Sill - objects

sill

/sɪl/ UK /sɪl/ · US /sɪl/

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

objects

Hear sill

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

How to Say “sill”

s
/s/
i
/ɪ/
ll
/l/

Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /s/ – /ɪ/ – /l/ → sill.

Example Sentences with Sill

How to Spell “sill”

Children most often write this word as sil, isll, silll, siill. 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>sill</strong> begins with the /s/ sound, so begin with "s".
  2. Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>s - i - ll</strong>.
  3. The "i" in <strong>sill</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
  4. The ending "<strong>ll</strong>" is one sound (/l/). Two letters, one sound — do not let the child say two sounds there.

Phonics Tip for Sill

"sill" and "fill" and "gill" share the ending /ɪl/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ill family.

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

Fun Facts About Sill

Every letter in <strong>sill</strong> carries one sound: s says /s/, i says /ɪ/, ll says /l/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>sill</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ill family, which has 5 other words in it: fill, gill, hill, mill, pill.

More Words in the -ill Family

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

See the full -ill 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 Sill