Short I Words for Kids: Hear and Read the I Sound (Kindergarten and Grade 1 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning the short i sound. Listen. I, I, I. It is the sound in the middle of pig and fish. Let's find lots of short i words together!

To make the short i sound, smile a little and say i, like the start of itch. Short i is quick and soft. When i sits between two consonants, it usually makes this short sound.

Let's blend sounds to read. P, i, g. Pig! S, i, t. Sit! B, i, b. Bib! Say each sound, then slide them together. The short i is always right in the middle.

Short i words can belong to word families. The i g family has pig, big, dig and wig. The i t family has sit, hit, bit and kit. Change the first letter to make a new word!

Some short i words are a little longer. Fish has s h at the end. Milk has two letters after the i. Six ends with x. Listen, and you still hear that quick short i sound.

Short i or not? Listen. Lip has short i. Cap has short a, not i. Win has short i. Hot has short o. Your ears are the best tool for finding the sound.

Now it's your turn. Which picture has the short i sound? A cat, a pin, or a sun? Pause and try. It is pin! P, i, n. Pin has the short i in the middle.

Great job! Short i says i, like in pig, sit and fish. It usually sits between two consonants, and word families help you read more words. Practice short i words in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!