jam
/dʒæm/ UK /dʒæm/ · US /dʒæm/
A short a CVC word (æ) in the food category. It belongs to the -am word family.
foodHear jam
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “jam”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /dʒ/ – /æ/ – /m/ → jam.
Example Sentences with Jam
- Strawberry jam on toast.
- Traffic jam on the highway.
- Strawberry jam on toast.
- Spread jam on the bread.
- There is a traffic jam on the motorway.
How to Spell “jam”
Children most often write this word as jam, jma, jamm. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- "j" always says /dʒ/ in English — "j", "g" and "y" all make the same sound.
- The "a" is short /æ/, so the mouth stays open.
- Contrast "jam" with "jump": only the middle sound changes.
Phonics Tip for Jam
"j", "g" and "y" all make /dʒ/. Practising "jam", "gum", "yum" together teaches the rule without needing to decode each letter.
Fun Facts About Jam
The first cookbook was published in Italy in 1481, and jam has been made in Europe since the Middle Ages when traders brought sugar cane home from the Mediterranean.
More Words in the -am Family
Words that rhyme with jam and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short a sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Jam
- All short a CVC words — 59 words
- The -am word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets