Letter W
W is a letter that is sometimes a vowel. It says wuh, as in Whale.
The wolf has a watch.
Words that start with W
Tap a picture to hear the word.
How to write W
Slide down, up, down and up again, in a zig-zag. W has two points at the bottom, like two valleys.
Shape in short: Double-V shape: diagonal down, up, down, and up.
Practise tracingFind every W and w
Tap the letters that match. Careful, some look alike!
Find 4 letters to win.
Watch out!
W and M are upside-down twins. W has two valleys, M has two hills.
Fun fact
The name "double-u" tells you W is really two Vs joined together.
Quick quiz
Secret codes for W
For big kids who love puzzles.
Teaching the letter W
Objective: children can name W and w, say its sound (wuh, as in Whale), 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 whale, watch, web, wolf. Children clap when they hear the sound at the start.
- See it: point out the capital and small partner, Ww.
- Write it: model the strokes in the air, then on paper. Slide down, up, down and up again, in a zig-zag. W has two points at the bottom, like two valleys.
- Use it: read the sentence together: "The wolf has a watch."
Common mix-ups
W and M are upside-down twins. W has two valleys, M has two hills.
Support and stretch
- Support: use sand or a finger on the table before pencil.
- Stretch: ask for a new word that begins with W in it, or spot W in a sentence.
Curriculum links (best guesses, please check)
- UK: Letters and Sounds, Phase 3. 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 W
Your child is learning to recognise W and w, hear the sound wuh, as in Whale, 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 wuh, as in Whale as short and crisp as you can.
Five easy ideas
- Go on a letter hunt: spot W on cereal boxes, signs and books.
- Write W 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 W in the name: whale, watch, web, wolf.
- Read "The wolf has a watch." together and let your child point to the W.
If your child mixes up letters that look alike, that is very normal at this age. W and M are upside-down twins. W has two valleys, M has two hills.
Questions about the letter W
What sound does the letter W make?
The letter W makes the sound wuh, as in Whale. Try saying it with a friend, then find three things in the room that start with that sound.
How do you write the letter W?
Slide down, up, down and up again, in a zig-zag. W has two points at the bottom, like two valleys.
What words start with W?
Some easy words that start with W are whale, watch, web, wolf. The wolf has a watch.
Is W a vowel or a consonant?
W is usually a consonant, but in some words it works like a vowel, such as "my" and "happy".