Letter I: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
I is the ninth letter of the English alphabet. It comes after H and before J. I is a vowel. The capital (uppercase) letter is I and the small (lowercase) letter is i.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter I at a Glance
| Position | 9th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Vowel |
| Uppercase and lowercase | I i |
| Comes between | H and J |
| Main sounds | short i, long i |
| Strokes to write it | Capital I: 3 · small i: 2 |
How to Write Capital I and Small i
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 I (3 strokes)
- Draw a straight line down.
- Many children also add a short line across the top and bottom, as on the page image.
Small i (2 strokes)
- Draw a short straight line from the middle line down to the bottom line.
- Put a dot above it.
Small i is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: Capital I, lowercase l and the number 1 can look alike. Lowercase i is short and always has a dot.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter I 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 I and i alone.
What Sound Does I Make?
- short i: the sound at the start of insect and in the middle of pig. Examples: insect, igloo, pig, fish.
- long i: I saying its own name. Examples: ice, kite, tiger, bike.
Practice the sound with pictures on I is for Ice, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With I
I is for Igloo! Here are more I words:
I also appears in the middle or at the end of words: pig, fish, kite, milk, tiger.
Interesting Facts About I
- The capital I is a word all by itself, and it is always written as a capital letter.
- The letters I and J used to be the same letter. J became a separate letter only a few hundred years ago.
Quick Quiz: Letter I
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after I?
J.
Does the i in kite make a short or long sound?
A long sound. It says its name.
What does lowercase i have that lowercase l does not?
A dot.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Fill a bin with ice cubes (or pretend ice made from foam) and let children touch and describe them while chanting "I is for ice!" Then draw insects together as a class and name each bug's parts.
At Home
Since fewer words start with I, get creative — freeze small toys in ice cubes and let your child watch them melt while saying "I is for ice." Then trace the letter I together, pointing out its simple straight-line shape.
Tips
Parents: Letter I has fewer everyday example words than most letters, so lean on pictures and hands-on play (like ice or insects) rather than just word lists.
Teachers: Point out that "I" is also a word by itself — it's a fun, memorable fact that also introduces the idea that letters can be words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is I in the alphabet?
I is the ninth letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after H and before J.
Is I a vowel or a consonant?
I 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 I make?
I makes these sounds: short i as in insect; long i as in ice.
How do you write a small i?
Draw a short straight line from the middle line down to the bottom line. Put a dot above it. Small i 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 I?
Words that start with I include igloo, insect, ice, iguana, ink, island.
Why is the word I always a capital letter?
It is a spelling rule in English. Writers started capitalizing it hundreds of years ago, likely so the single small letter would not get lost on the page.
Summary
I is the ninth letter of the alphabet and is a vowel. Its main sounds are short i, long i. Capital I takes 3 strokes and small i takes 2. Next, learn the letter J.