Letter E
E is a vowel. It says eh, as in Elephant.
The elephant has an egg.
Words that start with E
Tap a picture to hear the word.
How to write E
Draw a straight line down. Then add three lines going across: one at the top, one in the middle, one at the bottom. Like a comb with three teeth.
Shape in short: Vertical line down with three parallel horizontal bars (top, middle, bottom).
Practise tracingFind every E and e
Tap the letters that match. Careful, some look alike!
Find 4 letters to win.
Watch out!
E and F look similar. E has a bottom line too, so E has three arms and F has two.
Fun fact
E is the most common letter in the English language.
Quick quiz
Secret codes for E
For big kids who love puzzles.
Teaching the letter E
Objective: children can name E and e, say its sound (eh, as in Elephant), form it correctly and spot it in words.
- Say it: show the letter, say its sound clearly and have children copy you. Use the sound, not the name, to start.
- Hear it: say the words egg, elephant, envelope, elf. Children clap when they hear the sound at the start.
- See it: point out the capital and small partner, Ee.
- Write it: model the strokes in the air, then on paper. Draw a straight line down. Then add three lines going across: one at the top, one in the middle, one at the bottom. Like a comb with three teeth.
- Use it: read the sentence together: "The elephant has an egg."
Common mix-ups
E and F look similar. E has a bottom line too, so E has three arms and F has two.
Support and stretch
- Support: use sand or a finger on the table before pencil.
- Stretch: ask for a new word that begins with E in it, or spot E in a sentence.
Curriculum links (best guesses, please check)
- UK: Letters and Sounds, Phase 2, set 4. EYFS Literacy: word reading and writing.
- US: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.1.D (name upper and lowercase letters) and RF.K.3.A (letter-sound correspondence).
Phonics order varies between schools and schemes. Match it to yours.
Helping at home with E
Your child is learning to recognise E and e, hear the sound eh, as in Elephant, and write the letter. Little and often works best: 5 to 10 minutes is plenty.
Say it the way school does
Teachers use pure sounds, so try not to add "uh" on the end. Say eh, as in Elephant as short and crisp as you can.
Five easy ideas
- Go on a letter hunt: spot E on cereal boxes, signs and books.
- Write E in a tray of rice, sand or shaving foam.
- Make it with play dough or draw it huge with chalk outside.
- Find things that start with E in the name: egg, elephant, envelope, elf.
- Read "The elephant has an egg." together and let your child point to the E.
If your child mixes up letters that look alike, that is very normal at this age. E and F look similar. E has a bottom line too, so E has three arms and F has two.
Questions about the letter E
What sound does the letter E make?
The letter E makes the sound eh, as in Elephant. Try saying it with a friend, then find three things in the room that start with that sound.
How do you write the letter E?
Draw a straight line down. Then add three lines going across: one at the top, one in the middle, one at the bottom. Like a comb with three teeth.
What words start with E?
Some easy words that start with E are egg, elephant, envelope, elf. The elephant has an egg.
Is E a vowel or a consonant?
E is a vowel. The vowels are A, E, I, O and U, and every word needs at least one.