peck
/pek/ UK /pek/ · US /pek/
A short e CVC word (ɛ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -eck word family.
actionsHear peck
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “peck”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /p/ – /e/ – /k/ → peck.
Example Sentences with Peck
- Birds peck at seeds.
- A peck on the cheek.
- The deck and the peck both end with the same sound.
- Say "peck" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “peck”
Children most often write this word as peack, pec, epck, peckk. 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>peck</strong> begins with the /p/ sound, so begin with "p".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>p - e - ck</strong>.
- The "e" in <strong>peck</strong> says /ɛ/ with the jaw slightly open, like <em>bed</em>.
- The ending "<strong>ck</strong>" is one sound (/k/). Two letters, one sound — do not let the child say two sounds there.
Phonics Tip for Peck
"peck" and "deck" and "neck" share the ending /ek/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -eck family.
Fun Facts About Peck
Every letter in <strong>peck</strong> carries one sound: p says /p/, e says /e/, ck says /k/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>peck</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -eck family, which has 2 other words in it: deck, neck.
More Words in the -eck Family
Words that rhyme with peck 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 Peck
- All short e CVC words — 31 words
- The -eck word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets