Short Vowels for Kids | Animal Phonics Alphabet

In this section of Animal Phonics we’ll focus on introducing kids to short vowel sounds. Our unique approach uses adorable animal characters that start with each of the short vowel sounds, making learning phonics enjoyable and memorable for young learners. Then you can explore our lists of the most popular animals that start with short vowel sounds. For some offline fun download our free short vowel sounds coloring page. With our engaging games and activities, kids will have a blast mastering the short vowel sounds and building their reading confidence. Join us on this educational adventure and watch your child’s literacy skills soar!

What are short vowels?

Short vowels are the sounds that we make when we say the letters a, e, i, o, and u. They are called “short” because they are quick and not stretched out like some other sounds. Here are some examples:

The letter “a” makes the short sound like “a” in the word “cat.” It’s a quick and snappy sound, like a little hop.
The letter “i” makes the short sound like “i” in the word “sit.” It’s a sound that comes out of your mouth in a short and high-pitched way, like a little squeak.
The letter “u” makes the short sound like “u” in the word “bus.” It’s a sound that comes out of your mouth quickly and sounds like a little puff of air.

Remember, these sounds are short and quick. Now explore all the short vowel sounds below!

Albert holding a sign with short vowels a, e, i ,o, u

Short vowel sounds

Short vowels can represented by a curved line above the vowel: ă, ĕ, ĭ, ŏ, ŭ. Click below to hear the 5 short vowel sounds.

Animals that start with short vowel sounds

Click on the animal to hear its animal sound, then click its name to hear it said out loud!

umbrellabird

Free Animal Phonics Coloring Page: Short Vowel Sounds

Looking for a fun and educational activity to teach your little ones about short vowel sounds? Look no further than our printable Alphabetimals Animal Phonics Coloring Page: Short Vowel Sounds! This captivating free PDF download features adorable animal that start with short vowels sounds creatively shaped as lowercase letters a, e, i, o, u. With this engaging resource, children can explore the world of phonics while coloring their favorite animals. It's a fantastic way to reinforce their understanding of short vowel sounds in a playful and interactive manner. Download and print it today and watch as your kids embark on a delightful learning adventure!

download coloring page (pdf)