hen
/hen/ UK /hen/ · US /hen/
A short e CVC word (ɛ) in the animals category. It belongs to the -en word family.
animalsHear hen
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “hen”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /h/ – /ɛ/ – /n/ → hen.
Example Sentences with Hen
- The hen laid eggs.
- Mother hen and chicks.
- The hen sat on an egg.
- A hen and her chicks.
- The hen clucked loudly.
How to Spell “hen”
Children most often write this word as han, henn, hen. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- The short e /ɛ/ is the same sound as in pen, bed, net and ten.
- A soft "h" at the start: blow gently before you speak.
- Blend it as "h-e-n", one sound at a time.
Phonics Tip for Hen
"hen", "ten", "pen", "men" and "then" all share /ɛn/. Reading them together makes the -en family automatic.
Fun Facts About Hen
A hen is a chicken that is female and adult. Chickens have been kept for eggs and meat for around 3,000 years, and there are more chickens than any other bird in the world.
More Words in the -en Family
Words that rhyme with hen 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 Hen
- All short e CVC words — 31 words
- The -en word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets