with the letter to read, trace and colour.
Colour the letter A
Big outline capital and small letters to colour with the word Alligator.
Find and circle A
A grid of mixed letters: find capital A and small a and circle them.
Which words start with A?
8 words in English and Arabic: colour the star next to the words that start with the A sound.
Tip for parents and teachers
Start with the sound, not the name: say 'a… a… Apple'. Link the sound to the picture and have your child repeat it three times.
What comes after A?
FAQ about the letter A
How is the letter A pronounced?
The letter name is "A". Its reading (phonics) sound is /æ/, closest to the Arabic فتحة قصيرة (أَ). Open your mouth a little and say a short 'a' as in apple. This short sound is what children learn first.
What is the difference between the name and the sound of A?
We use the name when spelling, but the sound is what we hear at the start of Alligator. In phonics we teach the sound first because it is what the child needs to read words. A also has a long sound that says its name, as in cake and name.
Which words start with A for kids?
Alligator (تمساح), Apple (تفاحة), Ant (نملة), Arm (ذراع), Axe (فأس). Listen to each one on this page.
How do I teach my child the letter A at home?
Start with the sound, not the name: say 'a… a… Apple'. Link the sound to the picture and have your child repeat it three times. Then print the free tracing sheet and write capital A and small a together.