ran
/ræn/ UK /ræn/ · US /ræn/
A short a CVC word (æ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -an word family.
actionsHear ran
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “ran”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /r/ – /æ/ – /n/ → ran.
Example Sentences with Ran
- She ran fast.
- The dog ran away.
- The fan and the ran both end with the same sound.
- Say "ran" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “ran”
Children most often write this word as ren, arn, rann, raan. 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>ran</strong> begins with the /r/ sound, so begin with "r".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>r - a - n</strong>.
- The "a" in <strong>ran</strong> says /æ/, not "ay". Ask the child what the mouth does, not what the letter is called.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>ra</strong> + <strong>n</strong> = <strong>ran</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Ran
"ran" and "fan" and "man" share the ending /æn/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -an family.
Fun Facts About Ran
Every letter in <strong>ran</strong> carries one sound: r says /r/, a says /æ/, n says /n/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>ran</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -an family, which has 5 other words in it: fan, man, pan, tan, van.
More Words in the -an Family
Words that rhyme with ran 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 Ran
- All short a CVC words — 59 words
- The -an word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets