Lip - body

lip

/lɪp/ UK /lɪp/ · US /lɪp/

A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the body category. It belongs to the -ip word family.

body

Hear lip

Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.

How to Say “lip”

l
/l/
i
/ɪ/
p
/p/

Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /l/ – /ɪ/ – /p/ → lip.

Example Sentences with Lip

How to Spell “lip”

Children most often write this word as ilp, lipp, liip. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.

  1. Start with the picture: <strong>lip</strong> begins with the /l/ sound, so begin with "l".
  2. Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>l - i - p</strong>.
  3. The "i" in <strong>lip</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
  4. Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>li</strong> + <strong>p</strong> = <strong>lip</strong>.

Phonics Tip for Lip

"lip" and "dip" and "hip" share the ending /ɪp/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ip family.

Try it now: play the CVC flash cards and hunt for lip, or test recognition in the multiple choice quiz.

Fun Facts About Lip

Every letter in <strong>lip</strong> carries one sound: l says /l/, i says /ɪ/, p says /p/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>lip</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ip family, which has 7 other words in it: dip, hip, nip, rip, sip, tip.

More Words in the -ip Family

Words that rhyme with lip and end with the same sounds:

See the full -ip word family →

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 Lip