miss
/mɪs/ UK /mɪs/ · US /mɪs/
A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -iss word family.
actionsHear miss
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “miss”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /m/ – /ɪ/ – /s/ → miss.
Example Sentences with Miss
- I miss you.
- Don't miss the bus.
- The hiss and the miss both end with the same sound.
- Say "miss" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “miss”
Children most often write this word as mis, imss, misss, miiss. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- Start with the picture: <strong>miss</strong> begins with the /m/ sound, so begin with "m".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>m - i - ss</strong>.
- The "i" in <strong>miss</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
- The ending "<strong>ss</strong>" is one sound (/s/). Two letters, one sound — do not let the child say two sounds there.
Phonics Tip for Miss
"miss" and "hiss" and "kiss" share the ending /ɪs/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -iss family.
Fun Facts About Miss
Every letter in <strong>miss</strong> carries one sound: m says /m/, i says /ɪ/, ss says /s/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>miss</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -iss family, which has 2 other words in it: hiss, kiss.
More Words in the -iss Family
Words that rhyme with miss 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 Miss
- All short i CVC words — 52 words
- The -iss word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets