nod
/nɒd/ UK /nɒd/ · US /nɑːd/
A short o CVC word (ɒ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -od word family.
actionsHear nod
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How to Say “nod”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /n/ – /ɒ/ – /d/ → nod.
Example Sentences with Nod
- Nod your head.
- A quick nod.
- The cod and the nod both end with the same sound.
- Say "nod" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “nod”
Children most often write this word as ond, nodd, nood. 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>nod</strong> begins with the /n/ sound, so begin with "n".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>n - o - d</strong>.
- The "o" in <strong>nod</strong> is a short o — the mouth stays wide open, like /ɒ/ in <em>hot</em>.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>no</strong> + <strong>d</strong> = <strong>nod</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Nod
"nod" and "cod" and "god" share the ending /ɒd/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -od family.
Fun Facts About Nod
Every letter in <strong>nod</strong> carries one sound: n says /n/, o says /ɒ/, d says /d/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>nod</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -od family, which has 5 other words in it: cod, god, pod, rod, sod.
More Words in the -od Family
Words that rhyme with nod 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 Nod
- All short o CVC words — 41 words
- The -od word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets