The Letter H

The letter H makes the sound heard in the words he, help and behave. This consonant sound ranks in the not so common category along with its counterparts: j, k and w. However, the letter H when paired with other consonants forms a variety of sounds. It is used to create the following digraphs (2 letters result in 1 sound):

• CH digraph , e.g., chin, pitcher and each,
• SH digraph, e.g., she, sunshine and wish,
• TH digraph (voiceless), e.g., thank, author, and both,
• TH digraph (voiced), e.g., the, brother and smooth, and
• WH digraph, e.g., when, why and which*.

In addition, the letter H when paired with the letter P makes the /f/ sound, e.g., phone, nephew and graph. It can also make the /f/ sound when combined with the letter G, e.g., cough, rough and tough. In some words, the letter H can be silent, e.g., though, bright, piranha and spaghetti.

*Some people pronounce the H sound before the W and others do not pronounce the letter H; it is silent.

Letter H Worksheets

We created worksheets to help your child practice forming the upper- and lowercase letter H correctly. Ideally, letters should be formed from top to bottom and left to right with a continuous stroke when possible. The uppercase H is formed as follows: down, lift, down, lift and cross. The lowercase h is formed as follows: down, up and around.

Letter H Worksheet 1
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter H.

Letter H Worksheet 2
We offer a free printable worksheet that focuses on the uppercase letter H. We encourage a child to say, trace and write the uppercase letter H.

Letter H Worksheet 3
We offer a free printable worksheet that focuses on the lowercase letter h. We encourage a child to say, trace and write the lowercase letter h.

Letter H Worksheet 4
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter h.

Letter H Worksheet 5
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter h.

Letter H Worksheet 6
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter h. We also included a fun game – circle the items that begin with the letter h.

Words with the Letter H

The table below contains a list of words with the letter H. We also indicate the location of the /h/ sound – beginning (initial) or middle (medial). Our list contains 135 words; please use our search feature to narrow results.

Letter H Words	Sound
ahead	medial
ahoy	medial
behave	medial
behind	medial
behold	medial
grasshopper	medial
had	initial
hair	initial
hale	initial
half	initial
hall	initial
Halloween	initial
halt	initial
ham	initial
hamburger	initial
hammer	initial
hamster	initial
hand	initial
hang	initial
hanger	initial
happen	initial
happy	initial
hard	initial
hare	initial
hark	initial
harmonica	initial
harp	initial
has	initial
haste	initial
hat	initial
hate	initial
haunt	initial
have	initial
hay	initial
haze	initial
he	initial
head	initial
heal	initial
health	initial
heap	initial
hear	initial
heart	initial
heat	initial
heave	initial
heaven	initial
heavy	initial
heck	initial
hedge	initial
heed	initial
heel	initial
heft	initial
held	initial
helicopter	initial
hello	initial
helmet	initial
help	initial
helper	initial
hem	initial
hen	initial
hence	initial
her	initial
here	initial
hero	initial
hers	initial
hey	initial
hid	initial
hide	initial
high	initial
high chair	initial
hike	initial
hill	initial
him	initial
hind	initial
hinge	initial
hint	initial
hip	initial
hire	initial
his	initial
hiss	initial
hit	initial
hitch	initial
hive	initial
hockey	initial
hog	initial
hold	initial
hole	initial
holiday	initial
home	initial
homework	initial
hone	initial
honey	initial
honk	initial
honor	initial
hood	initial
hook	initial
hoop	initial
hoot	initial
hop	initial
hope	initial
horn	initial
horrible	initial
horse	initial
horseshoe	initial
hose	initial
host	initial
hot	initial
hot dog	initial
hound	initial
house	initial
how	initial
howl	initial
hub	initial
hue	initial
huff	initial
hug	initial
huge	initial
hum	initial
hump	initial
hunch	initial
hundred	initial
hung	initial
hungry	initial
hunk	initial
hunt	initial
hurl	initial
hurry	initial
hurt	initial
husband	initial
hush	initial
hut	initial
overheard	medial
rehearse	medial
sea horse	medial
unhappy	medial
unhook	medial