fish
/fɪʃ/ UK /fɪʃ/ · US /fɪʃ/
A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the animals category. It belongs to the -ish word family.
animalsHear fish
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “fish”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /f/ – /ɪ/ – /ʃ/ → fish.
Example Sentences with Fish
- Catch a fish.
- Fish and chips.
- The fish swims in the water.
- A big fish jumped out of the pond.
- We cooked fish for dinner.
- The fish has small eyes.
How to Spell “fish”
Children most often write this word as fsh, fissh, fis. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- The "sh" at the end is one sound (/ʃ/) written with two letters — say "fish", not "fi-sh".
- The "f" needs the top teeth on the bottom lip and a steady stream of air.
- Short i /ɪ/ in the middle: compare "fish" with "fit" and "fin".
Phonics Tip for Fish
"fish" ends in the digraph "sh", which makes one sound. It is a good moment to contrast a digraph with two separate consonants: "fish" (/ʃ/) versus "fin" (/n/).
Fun Facts About Fish
A fish senses movement and vibration through a special organ called the lateral line, which runs along its body. This lets a fish school swim in perfect formation without being able to see the fish in front of it.
More Words in the -ish Family
Words that rhyme with fish and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short i sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Fish
- All short i CVC words — 52 words
- The -ish word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets