The letter I: listen, repeat, and write
Iguana · إغوانا
Letter name: آي · Letter sound: إِ /ɪ/
How to say the letter I
Say a very short 'i' as in ink. The mouth is almost closed and the tongue slightly raised.
Note: The long I sound says its name, as in kite and bike.
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 I is "آي" in Arabic script, but when we read Iguana we hear the sound /ɪ/.
Words that start with I
Tap a word to hear it, then repeat it with your child
Short sentence
The iguana is in the igloo.
الإغوانا داخل الكوخ الثلجي.
Trace the letter Ii
Write with your finger or mouse over the faded letter, then try the small letter
Letter I worksheets to print
Trace capital I
Dotted tracing rows for capital I with a Iguana picture.
Trace small i
Dotted tracing rows for small i on handwriting lines.
Picture and word
Ii with a Iguana picture and words that start with the letter to read, trace and colour.
Colour the letter I
Big outline capital and small letters to colour with the word Iguana.
Find and circle I
A grid of mixed letters: find capital I and small i and circle them.
Which words start with I?
8 words in English and Arabic: colour the star next to the words that start with the I sound.
Tip for parents and teachers
Compare short E (egg) and short I (ink) slowly; they are the two sounds Arabic-speaking children confuse most.
What comes after I?
FAQ about the letter I
How is the letter I pronounced?
The letter name is "I". Its reading (phonics) sound is /ɪ/, closest to the Arabic كسرة قصيرة (إِ). Say a very short 'i' as in ink. The mouth is almost closed and the tongue slightly raised.
What is the difference between the name and the sound of I?
We use the name when spelling, but the sound is what we hear at the start of Iguana. In phonics we teach the sound first because it is what the child needs to read words. The long I sound says its name, as in kite and bike.
Which words start with I for kids?
Iguana (إغوانا), Igloo (كوخ ثلجي), Ink (حبر), Insect (حشرة), Ill (مريض). Listen to each one on this page.
How do I teach my child the letter I at home?
Compare short E (egg) and short I (ink) slowly; they are the two sounds Arabic-speaking children confuse most. Then print the free tracing sheet and write capital I and small i together.