CVC Words: The Middle Vowel

Watch videos

Start exercises

Show worksheets

Ask teachers

Content CVC Words: The Middle Vowel

CVC Words – Middle Vowels

What is a Middle Vowel?

Finding Vowels in CVC Words
CVC Words – Examples
CVC Words with Medial Short Vowel Sounds – Summary

Rating

Be the first to give a rating!

You must be logged in to be able to give a rating.

Wow, thank you!
Please rate us on Google too! We look forward to it!

Go to Google

The authors

Team Digital

Basics on the topic CVC Words: The Middle Vowel

CVC Words – Middle Vowels

In this video we learn about CVC words, or consonant-vowel-consonant words, but what does that mean exactly? Words always consist of one or more syllables. Syllables can be formed from consonants and vowels (C for consonant and V for vowel). This creates the structure CVC.

What is a Middle Vowel?

You might already know that medial vowel sounds include the letters, A, E, I, O and, U. These are our vowels. Consonants are every other letter of the alphabet that is not a vowel. When we talk about the middle sound of a CVC word, we mean the vowel in a word. CVC words usually make short vowel sounds, or short medial vowel sounds because they are being hugged by the last consonant.

Finding Vowels in CVC Words

The word C U T is a CVC word with an example of medial vowel sound. Say the word out loud. You will hear two voiceless sounds – /k/ and /t/. The vowel in the middle of the word is voiced – /ʌ/

To find the medial short vowel sounds, or middle vowel in a CVC word, you can do as follows:

First say the word out loud
Next, touch and say each sound we hear
Then, we name the vowel we hear in the middle
Finally, we write that vowel sound in its place.

CVC Words – Examples

Take a look at the following CVC word with the missing middle vowel sound, can you figure out the vowel sound and what the word is?

Remember to say what you think the word is first. Then, sound out each letter of the word and fill in the blank for the vowel sound.

The vowel here is a which makes the short vowel sound – /æ/ in the word [kæt]. The word here is cat!

Let’s try one more! Which vowel sound is shown in this word? Can you tell what the word is?

Remember to say what you think the word is first. Then, sound out each letter of the word and fill in the blank for the vowel sound.

The vowel sound in this word is u which makes the short vowel sound – /ʌ/. The word here is bug – [bʌɡ]!

CVC Words with Medial Short Vowel Sounds – Summary

The English language features a lot of words consisting of just one syllable. Many of these words show the structure CVC – consonant, (short) vowel, consonant. See below how to find the middle sound or middle vowel in CVC words:

Step #	What to do
1	Say the word out loud.
2	Name the vowel you hear in the middle.
3	Write that vowel in the correct place.

Have you practiced yet? On this website, you can also find interactive exercises and printable worksheets on CVC words and their middle sounds.

Transcript CVC Words: The Middle Vowel

Dee and Kala are packing lunches for their hike today. They’re making sandwiches, CVC sandwiches that is! They have all the consonant ‘bread’ laid out, but are having trouble determining which vowel spreads to use. Let's help them by learning about CVC words: the middle vowel. A CVC word is a special kind of word made up of three letters that follow the same pattern each time. A consonant, a vowel and a consonant. Consonants and vowels are the names for the two types of letters in the alphabet. Vowels are the letters a, e, i, o and u. Consonants are all the other letters that are not vowels. When we say middle vowel, we are talking about the sound the letter makes in between the first and last letters, kind of like the spread in the middle of a sandwich. In CVC words, vowels usually make a short sound... like ӑ add, ě egg, ĭ igloo, ŏ olive or ŭ umbrella because they're being hugged by the last consonant. But how do we work out the middle vowel? Let's look at this first CVC sandwich with the nut spread. The middle letter is missing! To work it out first, we say the whole word aloud: nut! Next, touch and say each sound we hear: n, u, t. Then, we name the vowel we hear in the middle, what says u? U says the short sound u. So finally, we write the letter u in the middle. N, u, t spells nut! Here's the sandwich with jam. But the middle vowel is missing again! First, we say the word aloud, jam. Next, we touch and say each sound we hear: j, a, m. Then, we name the vowel we hear in the middle. What letter says a? A says the short sound a. So, we write a here where it belongs! J, a, m spells jam! Can you finish the last sandwich? This one is fig and the middle letter is still missing. Let's work out what it is! First, say the word aloud, fig. Can you touch and say each sound you hear in fig? F, i, g. What letter says i in fig? I says the short sound i in fig. So, write i in the middle! F, i, g spells fig! As Dee and Kala finish packing their lunches, let's remember! Today we learnt about the middle vowel in a CVC word. A CVC word is a special kind of word that is made up of three letters: a consonant, a vowel and a consonant. When we say middle vowel, we are talking about the sound the letter makes in between the first and last letters. To work out the middle letter of a CVC word: first, we say the word aloud. Next, we touch and say each sound we hear. Then, we name the vowel we hear making the short sound in the middle. Finally, we write that vowel letter in its place. Just as Dee and Kala sit down to enjoy their sandwiches, they hear a noise coming from the bushes! "Dee, what is that? Do something!" "Here, take our third sandwich. It tastes way better than we do!"

CVC Words: The Middle Vowel exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learnt? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video CVC Words: The Middle Vowel.

Find the vowel sound.
Hints

Add is an example of a word that begins with a.
Which item above also begins with a?

Elephant is an example of a word that begins with e.
Which item above also begins with e?

Itchy is an example of a word that begins with i.
Which item above also begins with i?

Octopus is an example of a word that begins with o.
Which item above also begins with o?

Up is an example of a word that begins with u.
Which item above also begins with u?

Solution
- You hear a at the beginning of apple.
- You hear e at the beginning of egg.
- You hear i at the beginning of igloo.
- You hear o at the beginning of olive.
- You hear u at the beginning of umbrella.
Find the CVC words.
Hints
Cat is an example of a CVC word.
- c : consonant
- a : vowel
- t : consonant
Vowels are the letters a, e, i, o and u.
CVC words have one of these letters in the middle.

Consonants are all the other letters in the alphabet that are not vowels.
CVC words have one of these letters at the beginning and one at the end.

CVC words have three letters.
Solution

There are five CVC words on the blackboard: job, sun, bag, fin and pet. Each of these words follow the pattern: consonant, vowel, consonant.
The other words (kite, vote and late) are not CVC words.
Find the missing middle vowel in a CVC word.

Hints

First, say the word aloud.

Next, touch and say each sound you hear.

Last, name the vowel you hear in the middle.

Use this picture to help you to remember the vowel sounds.

Solution

To spell the colour of Dee's favourite crayon, you need the vowel sound e in the middle. The word is: red.
Match the CVC word to the middle vowel sound.

Hints

Get out paper and a pencil. Draw three blanks for each CVC word.
As you say the name of the animal aloud, write down the sounds you hear.

Use the pictures to remember the vowel sounds.

What is another name for a chicken? A h_n.

What do we sometimes call an insect? A b_g.

Solution

All of the animals on the farm have CVC names. The vowels in the middle make a short vowel sound, because they are being hugged by the consonant on the end.
Insert the middle vowel to make a CVC word.
Hints

To begin, say the word aloud.

Next, touch and say each sound you hear.

Last, name the vowel you hear in the middle.

Solution
Here is how to correctly spell each word with the middle vowel. Read them out loud:
- dog
- nut
- fan
- sit
- web
Can you group the words?
Hints

Say each picture aloud. As you stretch out the sounds, tap your finger for each sound you hear. What sound did you tap in the middle?

Can you spell each picture's name as you sound it out? Remember, they will all have three letters in this order: consonant, vowel, consonant.

Solution
- Hat and map both have the a sound in the middle.
- Net and ten both have the e sound in the middle.
- Pin and zip both have the i sound in the middle.
- Log and fox both have the o sound in the middle.
How many CVC words can you think of that have the u sound in the middle?