The letter C: listen, repeat, and write
Cat · قِطّة
Letter name: سي · Letter sound: كْ /k/
How to say the letter C
Lift the back of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and release the air without voice: 'k'. In most words C sounds like K.
Note: Before e, i and y, C sounds like S: city, ice.
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 C is "سي" in Arabic script, but when we read Cat we hear the sound /k/.
Words that start with C
Tap a word to hear it, then repeat it with your child
Short sentence
The cat sits in the car.
القطة تجلس في السيارة.
Trace the letter Cc
Write with your finger or mouse over the faded letter, then try the small letter
Letter C worksheets to print
Trace capital C
Dotted tracing rows for capital C with a Cat picture.
Trace small c
Dotted tracing rows for small c on handwriting lines.
Picture and word
Cc with a Cat picture and words that start with the letter to read, trace and colour.
Colour the letter C
Big outline capital and small letters to colour with the word Cat.
Find and circle C
A grid of mixed letters: find capital C and small c and circle them.
Which words start with C?
8 words in English and Arabic: colour the star next to the words that start with the C sound.
Tip for parents and teachers
Teach the 'k' sound first with cat and cup; leave the 'city' rule for later so the child is not confused.
What comes after C?
FAQ about the letter C
How is the letter C pronounced?
The letter name is "C". Its reading (phonics) sound is /k/, closest to the Arabic حرف الكاف (ك). Lift the back of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and release the air without voice: 'k'. In most words C sounds like K.
What is the difference between the name and the sound of C?
We use the name when spelling, but the sound is what we hear at the start of Cat. In phonics we teach the sound first because it is what the child needs to read words. Before e, i and y, C sounds like S: city, ice.
Which words start with C for kids?
Cat (قطة), Car (سيارة), Cup (كوب), Cake (كعكة), Cow (بقرة). Listen to each one on this page.
How do I teach my child the letter C at home?
Teach the 'k' sound first with cat and cup; leave the 'city' rule for later so the child is not confused. Then print the free tracing sheet and write capital C and small c together.