LoginThe Letter C
In this lesson, we will learn about all the sounds of the letter C. It is the third letter of the English alphabet. Now, ready for a new adventure?
'C' is the third letter in the English alphabet. It is a consonant in the English language.
Consonants are the letters that are produced by stopping the letter from flowing easily.
| Uppercase Form | C |
|---|---|
| Lowercase | c |
| Name | si (pronounced /ˈsi:/) |
| Common Sounds | /s/, /k/ |
The Letter C: Sounds
Common Sounds
In English, the letter c mainly has two sounds:
Sound 1: /s/
c (before e, i, y) as in 'city' has the /s/ sound:
Sound 2: /k/
c before other vowels as in 'car' has the /k/ sound:
The Letter C: Multigraphs
Letter c can sometimes be combined with other vowels or consonants to produce a different sound:
cc
'cc' before i, e, y generally represents /ks/:
a
su
co
ch
'c' in combination with 'h' generally represents /tʃ/:
tor
'ch' also has the /ʃ/ sound in French loanwords:
ma
mousta
'c' combined with 'h' also sounds /k/:
Tip
Remember that in the word schedule 's' is pronounced in American English; however, in British English, 's' is pronounced with 'che' as /ʃ/.
ck
'c' in 'ck' has the sound /k/, in other words 'ck' sounds /k/:
bu
so
du
sc
'sc' has the sound /s/:
sci
'sc' in 'sci' has the /ʃ/ sound:
con
lu
con
cqu
'cq' in 'cqu' has the sound /k/:
a
a
ra
cio
'c' in 'cio' has the /ʃ/ sound:
vi
deli
The Letter C: Uses
The letter c is also
An abbreviation used instead of Celsius or centigrade after numbers:
A computer programming language
A grade or mark at universities like c+ c-
A musical note
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