dish
/dɪʃ/ UK /dɪʃ/ · US /dɪʃ/
A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the objects category. It belongs to the -ish word family.
objectsHear dish
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “dish”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /d/ – /ɪ/ – /ʃ/ → dish.
Example Sentences with Dish
- Wash the dish.
- Main dish.
- The fish and the dish both end with the same sound.
- Say "dish" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “dish”
Children most often write this word as dis, idsh, dishh, diish. 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>dish</strong> begins with the /d/ sound, so begin with "d".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>d - i - sh</strong>.
- The "i" in <strong>dish</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
- The ending "<strong>sh</strong>" is one sound (/ʃ/). Two letters, one sound — do not let the child say two sounds there.
Phonics Tip for Dish
"dish" and "fish" and "wish" share the ending /ɪʃ/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ish family.
Fun Facts About Dish
Every letter in <strong>dish</strong> carries one sound: d says /d/, i says /ɪ/, sh says /ʃ/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>dish</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ish family, which has 2 other words in it: fish, wish.
More Words in the -ish Family
Words that rhyme with dish and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short i sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Dish
- All short i CVC words — 52 words
- The -ish word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets