3-Letter Words
As kids leave preschool, they typically know their ABCs and recognize a few words. They're amazing at picking up new words early on, and starting with short 3-letter words is a great way to teach them. The more they practice, the better they get at speaking. Once they nail the alphabet, spelling becomes easier. They start breaking words into parts and spelling them correctly.
Learning lots of words at this age is super helpful, especially for picking up new languages and reading smoothly. In this article, we've put together a list of 3-letter words for kids to boost their vocabulary and help you teach them.
What are 3-Letter Words?
Three-letter words are simply words that consist of only three letters. These words form the foundational building blocks of language and are often among the first words children learn to read and write. They're essential in early language development and can range from basic words like "cat," "dog," and "run" to more complex ones. Mastering these words helps in forming a base for expanding vocabulary and language skills.
Explore 3-Letter Words for Kids to Enhance Vocabulary
Learning 3-letter words is simple, but teaching them can be a bit tricky. Here are some words to assist you in enriching your child's vocabulary.
List of 3-Letter Words for Kids
Here are some 3-letter words that can help kids expand their vocabulary:
|
Word
|
Meaning
|
|
And
|
conjunction
|
|
Fix
|
repair
|
|
Own
|
possess
|
|
Are
|
present tense of "be"
|
|
Fly
|
soar through air
|
|
Odd
|
unusual
|
|
Ape
|
primate
|
|
Fry
|
cook in hot oil
|
|
Our
|
belonging to us
|
|
Ace
|
playing card
|
|
For
|
in favor of
|
|
Pet
|
domestic animal
|
|
Act
|
perform
|
|
Got
|
obtained
|
|
Pat
|
light tap
|
|
Ask
|
inquire
|
|
Get
|
receive
|
|
Peg
|
small pin
|
|
Arm
|
limb
|
|
God
|
deity
|
|
Paw
|
animal's foot
|
|
Age
|
number of years
|
|
Gel
|
substance
|
|
Pup
|
baby dog
|
|
Ago
|
before now
|
|
Gas
|
fuel
|
|
Pit
|
hole in ground
|
|
Air
|
atmosphere
|
|
Hat
|
headwear
|
|
Put
|
place
|
|
Ate
|
consumed
|
|
Hit
|
strike
|
|
Pot
|
container
|
|
All
|
everything
|
|
But
|
however
|
|
Had
|
past tense of "have"
|
|
Pin
|
small pointed object
|
|
Bye
|
farewell
|
|
How
|
in what way
|
|
Rat
|
rodent
|
|
Bad
|
not good
|
|
Her
|
female pronoun
|
|
Rag
|
fabric scrap
|
|
Big
|
large
|
|
His
|
male pronoun
|
|
Rub
|
apply pressure while moving back and forth
|
|
Bed
|
sleeping furniture
|
|
Hen
|
female bird
|
|
Row
|
series
|
|
Bat
|
flying mammal
|
|
Ink
|
writing fluid
|
|
Rug
|
floor covering
|
|
Boy
|
male child
|
|
Ice
|
frozen water
|
|
Run
|
move swiftly on foot
|
|
Bus
|
public transport
|
|
Ill
|
unwell
|
|
Rap
|
rhythmic speech
|
|
Bag
|
container
|
|
Jab
|
quick punch
|
|
Ram
|
male sheep
|
|
Box
|
container
|
|
Jug
|
container
|
|
Sow
|
female pig
|
|
Bit
|
small piece
|
|
Jet
|
airplane
|
|
See
|
perceive with eyes
|
|
Bee
|
insect
|
|
Jam
|
preserve
|
|
Saw
|
cutting tool
|
|
Buy
|
purchase
|
|
Jar
|
container
|
|
Set
|
group
|
|
Bun
|
bread roll
|
|
Job
|
occupation
|
|
Sit
|
be seated
|
|
Cub
|
young bear
|
|
Jog
|
run slowly
|
|
Sir
|
respectful address
|
|
Cat
|
feline
|
|
Kit
|
set of items
|
|
Sat
|
past tense of "sit"
|
|
Car
|
automobile
|
|
Key
|
metal tool
|
|
Sob
|
cry noisily
|
|
Cut
|
divide with sharp tool
|
|
Lot
|
large amount
|
|
Tap
|
light blow
|
|
Cow
|
female cattle
|
|
Lit
|
illuminated
|
|
Tip
|
pointed end
|
|
Cry
|
shed tears
|
|
Let
|
allow
|
|
Top
|
upper part
|
|
Cab
|
taxi
|
|
Lay
|
place down
|
|
Tug
|
pull with force
|
|
Can
|
container
|
|
Mat
|
floor covering
|
|
Tow
|
pull behind
|
|
Dad
|
father
|
|
Man
|
adult male
|
|
Toe
|
digit on foot
|
|
Dab
|
light touch
|
|
Mad
|
angry
|
|
Tan
|
brown color
|
|
Dam
|
barrier in water
|
|
Mug
|
drinking vessel
|
|
Ten
|
number
|
|
Did
|
past tense of "do"
|
|
Mix
|
blend
|
|
Two
|
number
|
|
Dug
|
excavated
|
|
Map
|
visual representation
|
|
Use
|
employ
|
|
Den
|
animal's lair
|
|
Mum
|
mother
|
|
Van
|
vehicle
|
|
Dot
|
small round mark
|
|
Mud
|
wet earth
|
|
Vet
|
animal doctor
|
|
Dip
|
briefly submerge
|
|
Mom
|
mother
|
|
Was
|
past tense of "be"
|
|
Day
|
24 hours
|
|
May
|
fifth month
|
|
Wet
|
covered in liquid
|
|
Ear
|
auditory organ
|
|
Met
|
encountered
|
|
Win
|
achieve victory
|
|
Eye
|
visual organ
|
|
Net
|
mesh fabric
|
|
Won
|
past tense of "win"
|
|
Eat
|
consume food
|
|
New
|
recently made
|
|
Wig
|
head covering
|
|
End
|
final part
|
|
Nap
|
short sleep
|
|
War
|
conflict
|
|
Elf
|
mythical creature
|
|
Now
|
at this moment
|
|
Why
|
for what reason
|
|
Egg
|
oval object
|
|
Nod
|
brief downward movement
|
|
Who
|
which person
|
|
Far
|
distant
|
|
Not
|
negation
|
|
Way
|
route
|
|
Fat
|
overweight
|
|
Owl
|
nocturnal bird
|
|
Wow
|
expression of surprise
|
|
Few
|
small number
|
|
Nut
|
seed
|
|
You
|
second person pronoun
|
|
Fan
|
device for air
|
|
Oar
|
paddle
|
|
Yes
|
affirmation
|
|
Fun
|
enjoyment
|
|
One
|
number
|
|
Yak
|
animal
|
|
Fit
|
suitable
|
|
Out
|
exterior
|
|
Yet
|
up to now
|
|
Fin
|
fish appendage
|
|
Owl
|
nocturnal bird
|
|
Zip
|
fastener
|
|
Fox
|
cunning animal
|
|
Old
|
aged
|
|
Zap
|
quick movement
|
How Are 3-Letter Words Helpful?
Learning 3-letter words is vital for kids as it enhances their vocabulary. It's a foundational step toward grasping larger words, enabling them to deconstruct and form new ones. Here are several ways in which kids get the benefits of mastering 3-letter words:
-
Enhanced Vocabulary:
Improved vocabulary facilitates better communication.
-
Word Deconstruction:
They learn to break down longer words and craft new ones.
-
Skill Strengthening:
Strengthens reading, speaking, and writing abilities.
-
Academic Performance:
Boosts academic achievements and overall language development.
How to Teach 3-Letter Words to Kids?
Remembering 3-letter words isn't overly challenging. Here are tips to aid your child in easily learning these words:
-
Reading and Repeating Words:
Encourage your child to read aloud the spellings of 3-letter words. Having them pronounce each letter helps in both spelling and proper pronunciation.
-
Alphabet Blocks and Activities:
Engage kids with alphabet blocks or flashcards to form 3-letter words. This interactive method makes learning vocabulary enjoyable and interactive.
-
Word Games:
Make learning fun with word games. Visual and mental engagement while playing helps kids grasp new words more effortlessly.
-
Visual Cues:
Use visuals as aids in vocabulary building. For instance, when teaching 'fan', display a picture of a fan alongside the word in bold or capitalized letters. This method accelerates word comprehension and retention.
