The English Alphabet in Order from A to Z: A Numbered Chart of All 26 Letters
Here is the English alphabet in order from A to Z, with each letter’s number and name to hear. We also explain the vowels, an easy way to learn the order, and what alphabetical order means for words.
- Suitable age
- 4 to 7 years
- Suggested time
- 5 minutes a day
- What you need
- Letter cards (you can make them from card stock)
- say the 26 English letters in order from A to Z.
- know which letter comes before and after a given letter.
- know the five vowels: a, e, i, o, u.
- put three words in order by their first letter.
The Complete English Alphabet in Order, from 1 to 26
English has 26 letters. Here is the full chart in order, with each letter’s number and name. Tap the speaker to hear the letter’s name. The vowels are shown in a different color.
Vowels and Consonants
| Kind | How many | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Vowels | 5 | a e i o u |
| Consonants | 21 | All the other letters |
Almost every English word has a vowel, like the a in cat and the u in sun. That’s why children need to know their sounds well before reading.
An Easy Way to Learn the Order: Four Parts
Learning 26 letters at once is hard for a child, so split them into four parts, like the lines of the alphabet song, and learn one part a week:
| Part | Letters | How many |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A B C D E F G | 7 |
| 2 | H I J K L M N O P | 9 |
| 3 | Q R S T U V | 6 |
| 4 | W X Y Z | 4 |
What Does Alphabetical Order Mean for Words?
We put words in alphabetical order by their first letter, as in a dictionary. A word starting with a comes first, then one starting with b, and so on.
| Words | In alphabetical order |
|---|---|
| ball, apple, cat | apple, ball, cat |
| dog, egg, cup | cup, dog, egg |
| sun, moon, pen | moon, pen, sun |
Steps for Teaching the Order at Home
- Listen: your child hears the alphabet song every day and points to each letter in the chart.
- Part one: learn A to G in the first week.
- The other parts: add a new part each week and review the earlier ones.
- Before and after: once the order is learned, ask: “Which letter comes after D?” and “Which letter comes before K?”
An Activity: The Alphabet Train
Write each letter on a card and shuffle the cards of one part, like A to G. Your child lays the cards on the floor from left to right like train carriages, then walks along the train saying each letter’s name. Once they master the first part, add the cards of the second.
For each letter’s uppercase and lowercase forms: Uppercase and Lowercase Letters. And for the letter names written in Arabic letters: The English Alphabet in Arabic Letters.
Write the letters on 26 cards and shuffle them; your child puts them in order with the song. Then ask: What comes after M?
An alphabet chain: each child says the next letter in order, and whoever slips starts the song again with the class.
Summary
- English has 26 letters, starting with A and ending with Z.
- Five are vowels (a e i o u) and 21 are consonants.
- Learn the order in four parts, as in the alphabet song.
- Alphabetical order means sorting words by their first letter, as in a dictionary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many letters are in the English alphabet?
26 letters, starting with A and ending with Z. Every letter has two forms: uppercase and lowercase.
What are the vowels in English?
There are five vowels: a, e, i, o and u. The other 21 letters are consonants. The letter y sometimes acts as a vowel, as in my.
Which letter is in the middle of the alphabet?
With 26 letters, the middle falls between two letters: M, the 13th, and N, the 14th.
