Pick - actions

pick

/pɪk/ UK /pɪk/ · US /pɪk/

A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -ick word family.

actions

Hear pick

Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.

How to Say “pick”

p
/p/
i
/ɪ/
ck
/k/

Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /p/ – /ɪ/ – /k/ → pick.

Example Sentences with Pick

How to Spell “pick”

Children most often write this word as pic, ipck, pickk, piick. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.

  1. Start with the picture: <strong>pick</strong> begins with the /p/ sound, so begin with "p".
  2. Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>p - i - ck</strong>.
  3. The "i" in <strong>pick</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
  4. 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 Pick

"pick" and "kick" and "lick" share the ending /ɪk/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ick family.

Try it now: play the CVC flash cards and hunt for pick, or test recognition in the multiple choice quiz.

Fun Facts About Pick

Every letter in <strong>pick</strong> carries one sound: p says /p/, i says /ɪ/, ck says /k/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>pick</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ick family, which has 5 other words in it: kick, lick, sick, tick, wick.

More Words in the -ick Family

Words that rhyme with pick and end with the same sounds:

See the full -ick word family →

Related CVC Words

More words with the short i sound that have their own picture guide:

Other Word Families

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Where to Practise Pick