wish
/wɪʃ/ UK /wɪʃ/ · US /wɪʃ/
A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the actions category. It belongs to the -ish word family.
actionsHear wish
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “wish”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /w/ – /ɪ/ – /ʃ/ → wish.
Example Sentences with Wish
- Make a wish.
- I wish you well.
- The dish and the wish both end with the same sound.
- Say "wish" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “wish”
Children most often write this word as wis, iwsh, wishh, wiish. 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>wish</strong> begins with the /w/ sound, so begin with "w".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>w - i - sh</strong>.
- The "i" in <strong>wish</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
- The ending "<strong>sh</strong>" is one sound (/ʃ/). Two letters, one sound — do not let the child say two sounds there.
Phonics Tip for Wish
"wish" and "dish" and "fish" share the ending /ɪʃ/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ish family.
Fun Facts About Wish
Every letter in <strong>wish</strong> carries one sound: w says /w/, i says /ɪ/, sh says /ʃ/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>wish</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ish family, which has 2 other words in it: dish, fish.
More Words in the -ish Family
Words that rhyme with wish and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short i sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Wish
- All short i CVC words — 52 words
- The -ish word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets