Letter E: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
E is the fifth letter of the English alphabet. It comes after D and before F. E is a vowel. The capital (uppercase) letter is E and the small (lowercase) letter is e.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter E at a Glance
| Position | 5th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Vowel |
| Uppercase and lowercase | E e |
| Comes between | D and F |
| Main sounds | short e, long e, silent e |
| Strokes to write it | Capital E: 4 · small e: 1 |
How to Write Capital E and Small e
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 E (4 strokes)
- Start at the top. Draw a straight line down.
- Draw a line across the top, going right.
- Draw a slightly shorter line across the middle.
- Draw a line across the bottom.
Small e (1 stroke)
- Start at the middle of the letter space. Draw a short line across to the right.
- Curve up, over to the left and down and around, like a c.
- Stop at the bottom on the right.
Small e is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: Capital E is easy to mix up with F. E has three lines across, but F has only two (top and middle).
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter E 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 E and e alone.
What Sound Does E Make?
- short e: the sound at the start of egg and in the middle of bed. Examples: egg, elephant, bed, pen.
- long e: E saying its own name. Examples: eagle, he, me, bee.
- silent e: no sound at the end of a word, but it often makes the vowel before it say its name. Examples: cake, kite, rope, cute.
Practice the sound with pictures on E is for Egg, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With E
E is for Egg! Here are more E words:
E also appears in the middle or at the end of words: bed, pen, tree, cake, red.
Interesting Facts About E
- E is the most common letter in written English. It appears in more words than any other letter.
- A silent E at the end of a word can change the sound of another vowel. It turns cap into cape and kit into kite.
Quick Quiz: Letter E
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after E?
F.
How many lines go across in capital E?
Three: one at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom.
What does the silent e do in kite?
It makes the i say its name, so kit becomes kite.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Flap your arms like an eagle while the class chants "E is for eagle!" Then hand out plastic play eggs and have children open them one at a time, naming whatever small toy or picture is hiding inside.
At Home
Crack a real (or play) egg together for a cooking activity, talking about how "egg" starts with the short E sound. Afterward, trace the letter E on paper, pointing out its three straight lines.
Tips
Parents: Since E is a vowel with two different sounds, focus on the short e sound (as in egg) until it's solid before introducing the long e sound (as in bee).
Teachers: E is one of the most common letters in English — point it out in other words children already know to reinforce recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is E in the alphabet?
E is the fifth letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after D and before F.
Is E a vowel or a consonant?
E is a vowel. The five vowels are A, E, I, O and U. Every English word has at least one vowel sound, and vowels can make short and long sounds.
What sound does the letter E make?
E makes these sounds: short e as in egg; long e as in eagle; silent e as in cake.
How do you write a small e?
Start at the middle of the letter space. Draw a short line across to the right. Curve up, over to the left and down and around, like a c. Stop at the bottom on the right. Small e is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
What are some words that start with E?
Words that start with E include egg, elephant, eagle, engine, elbow, earth.
What is the silent E rule?
When a word ends in a vowel, a consonant and then e, the e is usually silent and makes the first vowel say its name: cap to cape, kit to kite, hop to hope.
Summary
E is the fifth letter of the alphabet and is a vowel. Its main sounds are short e, long e, silent e. Capital E takes 4 strokes and small e takes 1. Next, learn the letter F.