tub
/tʌb/ UK /tʌb/ · US /tʌb/
A short u CVC word (ʌ) in the objects category. It belongs to the -ub word family.
objectsHear tub
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “tub”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /t/ – /ʌ/ – /b/ → tub.
Example Sentences with Tub
- Bath tub.
- Ice cream tub.
- The pub and the tub both end with the same sound.
- Say "tub" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “tub”
Children most often write this word as toob, utb, tubb, tuub. 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>tub</strong> begins with the /t/ sound, so begin with "t".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>t - u - b</strong>.
- The "u" in <strong>tub</strong> says /ʌ/, not the letter name "uh". The mouth stays relaxed.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>tu</strong> + <strong>b</strong> = <strong>tub</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Tub
"tub" and "pub" and "rub" share the ending /ʌb/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ub family.
Fun Facts About Tub
Every letter in <strong>tub</strong> carries one sound: t says /t/, u says /ʌ/, b says /b/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>tub</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ub family, which has 3 other words in it: pub, rub, sub.
More Words in the -ub Family
Words that rhyme with tub 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 Tub
- All short u CVC words — 47 words
- The -ub word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets