The -an word family
14 words that rhyme
Every word here ends in "-an". Keep the ending on the page and change only the sound at the front — that one trick turns a single decoded word into a whole list your child can read.
All -an words
- ban
- can
- fan
- man
- pan
- ran
- tan
- van
- bran
- clan
- plan
- scan
- span
- than
How to run a five-minute session
- Say the ending "-an" three times together.
- Add one sound in front and read: ban.
- Swap the first sound and read again — can, fan, man.
- Read the whole list top to bottom, then shuffled.
- Finish by having your child write two of the words from memory.
Printable sheet
-an word family worksheet
Read each -an word aloud, then trace it. Circle your two favourites and use them in a sentence.
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Common questions
What words are in the -an family?
ban, can, fan, man, pan, ran, tan, van, bran, clan, plan, scan, span, than — 14 words in total, all ending in "-an".
What is a -an word?
A word that ends with the letters and sound "-an". Because the ending never changes, a child only has to decode the first sound.
How do you teach the -an word family?
Write "-an" once and keep it fixed. Change only the letter in front, one at a time, and have your child read each new word aloud. Ten words in five minutes is normal.
Play the -an game
Sound Wheels spins the first sound while the ending stays put — kids read the whole family without noticing.
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