The Letter Y
The letter Y makes the sound heard in the words yarn and lawyer. This is the sound you would first introduce to a child. This consonant sound ranks in the rare category along with its counterparts: qu, x and z. Interestingly it is more common to find the letter y as a vowel than a consonant. The letter Y can make the following vowel sounds:
- Long E, e.g., heavy & body,
- Long I, e.g., cry & buy,
- Long A, e.g., they & prey,
- Short I, e.g., mystic & rhythm, and
- /oi/ sound, e.g., boy & toy.
When the letter Y follows a vowel, it is often silent, e.g., day & key. The letter Y can also make the sound as found in word polymer.
Letter Y Worksheets
| We created worksheets to help your child practice forming the letter y correctly. Ideally, letters should be formed from top to bottom and left to right with a continuous stroke when possible. The upper- and lowercase Y are formed the say way – slant right, lift, slant left and down. |
Letter Y Worksheet 1
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter Y.
Letter Y Worksheet 2
We offer a free printable worksheet that focuses on the uppercase letter y. We encourage a child to say, trace and write the uppercase letter Y.
Letter Y Worksheet 3
We offer a free printable worksheet that focuses on the lowercase letter y. We encourage a child to say, trace and write the lowercase letter Y.
Letter Y Worksheet 4
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter Y.
Letter Y Worksheet 5
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter Y.
Letter Y Worksheet 6
We offer a free printable worksheet that encourages a child to say, trace and write the upper- and lowercase letter Y. This worksheet also includes a fun matching game.
Words with the Letter Y
The table below contains a list of letter Y words that make the /y/ consonant sound. We also indicate the location of the /y/ sound – beginning (initial), middle (medial) or ending (final).
| Letter Y Words | Sound |
|---|---|
| backyard | medial sound |
| barnyard | medial sound |
| beyond | medial sound |
| canyon | medial sound |
| courtyard | medial sound |
| dooryard | medial sound |
| lawyer | medial sound |
| layer | medial sound |
| papaya | medial sound |
| stockyard | medial sound |
| vineyard | medial sound |
| yacht | initial sound |
| yak | initial sound |
| yam | initial sound |
| yank | initial sound |
| Yankee | initial sound |
| yard | initial sound |
| yardstick | initial sound |
| yarn | initial sound |
| yawn | initial sound |
| year | initial sound |
| year | initial sound |
| yeast | initial sound |
| yell | initial sound |
| yellow | initial sound |
| yelp | initial sound |
| yen | initial sound |
| yes | initial sound |
| yesterday | initial sound |
| yet | initial sound |
| yew | initial sound |
| yield | initial sound |
| yodel | initial sound |
| yolk | initial sound |
| yonder | initial sound |
| you | initial sound |
| young | initial sound |
| your | initial sound |
| youth | initial sound |
| yo-yo | initial sound |
| yummy | initial sound |