Words That Start With the Letter K for Kids
Check out our list of letter K words, letter K activities, and tips for teaching the letter K sound and words to your child.
Help your child expand their vocabulary and learn the letter K sound with these letter K words for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary students. These lists of words include simple CVC words and more complex words for older children. Whether hearing the words read to them or reading the words themselves, children will have an opportunity to grow their vocabulary and understanding of the letter K sound.
Younger children will especially enjoy the letter K coloring sheet featuring images of the letter K and pictures of words that start with the letter K.
Pick and choose the words you feel are appropriate for your child, and remember that this list can be used to familiarize your child with the sound of the letter K, as a vocabulary list, or as a spelling list.
You’ll also find a definition for each letter K word and the word used in a simple sentence to help your child better understand its meaning. You can further enhance learning with our printable list of letter K words, as well as a list of letter K activities to try and tips for teaching new letters and words to your child.
Lists of Letter K Words
Select the words that you think are suitable for your child. Keep in mind that these lists of words can be used to help familiarize your child with the sound of the letter K, act as a list for vocabulary building, or be used for spelling practice. Younger children will likely need you to read the list to them.
3-Letter K Words
☐ kid: a child or young person. “The kid played at the park.”
☐ kin: family and relatives. “She invited all of her kin to the reunion.”
☐ kit: a set of articles or equipment needed for a specific purpose. “He packed his camping kit for the trip.”
☐ kob: a type of African antelope. “They spotted a kob near the riverbank.”
Simple Preschool Letter K Words
☐ key: a small piece of metal that’s cut to fit into a particular lock. “She used the key to open the door.”
☐ kick: to strike with the foot or feet. “He can kick the ball very far.”
☐ kite: a lightweight frame covered with paper or cloth that is flown in the wind at the end of a long string. “The child flew a kite in the open field.”
☐ knack: an ability to do something easily and well. “He has a knack for making people smile.”
☐ knee: the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans. “She scraped her knee when she fell.”
☐ knit: to create fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles. “She knits every evening while watching TV.”
☐ knob: a rounded handle, as on a door or drawer. “He turned the knob to open the door.”
☐ knot: a fastening made by looping a piece of string or rope on itself and tightening it. “He tied a knot in the rope to secure the boat.”
☐ koi: a type of colorful fish often kept in ponds. “The koi swam gracefully in the pond.”
Did you spot the words with a silent K in the lists above? Silent letters can be tricky to understand. Our worksheet on silent letters can help.
Kindergarten Letter K Words
☐ keep: to retain or continue to have possession of. “He likes to keep his toys organized.”
☐ kennel: a small shelter for a dog or cat. “The dog sleeps in the kennel outside.”
☐ kettle: a container or device with a lid, spout, and handle in which water is boiled. “She boiled water in the kettle for tea.”
☐ kilt: a knee-length skirt of pleated tartan cloth, traditionally worn by men as part of Scottish Highland dress. “He wore a kilt to the festival.”
☐ kind: having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature. “She was very kind to share her snacks.”
☐ king: a male ruler. “The king wore a golden crown.”
☐ knoll: a small hill or mound. “They picnicked on top of the grassy knoll.”
Elementary Letter K Words
☐ karate: a form of martial arts that focuses on striking, kicking, and defensive blocking with arms and legs. “He takes karate classes every Saturday.”
☐ kayak: a small, narrow watercraft which is typically propelled by means of a double-bladed paddle. “They paddled the kayak across the lake.”
☐ kernel: the softer, usually edible part of a seed, nut, or fruit stone contained within its hard shell. “She threw away the unpopped kernels of popcorn.”
☐ keyboard: a panel of keys that operate a computer or typewriter. “He learned to type fast on the keyboard.”
☐ khaki: a fabric of a light brownish-yellow color. “His khaki pants were part of his scout uniform.”
☐ kidney: an organ in the body that filters waste from the blood. “The doctor checked his kidney function during the exam.”
☐ kinetic: relating to or resulting from motion. “The exhibit featured several kinetic sculptures that moved in the wind.”
☐ know-how: practical knowledge or skill. “Her technical know-how was crucial for the project’s success.”
☐ knowledge: information and skills acquired through experience or education. “He has a wide range of knowledge in history.”
☐ knuckle: the part of the finger where bones meet, especially where the finger joins the hand. “He cracked his knuckles nervously.”
☐ kudos: praise and honor received for an achievement. “She received kudos from everyone on her team for her hard work.”
Food Words
☐ kabob: skewered and grilled cubes of meat, fish, or vegetables. “They cooked chicken kabobs on the grill.”
☐ kale: a type of cabbage with green or purple leaves, known for its health benefits. “Kale is a key ingredient in her green smoothie.”
☐ kasha: a dish made of buckwheat groats that is popular in Eastern European cuisine. “Kasha is often served with onions and mushrooms.”
☐ kefir: a fermented milk drink similar to yogurt. “Kefir is known for its healthy qualities.”
☐ kelp: a type of seaweed that is rich in nutrients and often used in Asian dishes. “Kelp is sometimes used in soups.”
☐ ketchup: a sweet and tangy sauce typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, and seasonings and spices. “He put too much ketchup on his fries.”
☐ kimchi: a traditional Korean dish of fermented vegetables, usually cabbage and radishes, seasoned with garlic, salt, vinegar, chili peppers, and other spices. “Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine.”
☐ kiwi: a small fruit with a fuzzy brown skin and bright green flesh that is tart and sweet. “Kiwi adds a tropical flavor to the fruit salad.”
☐ kohlrabi: a round, tuberous vegetable that is part of the cabbage family. “Kohlrabi can be eaten raw or cooked.”
☐ kuchen: a type of German cake, often filled with fruit or custard. “She made an apple kuchen for dessert.”
☐ kumquat: a small, orange fruit that is edible and can be eaten whole, including the peel. “Kumquats are tart and can be used in marmalades.”
Animal Words
☐ kakapo: a flightless, nocturnal bird native to New Zealand, known for being the world’s heaviest parrot. “The kakapo is critically endangered due to predation and habitat loss.”
☐ kangaroo: a large marsupial from Australia known for its powerful hind legs and large tail. “The kangaroo hopped across the field.”
☐ kestrel: a small type of falcon that hovers with rapidly beating wings while searching for prey on the ground. “The kestrel darted through the sky looking for its next meal.”
☐ kingfisher: a brightly colored bird known for its ability to dive into water to catch fish. “A kingfisher swooped down to snag a fish from the lake.”
☐ kinkajou: a rainforest mammal of Central and South America, which is also known as the ‘honey bear’ due to its fondness for honey. “The kinkajou used its long, slender tongue to lick honey from the tree.”
☐ kitten: a young cat. “The kitten purred contentedly in her lap.”
☐ koala: an arboreal Australian marsupial that has a stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. “The koala clung to a branch in the eucalyptus tree.”
☐ krill: small crustaceans found in the ocean waters. “Whales consume millions of krill daily.”
☐ kudu: a type of antelope with long, spiraling horns, found in the African bush. “The kudu stood alert in the savannah.”
Discover Our Online Learning Tools
ABCmouse offers so much more than printable word lists for your child, including interactive and engaging content that reinforces math and reading skills. Our app features 11,000+ learning activities and 850+ complete lessons for children aged 2–8, as well as personalized learning paths.
Check Out ABCmouse ➜
Object Words
☐ kaleidoscope: a changing pattern of shapes and colors, typically viewed through a tube. “Children are fascinated by the shifting patterns in a kaleidoscope.”
☐ kazoo: a musical instrument that adds a buzzing quality to the voice when played. “The children played tunes on their kazoos during music class.”
☐ keychain: a small chain or ring that holds keys. “She attached her car keys to the new keychain.”
☐ keystone: the central, topmost stone of an arch, critical to its structure. “The keystone was carefully placed to maintain the strength of the arch.”
☐ kiln: a furnace or oven used in making pottery. “The pottery was fired in a large kiln overnight.”
☐ kimono: a traditional long robe worn in Japan, typically with wide sleeves and tied with a sash. “She wore a beautiful silk kimono to the festival.”
☐ knapsack: a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder. “He packed his knapsack for the school trip.”
☐ kneepad: protective gear worn on knees to cushion them or protect them from injury. “The skateboarder wore kneepads to prevent injuries.”
☐ knife: a tool or implement used for cutting, consisting of a blade and a handle. “She used a sharp knife to chop the vegetables.”
Places Words
☐ Kentucky: a southeastern state in the U.S. near Ohio and Tennessee. “We went to Kentucky to watch horse races.”
☐ Kenya: a country located in East Africa with coastline along the Indian Ocean. “They visited a wildlife preserve while in Kenya.”
☐ kindergarten: an early educational program that’s traditionally based around playing, learning, activities, and social interaction. “Her daughter loves going to kindergarten.”
☐ kingdom: a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. “The ancient kingdom was known for its rich culture.”
☐ kiosk: a small, open-fronted hut or cubicle from which newspapers, refreshments, and other goods are sold. “He bought a newspaper from the kiosk near the subway.”
☐ kitchen: a room or area where food is prepared and cooked. “She baked cookies in the kitchen.”
Nature and Environment Words
☐ karat: the measurement of gold’s purity. “Her earrings were made of 18 karat gold.”
☐ kilometer: a unit of length in the metric system used to measure distance, equal to one thousand meters. “The trail extends for several kilometers through the forest.”
☐ knotty: refers to the knots, or dark circles, rings, or holes, that naturally appear in wood. “She built the table with lovely knotty pine.”
☐ kudzu: a plant native to Asia that is an invasive species in many parts of the United States. “Kudzu has overgrown the abandoned lot.”
Emotions and Traits
☐ keen: having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm. “He has a keen interest in learning new languages.”
☐ kempt: maintained in a neat and clean condition; well cared for. “His appearance was always nicely kempt and tidy.”
☐ kindred: similar in kind. “They felt a kindred spirit in each other due to their shared love of art.”
☐ knowing: showing or suggesting that one has knowledge or awareness of something. “She gave him a knowing look that meant she understood the situation.”
☐ kooky: strange or eccentric. “His kooky ideas always made us laugh.”
Action Words
☐ keel: to fall over or collapse. “He keeled over in laughter after hearing the joke.”
☐ kink: to form a sharp twist or curve. “The hose kinked and stopped the flow of water.”
☐ knead: to work and press dough with the hands. “She kneaded the bread dough until it was smooth.”
☐ kneel: to rest on the knees. “I’ll have to kneel down to work in the garden.”
☐ knock: to repeatedly hit something, producing a noise. “Knock on the door before entering.”
☐ know: to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information. “He knows all the state capitals.”
Free Printable Letter K Words Lists
Simply download and print our PDFs of the letter K word lists to review with your children. One list includes all of our letter K words and the other lists features our letter K words along with their definitions and the words used in a simple sentence.
Letter K Words with Pictures
Preschoolers and kindergarteners will appreciate having illustrations to look at while learning new letter K words. As you read the words aloud to them, draw their attention to the letter K sound as you pronounce the word. Point at the corresponding picture as you say the letter K word. You can choose from our printable letter K words with pictures to color or letter K words with illustrations.
Letter K Activities
Letter K Song:
Learning about the letter K is especially fun when it’s a song kids can listen, dance, and sing to.
Letter K Worksheets:
These free printable letter K worksheets can help children learn to recognize the letter K, say its name and the sound it makes, and start learning how to write it, too.
Tips for Teaching Letter K Words
- Model the Sound
When helping your child learn a new letter sound, look for opportunities to use the new sounds in words your child is familiar with, pointing out the sound and inviting your child to repeat the sound back to you.
- Connect Words and Sounds to Real Life
When you notice a word from the list of letter K words or see the letter K while out and about, point it out to your child. Connecting new letters and words to real objects can help grow their understanding and help them make connections that aid in remembering the new letter or word.
- Practice with Pictures
Seeing pictures of objects and animals that start with the letter K may help younger children connect with new letter sounds. You can use our printable picture sheets above or simply keep an eye out for images in books or items in your home that begin with K.
Additional Resources
ABCmouse has educational resources for children aged 2-8, as well as resources to help parents and teachers.
Color by Letter Worksheets
Help make learning the letters of the alphabet even more fun for young children with these coloring sheets.
Browse →
How to Teach Spelling to Kids
Get tips and insights on how to help make spelling fun and memorable.
Browse →
Prepare Your Preschooler for Reading
Try these strategies to help get your preschooler ready to start reading.
Browse →
