Words That Start With the Letter C for Kids
Check out our list of letter C words, letter C activities, and tips for teaching the letter C sound and words to your child.
Help your child expand their vocabulary and learn the letter C sound with these letter C words for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary students. These lists of words include simple CVC words and more complex words for older children. Whether hearing the words read to them or reading the words themselves, children will have an opportunity to grow their vocabulary and understanding of the letter C sound.
Younger children will especially enjoy the letter C coloring sheet featuring images of the letter C and pictures of words that start with the letter C.
Pick and choose the words you feel are appropriate for your child, and remember that this list can be used to familiarize your child with the sound of the letter C, as a vocabulary list, or as a spelling list.
You’ll also find a definition for each letter C word and the word used in a simple sentence to help your child better understand its meaning. You can further enhance learning with our printable list of letter C words, as well as a list of letter C activities to try and tips for teaching new letters and words to your child.
Lists of Letter C Words
Select the words that you think are suitable for your child. Keep in mind that these lists of words can be used to help familiarize your child with the sound of the letter C, act as a list for vocabulary building, or be used for spelling practice. Younger children will likely need you to read the list to them.
3-Letter C Words
☐ cab: a car that you can hire to take you places. “We’ll take a cab to the airport.”
☐ can: to be able to; or a container for holding things. “I can jump high.” / “She opens a can of soup.”
☐ cap: a type of hat. “She wears her cap to the game.”
☐ car: a vehicle with wheels used for transportation. “They drive a red car.”
☐ cat: a small, furry animal that is often kept as a pet. “The cat sits on the mat.”
☐ cod: a type of fish. “He caught a cod while fishing.”
☐ cog: a wheel with teeth in machines. “The cog turns inside the clock.”
☐ cop: a police officer. “The cop helps keep our streets safe.”
☐ cot: a small, portable bed. “He naps on the cot in the afternoon.”
☐ cow: a large farm animal that gives milk. “The cow grazes in the field.”
☐ coy: pretending to be shy. “She gives a coy smile.”
☐ cry: to shed tears. “Babies often cry when they are hungry.”
☐ cup: a small container used for drinking. “He drinks milk from the cup.”
☐ cut: to divide something with a sharp tool. “Mom will cut the cake.”
Simple Preschool Letter C Words
☐ calf: a young animal. Often refers to a domestic cow or bull in its first year. “The calf stays close to its mother in the field.”
☐ call: to shout out or speak to someone in order to attract their attention. “He will call your name when it’s your turn.”
☐ camp: a place with tents or cabins in the wilderness. “They go to summer camp every July.”
☐ cane: a stick that people can lean on to help them walk. “Grandpa uses a cane to help him walk.”
☐ cape: a sleeveless piece of clothing that covers the back, arms, and chest and fastens at the neck. “She wore a red cape for her superhero costume.”
☐ card: a piece of thick, stiff paper that’s often folded and has a message written on it. “He makes a birthday card for his friend.”
☐ care: the act of looking out for someone or something’s wellbeing. “She takes care of her plants.”
☐ cart: a vehicle with either two or four wheels that is pushed by a person and used for transporting goods. “He pushes a cart at the grocery store.”
☐ case: an example of something occurring; a box for holding something. “In case of rain, bring an umbrella.”/ “The case held all of her loose papers.”
☐ cast: to throw something forcefully in a specified direction. “He likes to cast stones into the pond.”
☐ chat: an informal conversation. “Let’s chat with each other on the playground.”
☐ chew: to use your teeth to break down food before swallowing it. “He chews his food carefully.”
Kindergarten Words
☐ cage: a structure of bars or wires in which animals or birds are kept. “The parrot sings in its cage.”
☐ cake: a sweet baked dessert. “We eat cake at birthday parties.”
☐ candy: a sweet treat. “She loves eating candy.”
☐ chalk: a type of soft white rock used for writing on blackboards or sidewalks. “She draws pictures with chalk on the sidewalk.”
☐ clap: to hit your hands together to show enjoyment or approval. “We clap after the show.”
☐ coat: a piece of clothing worn to keep warm. “He put his coat on over his sweater because it’s cold.”
☐ cold: having a low temperature. “The snow feels cold on my hands.”
☐ color: the appearance of objects caused by the way they reflect light. “The sky is a beautiful color at sunset.”
☐ comb: a toothed device used for styling hair. “He uses a comb to tidy his hair.”
☐ cone: a shape that tapers from a larger circle to a smaller point. “He licks his ice cream cone.”
☐ corn: a vegetable with yellow or white kernels that are eaten. “We have corn on the cob for dinner.”
☐ crab: a sea creature with a hard shell and claws. “The crab scuttles across the sand.”
☐ crawl: to move on your hands and knees. “The baby learns to crawl before walking.”
☐ cub: a baby bear. “The cub follows its mother.”
Elementary Words
☐ cactus: a plant with spines instead of leaves that grows in hot, dry places. “The cactus survives in the desert.”
☐ carousel: a merry-go-round, a rotating machine with seats for children to ride. “The children ride on the carousel at the park.”
☐ cello: a large stringed instrument, held between the legs and played with a bow. “She learns to play the cello in music class.”
☐ cent: a unit of money worth one-hundredth of a dollar. “He found one cent on the ground.”
☐ cereal: a breakfast food made from roasted grains, typically eaten with milk. “He eats cereal every morning.”
☐ champion: someone who has won a competition, especially in sports. “He is the champion of the spelling bee.”
☐ chisel: a tool with a long metal blade that has a sharp edge for cutting wood, stone, or metal. “The sculptor uses a chisel to shape the marble.”
☐ cinnamon: a spice made from the bark of a tree, used for flavoring food. “He sprinkles cinnamon on his oatmeal.”
☐ circle: a round shape that has no corners or edges. “She draws a circle on the paper.”
☐ comet: a small icy object in space that has a ‘tail’ of gas and dust particles. “We watched the comet streak across the night sky.”
☐ crystal: a solid substance that is often clear with many different sides that look similar. “The crystal sparkles in the light.”
☐ cucumber: a long, green vegetable (but technically is a fruit) that is eaten raw or pickled. “She dipped sliced cucumber into the sauce.”
Food Words
☐ cabbage: a large, round vegetable with green or purple leaves. “He added chopped cabbage to the salad.”
☐ calamari: a food that is made from squid and breaded and fried. “They order calamari as a starter.”
☐ cannoli: an Italian pastry in the shape of a tube filled with sweet cream. “She enjoys a cannoli with her coffee.”
☐ cappuccino: a coffee drink that is made with espresso and steamed milk foam. “He drinks a cappuccino in the morning.”
☐ carrot: a long, orange vegetable that grows underground. “She snacks on a carrot.”
☐ cheese: a food made from milk that can be firm or soft. “He added cheese to his sandwich.”
☐ chicken: a domesticated bird that is often raised for its meat and eggs. “The chicken laid eggs in its nest.”
☐ chili: a spicy dish made with beans and meat or vegetables. “He made chili for dinner.”
☐ chips: thin slices of potato that are fried and eaten as a snack. “They ate chips while watching a movie.”
☐ chocolate: a sweet, brown food made from cocoa beans. “She loves eating chocolate.”
☐ coleslaw: a salad made from sliced cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables mixed with dressing. “I’ll bring coleslaw to the picnic.”
☐ crackers: thin, crisp biscuits often eaten with cheese or other toppings. “They share a plate of crackers and cheese.”
☐ croissant: a buttery, flaky pastry that is often eaten for breakfast. “She buys a croissant from the bakery.”
☐ couscous: a small North African pasta that is often the base of stews. “She made couscous as a side dish.”
☐ custard: a sweet dessert made with milk, eggs, and sugar. “She serves custard for dessert.”
Animal Words
☐ camel: a large, desert-dwelling mammal known for its humps. “Camels can travel long distances without water.”
☐ capybara: the largest rodent in the world, living in groups near water in South America. “The capybara swims well.”
☐ cardinal: a bright red bird often seen in gardens and backyards. “The cardinal sings early in the morning.”
☐ caterpillar: the larval stage of a butterfly or moth. “The caterpillar munches on leaves before it becomes a butterfly.”
☐ cheetah: a large wild cat with a spotted coat, known for its incredible speed. “The cheetah runs faster than any other land animal.”
☐ chimpanzee: a great ape with large ears, mainly living in the forests of central and West Africa. “The chimpanzee uses sticks to fish for termites.”
☐ chinchilla: a small, furry rodent native to the Andes mountains, known for its soft, dense fur. “The chinchilla has incredibly soft fur.”
☐ clam: a type of shellfish that lives buried in sand or mud. “The clam buries itself at the beach.”
☐ cobra: a venomous snake known for spreading its neck ribs to form a “hood” when threatened. “The cobra hisses in defense.”
☐ codfish: a popular saltwater fish, known for its white, flaky meat. “The codfish is caught for food.”
☐ coral: marine invertebrates that often live in colonies and form reefs. “The coral reef is home to many ocean species.”
☐ cougar: a large, solitary cat also known as a mountain lion, found in the Americas. “The cougar roams the mountain ranges.”
☐ coyote: a wild dog that is native to North America. “The coyote howls under the moonlight.”
☐ crane: a tall, long-legged and long-necked bird, usually found near water. “The crane gracefully wades through the marsh.”
☐ crow: a large, intelligent black bird known for its loud, cawing voice. “The crow flies through the sky.”
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Object Words
☐ calculator: a small electronic device used to perform math calculations. “He used a calculator for his math homework.”
☐ camera: a device for taking photographs or making films or videos. “He captures the moment with his camera.”
☐ candle: a stick of wax with a wick in the middle that gives off light when burned. “She lights a candle to make the room cozy.”
☐ carpet: a floor covering made from thick woven fabric, often covering the floor of an entire room. “The carpet is soft underfoot.”
☐ chain: a series of linked metal rings used for fastening or securing something or for pulling loads. “He locked his bike with a chain.”
☐ chair: a piece of furniture designed for sitting. “He pulls up a chair to sit down.”
☐ clip: a small device used to hold things together. “She secures the papers with a clip.”
☐ clock: a device used to tell time. “The clock hangs on the wall.”
☐ coin: a small, flat, round piece of metal used as money. “She found a coin on the ground.”
☐ compass: an instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction relative to north, south, east, and west. “She uses a compass to find her way in the forest.”
☐ compass (mathematical): a tool used in mathematics for drawing circles or arcs. “She draws perfect circles with a compass.”
☐ cork: made from the bark of a cork oak and used to seal glass bottles. “He used a cork to plug the opening of the bottle.”
☐ crate: a rugged box or container, usually made of wood, used for shipping or storage. “They pack the fruits into a crate.”
☐ curtain: a piece of cloth hung at a window, door, or stage to block light or hide something from view. “He draws the curtain to block the sunlight.”
☐ cupboard: a piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storing dishes, food, or clothes. “She stores her plates in the cupboard.”
Places Words
☐ cafeteria: a place where you can buy and eat meals. “They meet in the cafeteria for lunch.”
☐ capital: the city or town that functions as the seat of government and administrative center of a country or region. “Tokyo is the capital of Japan.”
☐ castle: a large stone building typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack. “The old castle overlooks the valley.”
☐ cathedral: a large, important church, often the seat of a bishop. “The cathedral stands tall in the city center.”
☐ canyon: a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it. “The canyon has stunning views.”
☐ campground: an area where people can stay in tents or campers. “They stayed at a campground during their trip.”
☐ cave: a large underground chamber, typically natural, in a hillside or cliff. “They explored the cave on their hike.”
☐ cinema: a theater where movies are shown for public entertainment. “We watched the new movie at the cinema.”
☐ city: a large town or a significant urban area. “She lives in a big city.”
☐ clinic: a place where people receive medical treatment. “He went to the clinic for a check-up.”
☐ coast: the strip of land near the sea. “The coast is beautiful at sunset.”
☐ continent: large areas of land that form regions. “Earth has seven continents.”
☐ country: a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory. “France is a country in Europe.”
☐ courthouse: a building where legal cases are heard. “The trial takes place at the courthouse.”
☐ crossroads: a point where two or more roads intersect. “She stands at the crossroads, deciding which way to go.”
Nature and Environment Words
☐ canopy: the upper layer of a forest formed by the tops of mature trees. “The rainforest canopy is rich with birds and insects.”
☐ cascade: a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope. “The cascade of water flows into the river below.”
☐ chrysalis: the pupal stage of butterflies. “The caterpillar forms a chrysalis before becoming a butterfly.”
☐ cliff: a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea. “The cliff overlooks the ocean.”
☐ climate: the weather conditions that are typical for an area. “The climate of the region is tropical.”
☐ cloud: a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere. “The cloud floats high in the sky.”
☐ conifer: a tree that bears cones and evergreen needle-like leaves. “Pine trees are a type of conifer.”
☐ constellation: a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that has been named. “They spot the Orion constellation in the night sky.”
☐ coral reef: an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. “The coral reef is home to diverse marine life.”
☐ crag: a steep or rugged cliff or rock face. “The mountain’s crag is challenging for climbers.”
☐ creek: a small stream or minor tributary of a river. “They play by the creek near their house.”
☐ cumulus: a type of cloud that is tall, fluffy, and white with flat bases. “The sky is filled with cumulus clouds today.”
Emotions and Traits
☐ calm: not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions. “The teacher remains calm during the chaos.”
☐ careful: making sure of avoiding potential danger or harm. “She is careful when crossing the street.”
☐ cheerful: noticeably happy and optimistic. “She greets everyone with a cheerful smile.”
☐ competitive: having a strong desire to be more successful than others. “She is very competitive in sports.”
☐ compassionate: feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others. “He is compassionate towards his friends.”
☐ confident: feeling or showing confidence in oneself or one’s abilities. “She is confident in her decisions.”
☐ considerate: thoughtfully taking into account the feelings or needs of others. “He is always considerate of his friends’ feelings.”
☐ content: in a state of peaceful happiness. “He feels content with his life.”
☐ courage: the ability to do something that feels scary. “It takes a lot of courage for some people to speak in front of others.”
☐ creative: using imagination or original ideas to create something. “The artist is very creative.”
☐ curious: having a strong desire to know or learn something. “The child is curious about everything around her.”
☐ cunning: the ability to achieve things by tricking others. “The fox is often portrayed as cunning.”
Action Words
☐ calculate: to determine the amount of something mathematically. “She needs to calculate the total cost.”
☐ capture: to gain or win something through force or with effort. “They’ll win the game when they capture the other team’s flag.”
☐ carry: to support and move someone or something from one place to another. “He has to carry his backpack to school.”
☐ chase: to go after someone or something in order to catch it. “The dog loves to chase the ball.”
☐ cheer: to shout for joy or in praise or encouragement. “Fans cheer loudly for their team.”
☐ clean: to remove dirt, marks, or mess. “On Saturdays, we clean the house.”
☐ climb: to move or go up something using one’s feet and hands. “She has to climb a ladder to reach the apples in the tree.”
☐ combine: to bring or join together one or more things to form a single unit. “We combine flour and water to make dough.”
☐ compare: to estimate, measure, or note the similarity or differences. “They compare the size of their watermelons at the picnic.”
☐ consider: to think carefully about something before making a decision. “He takes time to consider all the different flavors before picking one.”
☐ console: to provide comfort to someone who is distressed or saddened. “She tried to console her friend after her team lost the game.”
☐ cook: to prepare food by combining and heating the ingredients. “He helped his dad cook spaghetti.”
☐ create: to bring something into existence. “She loves to create art with her paints.”
Free Printable Letter C Words Lists
Simply download and print our PDFs of the letter C word lists to review with your children. One list includes all of our letter C words and the other lists features our letter C words along with their definitions and the words used in a simple sentence.
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Letter C Words with Pictures
Preschoolers and kindergarteners will appreciate having illustrations to look at while learning new letter C words. As you read the words aloud to them, draw their attention to the letter C sound as you pronounce the word. Point at the corresponding picture as you say the letter C word. You can choose from our printable letter C words with pictures to color or letter C words with illustrations.
Letter C Activities
Letter C Song:
Learning about the letter C is especially fun when it’s a song kids can listen, dance, and sing to.
Letter C Worksheets:
These free printable letter C worksheets can help children learn to recognize the letter C, say its name and the sound it makes, and start learning how to write it, too.
Letter C Activities
Play Letter C Catch
Play catch with your child and each time someone catches the ball, they need to say a word that starts with the letter C.
Letter C Building
Write a few letter C words on scraps of paper and tape them to blocks or plastic cups. Work with your child to build a tower of letter C words, saying the words as you stack them.
Letter C Art
Gather up your child’s favorite art supplies and invite them to draw or paint things that start with the letter C. Depending on their age, work with them to identify and label each of their masterpieces.
Tips for Teaching Letter C Words
- The Two Sounds of Letter C
The letter C makes two distinct sounds–one is a soft C sound and the other is a hard C sound. Typically, when C comes before i, y, or e, it makes a soft C sound, like /s/ in city and cycle. When C comes before any other letter, it makes a hard sound, like /k/ in cake and cone. These worksheets on the hard and soft sounds of C and G can help.
- Connect Words and Sounds to Real Life
When you notice a word from the list of letter C words or see the letter C while out and about, point it out to your child. Connecting new letters and words to real objects can help grow their understanding and help them make connections that aid in remembering the new letter or word.
- Be Patient and Positive
Every child learns at their own pace and some new skills are harder to learn than others. Celebrate progress, no matter how small, and provide positive reinforcement to help build confidence.
Additional Resources
ABCmouse has educational resources for children aged 2-8, as well as resources to help parents and teachers.
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