Free printable · CVC words

Short u CVC words

Short u is the sound in the middle of "bug" and "sun". It is usually the last short vowel children learn, so this list is a good review once the others feel easy.

This page has 29 short u CVC words in 7 word families, from bug and hug to cup and pup.

-ug words

  • bug
  • dug
  • hug
  • jug
  • mug
  • pug
  • rug
  • tug

-un words

  • bun
  • fun
  • run
  • sun

-ut words

  • but
  • cut
  • hut
  • nut
  • rut

-ub words

  • cub
  • hub
  • rub
  • sub
  • tub

-um words

  • gum
  • hum
  • sum

-up words

  • cup
  • pup

-ud words

  • bud
  • mud

How to use this list

  1. When short u feels secure, print the short a, i and o lists too and pick one word from each, so your child has to look at the vowel every time.
  2. Keep sessions short: a few minutes a day beats one long session a week.
  3. Ask your child to say each sound and then blend them into the word. If they guess from the first letter, cover the word and go sound by sound again.
  4. Print the flashcards, mix them up, and read them out of order once the list feels easy, so your child is reading the word and not remembering the list.

Frequently asked questions

What sound does short u make?

Short u says /u/ as in umbrella or up. In bug and sun it is the middle sound.

Is "put" a short u word?

Not in most accents: the u in put sounds like the oo in book. That is why it is not on this list, even though it looks like cut and hut.

My child reads every CVC word slowly. Is that normal?

Yes. Sounding out comes before speed. Reread the same columns over a few days and the words start to come faster on their own.

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