cup
/kʌp/ UK /kʌp/ · US /kʌp/
A short u CVC word (ʌ) in the objects category. It belongs to the -up word family.
objectsHear cup
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “cup”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /k/ – /ʌ/ – /p/ → cup.
Example Sentences with Cup
- A cup of tea.
- Coffee cup.
- A cup of hot cocoa.
- Drink from the cup.
- Put the cups on the table.
How to Spell “cup”
Children most often write this word as cup, kup, cupp. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- A "c" before a, o or u keeps the hard /k/ sound.
- Short u again: relax the mouth rather than rounding it.
- Practise with "c-cup" so the letter name and the sound connect.
Phonics Tip for Cup
The hard and soft "c" is a common early stumbling block. Practise "cup", "cat", "coin" together so the rule "c before a/o/u is /k/" becomes automatic.
Fun Facts About Cup
The word "cup" traces back to the Old English "cuppe", and in the 1600s it also meant a drinking bowl. Before that, the standard word for a teacup was simply "tea bowl".
More Words in the -up Family
Words that rhyme with cup and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short u sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Cup
- All short u CVC words — 47 words
- The -up word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets