set
/set/ UK /set/ · US /set/
A short e CVC word (ɛ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -et word family.
actionsHear set
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “set”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /s/ – /e/ – /t/ → set.
Example Sentences with Set
- Set the table.
- The sun set.
- The get and the set both end with the same sound.
- Say "set" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “set”
Children most often write this word as seat, est, sett, seet. 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>set</strong> begins with the /s/ sound, so begin with "s".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>s - e - t</strong>.
- The "e" in <strong>set</strong> says /ɛ/ with the jaw slightly open, like <em>bed</em>.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>se</strong> + <strong>t</strong> = <strong>set</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Set
"set" and "get" and "jet" share the ending /et/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -et family.
Fun Facts About Set
Every letter in <strong>set</strong> carries one sound: s says /s/, e says /e/, t says /t/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>set</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -et family, which has 6 other words in it: get, jet, let, met, net, pet.
More Words in the -et Family
Words that rhyme with set 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 Set
- All short e CVC words — 31 words
- The -et word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets