Words That Start with the Letter E for Kids
Check out our list of letter E words, letter E activities, and tips for teaching the letter E sound and words to your child.
Our list of letter E words for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students aims to help children get familiar with the letter E sound and expand their vocabulary with a list of letter E words.
Young learners may not be able to read many of these words on their own. Adults can read unknown words aloud to their children, helping them hear the beginning letter E sound. Simply print out our list of letter E words to work on with your child, along with our letter E pictures to help your child gain an understanding of what these new words mean.
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 E, as a vocabulary list, or as a spelling list.
Older children can practice reading the lists of letter E words and their definitions on their own or with an adult. Each word is also used in a sentence to help children understand the word’s meaning. Our lists include words that may act as review for your child, as well as words that will challenge them.
You can further enhance your child’s learning with our list of letter E activities for children and find tips on teaching new words and sounds to your child at the bottom of this page.
Lists of Letter E 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 E, 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 E Words
☐ ebb: to move away from the land; to fade away. “The tide will ebb in the evening.”
☐ ear: the part of the body used for hearing. “She whispered something funny in my ear.”
☐ eat: to put food into the mouth and swallow it. “We can eat pizza tonight.”
☐ egg: an oval object from which a young animal is born. “I found a bird egg in the nest.”
☐ ego: a person’s sense of self-importance. “It’s good to have confidence, but not too much ego.”
☐ elf: a small, magical creature in stories. “The elf hid behind the tree.”
☐ elm: a type of tree. “The elm tree provides a lot of shade.”
☐ end: the final part of something. “The movie will end in ten minutes.”
☐ era: a period of time noted for its events, people, or other characteristics. “Dinosaurs lived in a different era.”
☐ eve: the evening or day before a special day. “On Christmas Eve, we hang up our stockings.”
☐ eye: the organ of sight. “The eye sees color and shapes.”
Simple Preschool Letter E Words
☐ each: individual things in a group of two or more things. “Each of the cookies was decorated differently.”
☐ ease: to make something less severe or more comfortable. “Let’s ease into learning with a fun game.”
☐ echo: a sound that is reflected off a surface and heard again. “Your shout in the cave might create an echo.”
☐ edge: the outside limit of an object, area, or surface. “Be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edge.”
☐ edit: to make changes to text or film. “Let’s edit our story to make it better.”
☐ else: in addition; besides. “What else would you like to play?”
☐ emit: to send out a form of light, heat, or sound. “The lamp will emit a bright light.”
☐ etch: to cut into a surface with a sharp tool. “The machine can etch a design into metal.”
☐ even: flat, smooth, or level. “Make sure the seesaw is even so both sides are balanced.”
☐ ever: at any time. “Have you ever seen a shooting star?”
☐ evil: very bad or harmful. “Fairy tales often have an evil witch.”
☐ exam: a test to show a person’s knowledge or skill. “We will have a spelling exam tomorrow.”
☐ exit: a way out of a place. “This door is the exit.”
☐ expo: a large exhibition. “We went to a science expo at school.”
Kindergarten Words
☐ east: the direction where the sun rises. “We watched the sun rise in the east.”
☐ elbow: the joint in the middle of the arm where it bends. “He bumped his elbow on the door.”
☐ elder: a person who is older. “Ask your elder sister to help you with your homework.”
☐ elect: to choose someone for a position by voting. “They will elect a new class president.”
☐ elegy: a sad poem or song, often in memory of someone who has died. “They read an elegy at the memorial.”
☐ element: a basic part of something. “Water is an important element for all living things.”
☐ elephant: a large, gray mammal with a long trunk. “The elephant lifted its trunk to say hello.”
☐ elevate: to lift up or make higher. “The doctor said to elevate my ankle after injuring it.”
☐ excited: having a large amount of happiness and eagerness for something. “He was excited for his birthday party.”
☐ elite: a group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities. “She is part of the elite math team.”
☐ elope: to run away secretly to get married. “The story is about a couple who decide to elope.”
☐ embark: to start a journey or venture. “They embark on a quest for hidden treasure.”
☐ embrace: to hug or accept something enthusiastically. “She wrapped her mother in a big embrace.”
Elementary Words
☐ enact: to make into law. “The city will enact a new safety rule.”
☐ enjoy: to take pleasure in something. “We enjoy playing outside.”
☐ enough: as much as is needed. “She had enough cookies for everyone.”
☐ enter: to go or come into a place. “Please enter the room quietly.”
☐ entire: whole or complete. “We spent the entire day at the park.”
☐ entry: the act of entering or a place for entering. “The front entry was decorated for the holiday.”
☐ envelope: a flat, usually square or rectangular, paper container for a letter. “She put the letter in the envelope.”
☐ equal: being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value. “Everyone is equal in this game.”
☐ erase: to remove written or drawn marks. “Use the eraser to erase the mistake.”
☐ erode: to gradually wear away by natural forces. “The river can erode the bank over time.”
☐ error: a mistake. “There was an error in the calculation.”
☐ escape: to get free from something, or to avoid something. “The rabbit will escape from the garden.”
☐ esteem: respect and admiration. “She holds her teacher in high esteem.”
☐ ethics: rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad. “We learned about ethics in class today.”
☐ expand: to increase in size, number, or importance. “The balloon will expand when you blow into it.”
☐ economy: how goods and services are produced, sold, and bought in a region. “The local economy is growing due to new businesses opening up”
☐ effect: a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. “The medicine had an immediate effect on her symptoms.”
☐ effort: a focused or determined attempt. “He put a lot of effort into finishing the project on time.”
☐ either: a choice between one thing or another. “You can either stay here or come with us.”
☐ employ: to provide work to someone and pay them for it. “The new factory will employ hundreds of people.”
☐ empty: containing nothing; not filled or occupied. “He found the box was empty.”
☐ enable: give someone the means to do something; to make something possible. “This scholarship will enable her to attend college.”
☐ endure: to get through something that’s difficult with patience. “They had to endure a long wait before the doctor arrived.”
☐ energy: the strength required for sustained physical or mental activity. “After a good night’s sleep, she was full of energy.”
☐ engine: a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion. “The car’s engine needs to be repaired.”
Food Words
☐ eclair: a long pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolate icing. “She ordered an eclair from the bakery.”
☐ edamame: young soybeans, often served steamed and salted. “We ordered edamame as a starter.”
☐ eggplant: a purple, egg-shaped vegetable. “She added eggplant to the curry.”
☐ eggnog: a holiday drink made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped eggs, and spices. “I love drinking eggnog during the holidays.”
☐ elderberry: a small, dark purple berry known for its health benefits. “Elderberry syrup is said to boost your immune system.”
☐ empanada: a baked or fried pastry filled with meat, cheese, or other ingredients. “We made empanadas for dinner.”
☐ enchilada: a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with chili sauce. “He ordered chicken enchiladas at the restaurant.”
☐ endive: a leafy vegetable used in salads. “Endive adds a nice bitterness to the salad.”
☐ escargot: a dish of cooked snails, typically served in their shells with garlic butter. “They tried escargot for the first time in France.”
☐ espresso: a strong, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans. “She ordered an espresso to start her morning.”
☐ edible: something that is safe to eat. “The flowers on the cake are edible.”
Animal Words
☐ eagle: a large bird of prey with a strong, hooked beak and keen eyesight. “The eagle soared high in the sky.”
☐ earwig: a small insect with pincers at the end of its abdomen. “The earwig scurried under the rock.”
☐ echidna: a spiny mammal that lays eggs and is native to Australia and New Guinea. “The echidna uses its nose to find ants to eat.”
☐ eel: a long, thin, snake-like fish. “The eel can live in both fresh and saltwater.”
☐ eland: a large African antelope with spiral horns. “The eland grazed peacefully on the savannah.”
☐ elk: a large deer with big antlers, found in North America and Eastern Asia. “The elk roamed freely through the forest.”
☐ emu: a large, flightless bird native to Australia. “The emu is the second tallest bird in the world.”
☐ ermine: a small, northern weasel, known for its white winter fur. “The ermine’s fur turned white to blend in with the snow.”
☐ ewe: a female sheep. “The ewe cared for her lamb in the field.”
☐ echinoderm: a marine animal, such as a starfish or sea urchin, with spiny skin. “Echinoderms can regenerate lost limbs.”
☐ egret: a large, white bird with long legs and a slender neck. “The egret stood still by the water’s edge.”
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Object Words
☐ easel: a stand for holding a canvas or board. “The artist placed her canvas on the easel.”
☐ earphone: a device worn in or over the ears to listen to audio without disturbing others. “He wore earphones to listen to music while studying.”
☐ eclipse: an event in which the light from a celestial body is blocked by another. “We watched the lunar eclipse together.”
☐ editorial: a newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors or publishers. “The editorial discussed important social issues.”
☐ eelgrass: a type of underwater plant that looks like long, green ribbons. “Eelgrass provides a habitat for many marine animals.”
☐ eggshell: the outer hard layer of an egg. “We painted on eggshells for Easter.”
☐ electricity: a form of energy resulting from charged particles. “Electricity powers our homes and devices.”
☐ electronic: a device with parts like microchips or transistors that control and direct electric currents. “A cell phone is an electronic device.”
☐ elevator: a platform or compartment for raising and lowering people or goods between floors of a building. “We took the elevator to the 10th floor.”
☐ embroidery: the art of decorating fabric with needle and thread. “Her grandmother taught her embroidery.”
☐ emerald: a precious green gemstone. “The necklace had a beautiful emerald set in the center.”
Places Words
☐ Earth: the third planet from the sun, home to millions of species, including humans. “We all share the Earth as our home.”
☐ east: a cardinal direction, opposite of west, where the sun rises. “We traveled toward the east to watch the sunrise.”
☐ Egypt: a country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, known for its ancient civilization. “The pyramids of Egypt are among the most famous historical sites in the world.”
☐ Everest: the Earth’s highest mountain above sea level, located in the Himalayas. “Climbing Everest is a dream for many mountain climbers.”
☐ Europe: a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. “We planned a trip across Europe for the summer.”
☐ Ecuador: a country on South America’s west coast, known for its diverse landscape. “Ecuador is famous for the Galápagos Islands.”
☐ Edinburgh: the capital city of Scotland, known for its historic and cultural attractions. “Edinburgh is famous for its annual festivals and historic castle.”
☐ Elbe: a major river in Central Europe, running through the Czech Republic and Germany. “We took a boat tour on the Elbe River.”
☐ Ellis Island: an island in New York Harbor that served as an immigrant inspection station. “My ancestors arrived in America through Ellis Island.”
☐ England: a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordering Scotland and Wales. “England is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.”
☐ Ethiopia: a country in the Horn of Africa, known for its ancient culture and archaeological sites. “Ethiopia is one of the oldest locations of human life known to scientists.”
☐ Euphrates: one of the longest rivers of Western Asia, flowing through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. “The Euphrates River is a key source of water in a very arid region.”
☐ Everglades: a natural region of tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. “The Everglades are home to many unique species of plants and animals.”
Nature and Environment Words
☐ endangered: a species at risk of extinction. “The panda is an example of an endangered animal.”
☐ environment: the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area. “Protecting the environment is crucial for future generations.”
☐ equinox: the time or date at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length. “The spring equinox marks the beginning of longer days.”
☐ erosion: the process by which natural forces like water, wind, or ice wear away soil and rock. “Erosion can dramatically change the landscape over time.”
☐ estuary: the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream. “The estuary is brimming with diverse wildlife.”
☐ evergreen: a plant that retains green leaves throughout the year. “Pine trees are a type of evergreen.”
☐ evaporation: the process of turning from liquid into vapor. “Evaporation of water from the ocean contributes to the water cycle.”
☐ exotic: originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country. “Exotic plants can sometimes be found in local gardens.”
☐ extinct: a species that no longer exists. “The dodo bird is an example of an extinct species.”
Emotions and Traits
☐ emotion: how someone feels based on events or their mood or relationships with others. “She felt a strong happy emotion when she met her new puppy.”
☐ empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. “She showed great empathy towards her friend in need.”
☐ enthusiasm: feeling enjoyment, interest, or excitement for something. “His enthusiasm for the project was contagious.”
☐ euphoria: a feeling of intense excitement and happiness. “Winning the award filled her with euphoria.”
☐ envy: a feeling of wishing you had something that someone else has. “He felt a bit of envy over his friend’s new bike.”
☐ eagerness: a strong desire and enthusiasm to do something. “Her eagerness to learn made her an excellent student.”
☐ elation: great happiness and excitement. “Elation swept over them when they heard the good news.”
☐ embarrassment: a feeling of self-consciousness or awkwardness. “His stumble caused him great embarrassment.”
☐ enigmatic: difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. “His enigmatic smile puzzled everyone.”
☐ exasperation: a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance. “His sibling’s teasing led to his exasperation.”
☐ endurance: the ability to withstand something difficult for a period of time. “The marathon tested his endurance.”
☐ eloquence: fluent or persuasive speaking or writing. “Her eloquence during speeches was renowned.”
☐ efficiency: the ability to do something without wasting materials, time, or energy. “The new software improved our work efficiency.”
☐ exuberance: being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness. “The child’s exuberance was infectious.”
Action Words
☐ emerge: move in order to become visible. “The sun will emerge from behind the clouds soon.”
☐ encourage: to give support, confidence, or hope to someone. “Teachers should encourage students to ask questions.”
☐ endorse: to declare one’s public approval or support of something. “The celebrity endorsed the new product.”
☐ entertain: to provide someone with amusement or enjoyment. “She loves to entertain guests at her home.”
☐ envelop: to wrap up, cover, or surround completely. “Fog began to envelop the city.”
☐ eradicate: to destroy completely; to put an end to. “The program aims to eradicate poverty in the region.”
☐ estimate: to form an approximate judgment or opinion regarding the worth, amount, size, weight, etc., of something. “He tried to estimate the cost of the repairs.”
☐ examine: to inspect or study carefully. “The doctor will examine the patient thoroughly.”
☐ enhance: to further improve upon something. “You can enhance the drawing by adding color to it.”
☐ explore: to travel through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. “They love to explore new cities during their vacations.”
☐ evolve: to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form. “The strategy will evolve over time.”
Free Printable Letter E Words Lists
Simply download and print our PDFs of the letter E word lists to review with your children. One list includes all of our letter E words and the other lists features our letter E words along with their definitions and the words used in a simple sentence.
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Letter E Words with Pictures
Preschoolers and kindergarteners will appreciate having illustrations to look at while learning new letter E words. As you read the words aloud to them, draw their attention to the letter E sound as you pronounce the word. Point at the corresponding picture as you say the letter E word. You can choose from our printable letter E words with pictures to color or letter E words with illustrations.
Letter E Activities
Letter E Song:
Learning about the letter E is especially fun when it’s a song kids can listen, dance, and sing to.
Letter E Worksheets:
These free printable letter E worksheets can help children learn to recognize the letter E, say its name and the sound it makes, and start learning how to write it, too.
Letter E Activities
Egg Hunt
Hide plastic eggs around the house or yard, each containing a small object or image that starts with the letter E, such as an eraser, elephant figurine, earring, and an image of Earth. As children pop open each egg, they can say the name of the object and emphasize the “e” sound.
Echo Game
Say a word from the list of letter E words. Have children repeat the word after you, emphasizing the “e” sound. Make it fun by varying the pitch, volume, and silliness of your voice, and encourage them to mimic you.
E is for Exercise
Incorporate physical activity into learning by doing exercises that start with the letter E. For example, touch your knees to your elbows, touch your ear to your shoulder, reach your fingers up and then down to your eyes; and conclude with elephant stomps (stomping around like an elephant). We encourage you to do each exercise eight times.
Tips for Teaching Letter E Words
- The Two Sounds of Letter E
The letter E makes two distinct sounds–one is the short letter E sound that sounds like eh, as in eggs. The other is a long letter E sound that sounds like eee as in eagle. Be sure to help your child hear the different E sounds when reading through the lists of words.
- Long and Short E Lists
To help underscore the two different sounds that the letter E makes, create a list with two columns. One column is for words with a short E sound and the other is for words with a long E sound. Read through the lists of letter E words, and divide the words between the two columns depending on the letter E sound they make.
- More Tips for Teaching Letter Sounds
Review our blog post featuring expert methods for teaching letter sounds, and try some of the strategies with your child.
Additional Resources
ABCmouse has educational resources for children aged 2-8, as well as resources to help parents and teachers.
Kindergarten Vocabulary Words
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Free Reading Charts for Kids
Get printable reading logs for every month and reading reward charts, create your own book recommendations, and find a variety of reading challenges.
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Letter Sound Activities for Young Kids
Try these interactive and educational activities that can make learning letter sounds more fun and effective.
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