mesh
/meʃ/ UK /meʃ/ · US /meʃ/
A short e CVC word (ɛ) in the objects category. It belongs to the -esh word family.
objectsHear mesh
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “mesh”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /m/ – /e/ – /ʃ/ → mesh.
Example Sentences with Mesh
- Wire mesh.
- The screen has a fine mesh.
- Say "mesh" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “mesh”
Children most often write this word as meash, mes, emsh, meshh. 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>mesh</strong> begins with the /m/ sound, so begin with "m".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>m - e - sh</strong>.
- The "e" in <strong>mesh</strong> says /ɛ/ with the jaw slightly open, like <em>bed</em>.
- 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 Mesh
Read "mesh" as three separate sounds first: /m/ - /e/ - /ʃ/. Blend them slowly, then speed up until they become one word.
Fun Facts About Mesh
Every letter in <strong>mesh</strong> carries one sound: m says /m/, e says /e/, sh says /ʃ/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>mesh</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -esh family, which has 0 other words in it: .
More Words in the -esh Family
Words that rhyme with mesh and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short e sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Mesh
- All short e CVC words — 31 words
- The -esh word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets