What sound does the letter U make?

The letter Uu makes the sound at the start of umbrella. Say the sound on its own — /u/ — rather than the letter name, so your child can blend it into words like "umbrella".

What are some words that start with U?

umbrella, up, under, uncle all begin with the Uu sound.

How do you write the letter U?

Uppercase U: Down, curve, up. Lowercase u: Down, curve, up, then Line down.

How can I make learning the letter U fun?

Hunt for Uu on signs and cereal boxes, trace it in sand or shaving foam, and play a short phonics game. LQuest turns each letter into a five-minute game with sounds, tracing and sticker rewards.

All letters

The letter Uu

Says the sound at the start of umbrella

Uu makes the sound at the start of umbrella. Practise the sound first, then the shape: say the sound, find it in words, and trace both the capital U and the small u. Five focused minutes a day beats a long session.

Words with Uu

Words that start with U

umbrella
up
under
uncle

Uu in the middle

bug
sun
cup
duck

Words that end with u

How to write U and u

Capital U

Down, curve, up

Small u

Down, curve, up
Line down

Play the letter U game

Hear the sound in a real voice, trace the letter with your finger and earn a sticker. Free to start.

Play letter U free

Letter U questions parents ask

What sound does the letter U make?: The letter Uu makes the sound at the start of umbrella. Say the sound on its own — /u/ — rather than the letter name, so your child can blend it into words like "umbrella".
What are some words that start with U?: umbrella, up, under, uncle all begin with the Uu sound.
How do you write the letter U?: Uppercase U: Down, curve, up. Lowercase u: Down, curve, up, then Line down.
How can I make learning the letter U fun?: Hunt for Uu on signs and cereal boxes, trace it in sand or shaving foam, and play a short phonics game. LQuest turns each letter into a five-minute game with sounds, tracing and sticker rewards.