Soft C Sound

The Soft Sound of “C”
The letter C makes a soft sound pronounced as /s/ (like the sound of “S”). This sound occurs in specific spelling patterns and is softer compared to the hard C sound (/k/). Learn the Hard C Sound

When Does the Letter “C” Make the Soft Sound?
The soft “C” sound /s/ typically occurs when the letter “C” is followed by the vowels E, I, or Y.
Examples of Soft “C” Words:
Before E:
cent, cell, ceiling, celebrate

Before I:
city, circle, cinema, civil

Before Y:
cycle, cylinder, fancy

The following diagram shows some examples of words that have the soft c sound. Scroll down the page for more examples and songs to help you learn how to pronounce words with the soft c sound.

 

Have a look at the following tables to compare hard C and soft C words for the letter C in the beginning, middle or ending of the words.

 

Hard C Sound
Pronunciation: /k/ (like the sound of “K”).
When It Happens:

• Before the vowels A, O, U (e.g., cat, cot, cup).
• At the beginning or end of many words. (e.g. corn, coat, picnic, comic).
• In consonant clusters (e.g., clap, crisp).

The Silent C
In some words, the “C” is silent and not pronounced.
Examples: muscle, scissors, ascend
Learn about the Silent C

Free worksheets to help students practice writing the letter C and the Alphabet.
Letter c Worksheet (lower case)
Letter C Worksheet (upper case)
Write Lower Case Letters
Write Upper Case Letters

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Rhymes or songs with a mix of hard and soft C sounds

Sound of Soft C
Learn the other sound of C.

• Show Video Lesson

Hard C and Soft C

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Phonics with the Soft (C) sound
Soft (c) before e,i, and y.

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Hard and Soft C and G

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Two Sounds Made by C song

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soft c - Phonics
Words with the soft sound of the letter C.

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Soft C
Words with -CE.

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Learn the sound of the letters

Learning Short Vowels

Short Vowels
Short A	Short E	Short I
Short O	Short U	Short Vowels

Learning Long Vowels

Long Vowels
Long A	Long E	Long I
Long O	Long U	Y (vowel)
Long Vowels	Short & Long Vowels

Compare Short & Long Vowels

Short & Long Vowels
Short & Long A	Short & Long E	Short & Long I
Short & Long O	Short & Long U

Learning Consonants

Consonants
Letter B	Hard C	Soft C
Letter D	Letter F	Hard G
Soft G	Letter H	Letter J
Letter K	Letter L	Letter M
Letter N	Letter P	Letter Q
Letter R	Letter S	Letter T
Letter V	Letter W	Letter X
Letter Y	Letter Z

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