beg
/beɡ/ UK /beɡ/ · US /beɡ/
A short e CVC word (ɛ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -eg word family.
actionsHear beg
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “beg”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /b/ – /e/ – /ɡ/ → beg.
Example Sentences with Beg
- The dog will beg for food.
- Don't beg for help.
- The leg and the beg both end with the same sound.
- Say "beg" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “beg”
Children most often write this word as beag, ebg, begg, beeg. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- Start with the picture: <strong>beg</strong> begins with the /b/ sound, so begin with "b".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>b - e - g</strong>.
- The "e" in <strong>beg</strong> says /ɛ/ with the jaw slightly open, like <em>bed</em>.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>be</strong> + <strong>g</strong> = <strong>beg</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Beg
"beg" and "leg" share the ending /eɡ/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -eg family.
Fun Facts About Beg
Every letter in <strong>beg</strong> carries one sound: b says /b/, e says /e/, g says /ɡ/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>beg</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -eg family, which has 1 other word in it: leg.
More Words in the -eg Family
Words that rhyme with beg and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short e sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Beg
- All short e CVC words — 31 words
- The -eg word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets