map
/mæp/ UK /mæp/ · US /mæp/
A short a CVC word (æ) in the objects category. It belongs to the -ap word family.
objectsHear map
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “map”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /m/ – /æ/ – /p/ → map.
Example Sentences with Map
- Look at the map.
- Draw a map.
- Read the map to find the park.
- She drew a map of our street.
- Where is the museum on the map?
How to Spell “map”
Children most often write this word as mep, map, maap. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- The "a" is short /æ/ as in cat — same sound, different word.
- Two consonants at the end (m, p) mean the vowel stays short.
- Say "m-a-p" and clap once per sound.
Phonics Tip for Map
Short a appears in "map", "cat", "bag", "hat" and "jam". Practising them together builds the automaticity that lets children read without decoding every word.
Fun Facts About Map
The oldest surviving maps are Babylonian clay tablets from around 2300 BC. They show a marshy region with the Euphrates river drawn as two parallel lines.
More Words in the -ap Family
Words that rhyme with map and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short a sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Map
- All short a CVC words — 59 words
- The -ap word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets