Nut - food

nut

/nʌt/ UK /nʌt/ · US /nʌt/

A short u CVC word (ʌ) in the food category. It belongs to the -ut word family.

food

Hear nut

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

How to Say “nut”

n
/n/
u
/ʌ/
t
/t/

Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /n/ – /ʌ/ – /t/ → nut.

Example Sentences with Nut

How to Spell “nut”

Children most often write this word as noot, unt, nutt, nuut. 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>nut</strong> begins with the /n/ sound, so begin with "n".
  2. Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>n - u - t</strong>.
  3. The "u" in <strong>nut</strong> says /ʌ/, not the letter name "uh". The mouth stays relaxed.
  4. Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>nu</strong> + <strong>t</strong> = <strong>nut</strong>.

Phonics Tip for Nut

"nut" and "but" and "cut" share the ending /ʌt/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ut family.

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

Fun Facts About Nut

Every letter in <strong>nut</strong> carries one sound: n says /n/, u says /ʌ/, t says /t/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>nut</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ut family, which has 4 other words in it: but, cut, gut, hut.

More Words in the -ut Family

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

See the full -ut word family →

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 Nut