Letter G: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
G is the seventh letter of the English alphabet. It comes after F and before H. G is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is G and the small (lowercase) letter is g.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter G at a Glance
| Position | 7th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | G g |
| Comes between | F and H |
| Main sounds | hard g, soft g, silent g |
| Strokes to write it | Capital G: 1 · small g: 1 |
How to Write Capital G and Small g
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 G (1 stroke)
- Start near the top on the right. Draw a big curve like a C.
- At the end of the curve, draw a short line straight up and then a short line in toward the middle.
Small g (1 stroke)
- Start just below the middle line. Make a small c-shaped circle and close it.
- Draw a straight line down on the right, going below the bottom line.
- Curve the end to the left to make a hook.
Small g has a tail: its body sits between the middle line and the bottom line, and its tail drops below the bottom line, like g, p and y.
Common mix-up: Lowercase g can be confused with q. Both have a circle and a tail below the line, but the tail of g curves left and the tail of q goes straight down (or flicks right).
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter G 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 G and g alone.
What Sound Does G Make?
- hard g: made at the back of your mouth, with your voice switched on. Examples: goat, gum, game, dog.
- soft g: the same sound as j, often when g comes before e, i or y. Examples: giraffe, gem, giant, page.
- silent g: no sound, as in gn and some other words. Examples: gnome, sign, light.
Practice the sound with pictures on G is for Goat, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With G
G is for Goat! Here are more G words:
G also appears in the middle or at the end of words: dog, egg, flag, tiger, wagon.
Interesting Facts About G
- G is a consonant that can make a hard sound, as in goat, and a soft sound, as in giraffe.
- The Romans made the letter G by adding a small bar to the letter C.
- G and K are made in the same place at the back of the mouth. G uses your voice, K does not.
Quick Quiz: Letter G
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after G?
H.
Does the g in giraffe make a hard or soft sound?
A soft sound, like j.
Which part of lowercase g goes below the line?
Its tail, which curves to the left.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Wrap an empty box like a pretend gift and pass it around the circle while chanting "G is for gift!" Then ask each child to guess what might be inside before opening it together.
At Home
Take a walk to the garden or a park and spot G things along the way — grass, a garden gate, or grapes at the store. Afterward, trace the letter G on paper, drawing the same curved shape as a goat's horn.
Tips
Parents: Focus on the hard "guh" sound (as in goat) until it's solid before introducing the soft "j" sound (as in giraffe) — mixing the two too early can be confusing.
Teachers: Letter G pairs well with a farm or zoo theme — goats and giraffes are both fun anchors for the two different G sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is G in the alphabet?
G is the seventh letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after F and before H.
Is G a vowel or a consonant?
G 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 G make?
G makes these sounds: hard g as in goat; soft g as in giraffe; silent g as in gnome.
How do you write a small g?
Start just below the middle line. Make a small c-shaped circle and close it. Draw a straight line down on the right, going below the bottom line. Curve the end to the left to make a hook. Small g has a tail: its body sits between the middle line and the bottom line, and its tail drops below the bottom line, like g, p and y.
What are some words that start with G?
Words that start with G include goat, gift, guitar, grapes, girl, gorilla.
When does G make a j sound?
G often makes a j sound before e, i or y (gem, giant, gym), but not always: get, girl and give have a hard g.
Summary
G is the seventh letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are hard g, soft g, silent g. Capital G takes 1 stroke and small g takes 1. Next, learn the letter H.