nun
/nʌn/ UK /nʌn/ · US /nʌn/
A short u CVC word (ʌ) in the people category. It belongs to the -un word family.
peopleHear nun
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “nun”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /n/ – /ʌ/ – /n/ → nun.
Example Sentences with Nun
- The kind nun.
- A nun's habit.
- The bun and the nun both end with the same sound.
- Say "nun" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “nun”
Children most often write this word as noon, unn, nunn, nuun. 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>nun</strong> begins with the /n/ sound, so begin with "n".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>n - u - n</strong>.
- The "u" in <strong>nun</strong> says /ʌ/, not the letter name "uh". The mouth stays relaxed.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>nu</strong> + <strong>n</strong> = <strong>nun</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Nun
"nun" and "bun" and "fun" share the ending /ʌn/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -un family.
Fun Facts About Nun
Every letter in <strong>nun</strong> carries one sound: n says /n/, u says /ʌ/, n says /n/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>nun</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -un family, which has 5 other words in it: bun, fun, gun, run, sun.
More Words in the -un Family
Words that rhyme with nun and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short u sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Nun
- All short u CVC words — 47 words
- The -un word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets