Kindergarten Spelling Words
In Kindergarten, children typically work on hearing every sound in a short word and writing a letter for each. Below are 36 words commonly taught at this level, grouped by the pattern each one practices - so your child learns the rule, not just the list.
There is no single national spelling list in the United States. Schools follow their state's standards and their own reading program, so your child's weekly list may differ. These are words commonly taught at this grade, grouped by the spelling pattern they practice.
Kindergarten words by spelling pattern
Short-vowel CVC words
Consonant-vowel-consonant words where every letter makes its sound.
- cat
- hat
- man
- bed
- red
- net
- pig
- sit
- big
- dog
- top
- hop
- sun
- cup
- run
- bus
First sight words
Very common words children learn to read and write by sight.
- the
- a
- I
- to
- is
- it
- in
- and
- my
- go
- we
- me
- he
- she
- no
- up
- see
- can
- like
- you
How to practice at home
- Little and often. Five to ten minutes a day works better than one long session before the test.
- Teach the pattern. If your child can spell cat, show them the other words in its group.
- Write, don't only type. Spelling tests are written by hand, so some practice should be too.
- Bring missed words back. Revisit words they got wrong a few days later, not just the next day.
Every word here uses American spelling (color, favorite, organize), and Spelling.Live reads words aloud in an American voice when your child is set to US English.
Practice your child's own Kindergarten list on Spelling.Live
Type in, or photograph, the list your child's school sends home and Spelling.Live turns it into short daily practice: choosing, typing, saying and writing each word, with handwriting checked and missed words brought back until they stick. It names the spelling pattern behind each mistake, so you can see what to work on.
When you add your child, choose 🇺🇸 US English and Kindergarten as their school year.
No list from school yet? Every list on this page is ready-made in the app: open Browse Spelling Lists and add one in a tap, or let Spelling.Live choose the list for their grade when you sign up.
Your school's own list, in US English. Free to start, no card needed.
Start practicing freeMore US spelling lists: 1st grade · 2nd grade · 3rd grade · 4th grade · 5th grade · Dolch sight words · Fry sight words Spelling.Live for US families and schools →
Common questions
What spelling words should a Kindergarten child know?
There's no single official list. In Kindergarten (ages 5–6), children typically work on hearing every sound in a short word and writing a letter for each. The words on this page are common examples; your child's school list comes from state standards and reading programs.
How many spelling words a week in Kindergarten?
Most schools send home between 5 and 15 words a week. A few minutes of practice each day, with missed words revisited later in the week, works better than learning them all the night before.
Can I practice my child's own Kindergarten list?
Yes. Spelling.Live lets you type in or photograph the list your child's school sends home, in US English, and turns it into daily practice with handwriting checked.
Are these Kindergarten spelling lists ready-made in the app?
Yes. Every list on this page is a ready-made list in Spelling.Live. Set your child to US English, open Browse Spelling Lists and add one in a tap, with no typing needed.