bob
/bɒb/ UK /bɒb/ · US /bɑːb/
A short o CVC word (ɒ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -ob word family.
actionsHear bob
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “bob”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /b/ – /ɒ/ – /b/ → bob.
Example Sentences with Bob
- Bob for apples.
- The boat bob on the waves.
- The job and the bob both end with the same sound.
- Say "bob" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “bob”
Children most often write this word as obb, bobb, boob. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- Start with the picture: <strong>bob</strong> begins with the /b/ sound, so begin with "b".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>b - o - b</strong>.
- The "o" in <strong>bob</strong> is a short o — the mouth stays wide open, like /ɒ/ in <em>hot</em>.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>bo</strong> + <strong>b</strong> = <strong>bob</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Bob
"bob" and "job" and "mob" share the ending /ɒb/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ob family.
Fun Facts About Bob
Every letter in <strong>bob</strong> carries one sound: b says /b/, o says /ɒ/, b says /b/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>bob</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ob family, which has 4 other words in it: job, mob, rob, sob.
More Words in the -ob Family
Words that rhyme with bob and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short o sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Bob
- All short o CVC words — 41 words
- The -ob word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets