The English Alphabet for Kids: Uppercase and Lowercase Letters with Pronunciation
English has 26 letters. Each letter has two forms, uppercase like A and lowercase like a, and each has a name and a sound: the name of A is “ay”, but its sound in words is the short “a” in apple. Tap a letter to hear its name.
In This Lesson
- The letters A to Z, uppercase and lowercase
- Each letter’s name, sound and a word that starts with it
- The alphabet song and a printable writing sheet
The Alphabet in English with Audio
Tap a card to hear the word. Its Arabic meaning is underneath.
Game: Listen and Touch
Listen to the word, then touch its picture.
This Lesson in the App
Letters jump off the page while Karim and Maya sing the alphabet song.
- Your child sings A to Z with the characters.
- They find the first letter of their own name.
- They write the letter with a finger on the screen.
- They tap the letter Sara says.
Open the book to The Alphabet Song page and point your phone at the page.
The Alphabet in English and Arabic
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| A a | apple = تفاحة |
| B b | ball = كرة |
| C c | cat = قطة |
| D d | duck = بطة |
| E e | egg = بيضة |
| F f | fish = سمكة |
| G g | goat = ماعز |
| H h | hat = قبعة |
| I i | igloo = بيت الثلج |
| J j | jet = طائرة نفاثة |
| K k | key = مفتاح |
| L l | lion = أسد |
| M m | moon = قمر |
| N n | nest = عش |
| O o | octopus = أخطبوط |
| P p | panda = باندا |
| Q q | queen = ملكة |
| R r | rabbit = أرنب |
| S s | sun = شمس |
| T t | tiger = نمر |
| U u | umbrella = مظلة |
| V v | van = شاحنة صغيرة |
| W w | water = ماء |
| X x | fox = ثعلب |
| Y y | yoyo = يويو |
| Z z | zebra = حمار وحشي |
Sentences Your Child Can Use
- A, B, C, D, E, F, Gأغنية الحروف: السطر الأول
- H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, Pالسطر الثاني
- Q, R, S, T, U, Vالسطر الثالث
- W, X, Y and Z!السطر الأخير
- Now I know my ABC!الآن أعرف حروفي!
Parents’ Corner
- Teach the letter’s sound along with its name: A is called “ay”, and it sounds like the “a” in apple.
- Two or three letters a day is plenty. Don’t start with the whole alphabet.
- Hunt around the house for things that start with the letter: B… ball, book!
- Sing the alphabet song every day, slowly at first.
Common Mistakes: The Alphabet
Some English sounds don’t exist in Arabic, so children often get them wrong. Here’s how to help:
b has its tummy on the right, like a bat then a ball; d has its tummy on the left. Write the word bed: the b and d at either end look like a bed.
Arabic has no P. Hold a strip of paper in front of the mouth: it moves with P and stays still with B.
V is a buzzing sound: top teeth on the lower lip, with the voice on.
The letter is called “jee”, but in goat and girl it makes the hard “g” sound.
E is called “ee” and I is called “eye”. Say them slowly in the alphabet song.
The English Alphabet: Uppercase, Lowercase, Name and Example
| Uppercase | Lowercase | Name | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | a | ay | apple |
| B | b | bee | ball |
| C | c | see | cat |
| D | d | dee | duck |
| E | e | ee | egg |
| F | f | ef | fish |
| G | g | jee | goat |
| H | h | aitch | hat |
| I | i | eye | igloo |
| J | j | jay | jet |
| K | k | kay | key |
| L | l | el | lion |
| M | m | em | moon |
| N | n | en | nest |
| O | o | oh | octopus |
| P | p | pee | panda |
| Q | q | cue | queen |
| R | r | ar | rabbit |
| S | s | ess | sun |
| T | t | tee | tiger |
| U | u | you | umbrella |
| V | v | vee | van |
| W | w | double-you | water |
| X | x | ex | fox |
| Y | y | why | yoyo |
| Z | z | zed / zee | zebra |
A 5-Day Plan for Parents
Ten minutes a day is enough. Review yesterday’s words before new ones.
- Day 1: A B C D with the song.
- Day 2: E F G H, and look for things that start with them.
- Day 3: I J K L M N.
- Day 4: O P Q R S T.
- Day 5: U V W X Y Z, then the whole song and the writing sheet.
Printable The Alphabet Worksheets (PDF)
Ten different sheets: trace, match, write, word search, unscramble and cut-out cards. The full lesson is in The sound pages in every unit, and the alphabet chart at the end of the book of the free book.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Alphabet
How many letters are in the English alphabet?
26 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 21 consonants.
What’s the difference between a letter’s name and its sound?
The name is what we say in the alphabet song: B is “bee”. The sound is what we hear in a word: the “b” in ball. Children need the sound to read.
Should we start with uppercase or lowercase letters?
Both together. Lowercase matters more for reading, though, because most words are written in it.
How do I teach my child to write English letters?
Start with tracing over dotted lines, from left to right and from top to bottom. Print the worksheet on this page.
Is Z pronounced “zed” or “zee”?
Both are correct: “zed” in British English and “zee” in American English.
Which letters do Arabic-speaking children mix up?
b and d, because they are mirror images; p and b, because Arabic has no P; and v and f, because Arabic has no V.
Articles for Parents
English Uppercase and Lowercase Letters with Pronunciation and Words (Printable PDF) 
The English Alphabet in Arabic Letters: How to Say A to Z, with Audio 
How to Teach Your Child to Write English Letters, Step by Step 
The English Alphabet Song for Kids, with Lyrics The English Alphabet in Order from A to Z: A Numbered Chart of All 26 Letters 
How to Write in an English Notebook (Four Lines) for Kids, plus a PDF Sheet How Can I Help My Child Learn the English Alphabet Easily? 12 Games and a One-Week Plan My Child Mixes Up b and d (and p and b): Writing, Pronunciation and a Two-Week Exercise When Should a Child Start Learning English? The Right Age for Songs, Words, Letters and Reading How Do I Teach My Child to Hold a Pencil and Write English Letters? The Right Grip and Finger Exercises KG1 English Foundations Workbook: What Kindergarten Children Learn, a 15-Week Plan, and Sample Exams (PDF) English Songs for KG1, Written Out and Translated, with Audio: 8 Short Action Chants Kindergarten English: The Curriculum, Lesson Plans and a Free Workbook for Teachers and Parents 