Words That Start With the Letter S for Kids
Check out our list of letter S words, letter S activities, and tips for teaching the letter S sound and words to your child.
Help your child expand their vocabulary and learn the letter S sound with these letter S 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 S sound.
Younger children will especially enjoy the letter S coloring sheet featuring images of the letter S and pictures of words that start with the letter S.
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 S, as a vocabulary list, or as a spelling list.
You’ll also find a definition for each letter S 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 S words, as well as a list of letter S activities to try and tips for teaching new letters and words to your child.
Lists of Letter S 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 S, 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 CVC S Words
☐ sap: the fluid that circulates through a plant. “They collected sap from the tree.”
☐ sat: past tense of sit. “She sat on the bench.”
☐ saw: past tense of the word ‘see.’ “She saw a bird in the tree.”
☐ set: to place or put something in a particular position. “She set the table for dinner.”
☐ sip: to drink slowly. “He took a sip of water.”
☐ sit: to rest with the body supported by the buttocks. “She likes to sit by the window.”
☐ son: a male child. “They have a son and a daughter.”
☐ sub: a shortened version of the word submarine. “The sub dove deep underwater to begin its mission.”
☐ sum: the total amount from adding two or more numbers together. “He calculated the sum of the numbers.”
☐ sun: the star at the center of our solar system. “The sun rises in the East.”
Simple Preschool Letter S Words
☐ same: identical; not different. “They wore the same outfit.”
☐ say: to express something with words. “The teacher asked the students to say their names.”
☐ she: pronoun used for a female person. “She loves to read books.”
☐ short: not long or tall. “He wore short sleeves.”
☐ side: a position to the left or right of an object or place. “They walked to the other side of the street.”
☐ sing: to make musical tones with the voice. “She loves to sing in the shower.”
☐ six: the number after five. “She is six years old.”
☐ so: very; a lot. “It was so hot outside.”
☐ song: a short piece of music with words. “She sang a beautiful song.”
☐ some: a portion of something; not all. “She gave some cookies to her friend.”
☐ sport: an activity involving certain rules and physical effort. “Soccer is his favorite sport.”
☐ such: of a certain character or type. “The puppy was such a good boy for sitting quietly.”
Kindergarten Letter S Words
☐ safe: protected from danger or harm. “They wore seatbelts to stay safe while driving.”
☐ said: past tense of the word ‘say’. “We said our names for the teacher.”
☐ scale: a device for weighing. “She used a scale to measure the flour.”
☐ screen: a flat panel on which images are displayed. “They watched a movie on the big screen in the theater.”
☐ seat: something you sit on. “He took a seat by the window.”
☐ sell: to exchange something for money. “They sell fruit at the market.”
☐ serve: to provide food or drink. “They serve pizza at the restaurant.”
☐ skin: the outer layer of a person or animal’s body. “Her skin was wet when she got out of the pool.”
☐ slow: not moving quickly. “The turtle was slow to climb into the pond.”
☐ small: not large in size or amount. “The small dog barked.”
☐ smile: a facial expression showing happiness or amusement. “She gave her grandma a big smile.”
☐ soon: in a short time. “We will arrive soon.”
☐ spend: to use money to buy goods or services. “He likes to spend money on toys for his dog.”
☐ spot: a small roundish mark. “There was a spot on the carpet.”
☐ stand: to be in an upright position on the feet. “Please stand up.”
☐ student: a person who is studying at a school. “The student studied for the exam.”
Elementary Letter S Words
☐ science: the study of the natural world based on facts. “We learned about stars and planets in science class.”
☐ season: one of the four periods of the year (spring, summer, fall, and winter). “Spring is her favorite season.”
☐ section: a distinct part of something larger. “They read a section of the book.”
☐ secure: to ensure something is held in place. “The zookeeper made sure the gate was secure so the animals couldn’t get out.”
☐ select: to choose from a number of options. “She had to select a dress for the party.”
☐ service: the action of helping or doing work for someone. “The service at the restaurant was excellent.”
☐ several: more than two but not many. “She has several slices of apple with her lunch.”
☐ site: a location or place. “They visited the construction site.”
☐ specific: precise; detailed. “She gave specific instructions.”
☐ statement: a clear expression of something in speech or writing. “The principal made a statement about the new playground rules.”
☐ station: a place where trains or buses regularly stop to pick up and drop off passengers. “They waited at the bus station.”
☐ story: an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment. “She read a bedtime story.”
☐ subject: a person or thing that is being discussed or described. “Math is her favorite subject.”
☐ success: the accomplishment of something. “He felt great success when he finished his puzzle.”
☐ suggest: to put forward for consideration. “I’ll suggest trying a new flavor of ice cream.”
☐ supply: to provide someone with something. “The school will supply students with paint for art class.”
☐ system: a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole. “The computer system isn’t working.”
Letter S Food Words
☐ salt: a white crystalline substance used to season food. “She added salt to the soup.”
☐ sandwich: two pieces of bread with filling between them. “He had a ham sandwich for lunch.”
☐ sauce: a liquid or semi-liquid substance served with food. “The pasta was covered in tomato sauce.”
☐ sausage: ground meat that’s stuffed into a cylindrical casing. “They grilled sausages for dinner.”
☐ soup: a liquid dish typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables in stock or water. “He made chicken soup.”
☐ spinach: a leafy green vegetable. “She added spinach to the salad.”
☐ sugar: a sweet crystalline substance that’s made from various plants. “She put sugar in her tea.”
☐ sushi: a Japanese dish made from seasoned rice with fish, egg, or vegetables. “We tried sushi for the first time and loved it.”
☐ syrup: a thick, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in boiling water. “She poured syrup over her pancakes.”
Letter S Animal Words
☐ salmon: a type of fish commonly found in the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. “Salmon swim upstream to spawn.”
☐ scorpion: an arachnid with a poisonous sting. “They found a scorpion in the desert.”
☐ seal: a marine mammal that has flippers and mostly lives in cold regions. “The seal swam in the icy water.”
☐ seagull: a white bird that lives near water. “The seagull flew over the beach looking for food.”
☐ shark: a large fish known for its sharp teeth. “They saw a shark while scuba diving.”
☐ sheep: an animal with hooves that’s known for its thick fur. “The sheep grazed in the field.”
☐ skunk: a small, black-and-white mammal known for its strong odor. “The skunk sprayed when it was scared.”
☐ sloth: a slow-moving tree-dwelling mammal. “The sloth hung from the tree branch.”
☐ snake: a long, legless reptile. “The snake slithered through the grass.”
☐ sparrow: a small, brown bird. “The sparrow perched on the fence.”
☐ spider: an eight-legged arachnid. “The spider made a web in the tree branches.”
☐ squid: a sea creature with a long body and ten limbs. “The squid swam quickly through the water.”
☐ squirrel: a small rodent with a bushy tail. “The squirrel climbed the tree.”
☐ starfish: a marine animal with five arms. “They found a starfish on the beach.”
☐ swan: a large white waterfowl that’s thought to be graceful. “The swan glided across the pond.”
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Letter S Object Words
☐ sail: a piece of material on a boat that’s used to catch the wind and move it. “The sail of the boat caught the wind.”
☐ scissors: a tool used for cutting things. “She used scissors to cut the paper.”
☐ shield: a protective device. “The knight carried a shield to protect himself in battle.”
☐ shoe: a covering for the foot. “He tied his shoe.”
☐ shirt: clothing for the upper body. “He wore a blue shirt.”
☐ shovel: a tool used for digging. “She used a shovel to plant the tree.”
☐ silver: a shiny, grayish-white metal. “She wore a silver necklace.”
☐ sink: a basin used for washing. “He washed his hands in the sink.”
☐ soap: a substance used for washing and cleansing. “He washed his hands with soap in the sink.”
☐ sock: a garment for the foot and lower part of the leg. “She wore a pair of soft socks under her shoes.”
☐ sofa: a long upholstered seat with a back and arms. “They sat on the sofa to watch the movie.”
☐ solar: relating to the sun. “They installed solar panels on the roof.”
☐ spoon: a utensil used for scooping and stirring food. “She stirred her tea with a spoon.”
☐ stage: a raised platform for performances. “The band performed on stage.”
☐ stick: a thin piece of wood. “A stick from the tree fell to the ground.”
☐ string: a thin piece of cord. “He tied the package with string.”
☐ suit: a set of clothes, typically a jacket and trousers or a skirt, worn together. “He wore a suit to the interview.”
Letter S Places Words
☐ school: a place where children go to learn. “They walked to school together.”
☐ sea: a large body of saltwater. “They swam in the sea.”
☐ shelter: a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger. “They found shelter from the rain.”
☐ shore: the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other body of water. “They walked along the shore of the ocean.”
☐ stadium: a large structure for sports events and concerts. “They watched the game at the stadium.”
☐ state: a territory considered as an organized political community. “They traveled to the state of Wisconsin for vacation.”
☐ store: a place where items are sold. “They went to the store to buy groceries.”
☐ street: a public road in a city or town. “They walked down the street.”
☐ suburb: an outlying district of a city, typically residential. “They live in a suburb of the city.”
Letter S Nature and Environment Words
☐ sand: fine particles of rock found on beaches and deserts. “They played in the sand at the beach.”
☐ seed: the part of a plant that can grow into a new plant. “They planted a seed in the garden.”
☐ sky: the area around the Earth that you see outside when you look up. “The sky was clear and blue.”
☐ snow: frozen precipitation in the form of white flakes. “They went skiing in the snow.”
☐ soil: the top layer of the earth in which plants grow. “The soil was rich and fertile.”
☐ spring: the season after winter and before summer. “Spring is her favorite season.”
☐ stone: a small piece of rock. “He skipped a stone across the pond.”
☐ storm: a disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and rain. “They took shelter during the storm.”
☐ stream: a small, narrow river. “They followed the stream through the forest.”
Letter S Emotions and Traits
☐ sad: feeling sorrow or unhappiness. “She felt sad when her friend moved away.”
☐ scared: feeling fear or anxiety. “He was scared of the dark.”
☐ serious: solemn or thoughtful in character or manner. “She looked serious during the meeting.”
☐ shy: nervous or timid around other people. “He felt shy at the party.”
☐ silly: goofy. “They made silly faces.”
☐ sincere: true; not pretend. “He gave a sincere apology after accidentally hurting his friend.”
☐ smart: having or showing intelligence. “She is very smart and gets good grades.”
☐ strong: having a lot of power to withstand challenging tasks. “She is strong and can lift heavy boxes.”
☐ stubborn: not willing to change one’s attitude or thoughts on something. “The stubborn dog refused to move from his favorite spot.”
☐ sympathetic: showing concern or understanding. “She gave her brother a sympathetic hug when he was feeling sad.”
Letter S Action Words
☐ save: to keep safe or rescue from harm. “He managed to save the kitten.”
☐ search: to try to find something by looking carefully. “They had to search for the lost keys.”
☐ see: to perceive with the eyes. “He could see the stars clearly.”
☐ seek: to attempt to find or obtain. “They decided to seek shelter from the storm.”
☐ sell: to exchange something for money. “They hoped to sell their old car.”
☐ send: to have something taken to a particular destination. “She will send a letter to her friend.”
☐ shake: to move something quickly back and forth or up and down. “He will shake the paint can before opening it.”
☐ share: to have a portion of something with others. “They often share toys.”
☐ shout: to say something very loudly. “He had to shout to be heard over the noise.”
☐ sleep: to rest by closing one’s eyes. “She needs to sleep eight hours a night.”
☐ speak: to say something in order to share information. “He likes to speak in public.”
☐ spin: to turn or whirl around quickly. “The dancers spin gracefully.”
☐ split: to divide into parts. “They agreed to split the profits.”
☐ steal: to take another person’s property without permission. “He got in trouble when he tried to steal the toy.”
☐ stretch: to make something longer or wider without tearing or breaking. “You’ll need to stretch the pizza dough so it covers the pan.”
☐ support: to aid or help. “They support each other through tough times.”
☐ sweep: to clean an area by brushing away dirt. “He likes to sweep the kitchen floor.”
☐ swim: to move through water by moving your arms and legs. “She learned to swim when she was five.”
Free Printable Letter S Words Lists
Simply download and print our PDFs of the letter S word lists to review with your children. One list includes all of our letter S words and the other lists features our letter S words along with their definitions and the words used in a simple sentence.
Letter S Words with Pictures
Preschoolers and kindergarteners will appreciate having illustrations to look at while learning new letter S words. As you read the words aloud to them, draw their attention to the letter S sound as you pronounce the word. Point at the corresponding picture as you say the letter S word. You can choose from our printable letter S words with pictures to color or letter S words with illustrations.
Letter S Activities
Letter S Song:
Learning about the letter S is especially fun when it’s a song kids can listen, dance, and sing to.
Letter S Worksheets:
These free printable letter S worksheets can help children learn to recognize the letter S, say its name and the sound it makes, and start learning how to write it, too.
Tips for Teaching Letter S Words
- Use Your Teeth
Help your child feel how their teeth come together and air gets pushed through them as they make the letter S sound.
- Letter Sound of the Week
Add some fun to learning new letter sounds by picking a new letter sound for each week. Spend the week identifying things that start with the letter sound, making foods that use the designated letter sound, and hunting for the letter sound in books.
- Incorporate Technology
Use educational apps and videos that focus on the letter S, creating another learning path for your child that offers auditory and visual input.
Additional Resources
ABCmouse has educational resources for children aged 2-8, as well as resources to help parents and teachers.
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