fun
/fʌn/ UK /fʌn/ · US /fʌn/
A short u CVC word (ʌ) in the emotions category. It belongs to the -un word family.
emotionsHear fun
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “fun”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /f/ – /ʌ/ – /n/ → fun.
Example Sentences with Fun
- Have fun!
- It was fun.
- The bun and the fun both end with the same sound.
- Say "fun" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “fun”
Children most often write this word as foon, ufn, funn, fuun. 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>fun</strong> begins with the /f/ sound, so begin with "f".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>f - u - n</strong>.
- The "u" in <strong>fun</strong> says /ʌ/, not the letter name "uh". The mouth stays relaxed.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>fu</strong> + <strong>n</strong> = <strong>fun</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Fun
"fun" and "bun" and "gun" share the ending /ʌn/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -un family.
Fun Facts About Fun
Every letter in <strong>fun</strong> carries one sound: f says /f/, u says /ʌ/, n says /n/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>fun</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -un family, which has 5 other words in it: bun, gun, nun, run, sun.
More Words in the -un Family
Words that rhyme with fun and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short u sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Fun
- All short u CVC words — 47 words
- The -un word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets