Letter B: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
B is the second letter of the English alphabet. It comes after A and before C. B is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is B and the small (lowercase) letter is b.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter B at a Glance
| Position | 2nd of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | B b |
| Comes between | A and C |
| Main sounds | b, silent b |
| Strokes to write it | Capital B: 3 · small b: 1 |
How to Write Capital B and Small b
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital B (3 strokes)
- Start at the top. Draw a straight line down.
- Go back to the top. Draw a curve out to the right and back in to the middle.
- Draw a second, slightly bigger curve from the middle out and back to the bottom.
Small b (1 stroke)
- Start at the top line. Draw a tall straight line down to the bottom line.
- Without lifting, go back up to the middle.
- Curve around to the right and close the circle at the bottom.
Small b is a tall letter: it reaches up toward the top line, like b, d and h.
Common mix-up: b and d are the most commonly mixed-up letters. A helpful trick: in b, the bat (the tall line) comes first and the ball comes after it.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter B Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write B and b alone.
What Sound Does B Make?
- b: a bouncy sound made by pressing your lips together and popping them open, with your voice switched on. Examples: ball, bat, bed, cab.
- silent b: no sound at all after m, and in a few other words. Examples: lamb, thumb, comb, climb.
Practice the sound with pictures on B is for Ball, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With B
B is for Ball! Here are more B words:
B also appears in the middle or at the end of words: cab, rabbit, tub, robot, crab.
Interesting Facts About B
- B and P are made with the same mouth shape. B uses your voice and P is just a puff of air. Put a hand on your throat and feel the buzz for B.
- The letter B comes from an ancient symbol for a house.
Quick Quiz: Letter B
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right before B?
A.
In which word is the B silent: bat, lamb or bus?
Lamb. You don't hear a b sound at the end.
Which lowercase letter is the mirror image of b?
d. That is why b and d are easy to mix up.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Bounce a real ball around the circle while the class chants "B is for ball!" Then have children search the room for other B objects — a book, a box, a backpack — and add them to a class "B is for..." chart.
At Home
Try a banana taste-and-trace activity: let your child eat a banana slice, then trace the letter B on paper while saying the word out loud. Tasting and tracing together helps the letter stick in memory.
Tips
Parents: If your child mixes up B and D, practice them on separate days rather than side by side — comparing mirror-image letters too early can make the confusion worse.
Teachers: Pair movement with the sound. Have children "bounce" in place each time they hear a B word in a story or song.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is B in the alphabet?
B is the second letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after A and before C.
Is B a vowel or a consonant?
B is a consonant. All letters except the vowels A, E, I, O and U are consonants (Y can be both).
What sound does the letter B make?
B makes these sounds: b as in ball; silent b as in lamb.
How do you write a small b?
Start at the top line. Draw a tall straight line down to the bottom line. Without lifting, go back up to the middle. Curve around to the right and close the circle at the bottom. Small b is a tall letter: it reaches up toward the top line, like b, d and h.
What are some words that start with B?
Words that start with B include ball, bear, banana, bird, boat, bus.
How can I help my child stop mixing up b and d?
Teach the starting stroke: b starts with a tall line down, then the bump; d starts with a circle, then the tall line. Saying "bat, then ball" while writing b also helps.
Summary
B is the second letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are b, silent b. Capital B takes 3 strokes and small b takes 1. Next, learn the letter C.