Letter K: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
K is the 11th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after J and before L. K is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is K and the small (lowercase) letter is k.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter K at a Glance
| Position | 11th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | K k |
| Comes between | J and L |
| Main sounds | k, silent k |
| Strokes to write it | Capital K: 3 · small k: 2 |
How to Write Capital K and Small k
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 K (3 strokes)
- Draw a straight line down on the left.
- From the top right, draw a slanted line in to the middle of the first line.
- From that same point, draw a slanted line out to the bottom right.
Small k (2 strokes)
- Draw a tall straight line from the top line down to the bottom line.
- From the middle line on the right, draw a short slanted line in to the middle of the tall line.
- Then draw a short slanted line out to the bottom line.
Small k is a tall letter: it reaches up toward the top line, like b, d and h.
Common mix-up: K and C often make the same sound, which can make spelling tricky. At the end of short words, the k sound is often spelled -ck, as in duck and sock.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter K 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 K and k alone.
What Sound Does K Make?
- k: made at the back of your mouth with a puff of air, no voice. Examples: kite, king, kangaroo, book.
- silent k: no sound before n at the start of a word. Examples: knee, knife, know, knot.
Practice the sound with pictures on K is for Kite, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With K
K is for Kite! Here are more K words:
K also appears in the middle or at the end of words: book, duck, snake, pink, monkey.
Interesting Facts About K
- The K in knee, knife and know is silent. Hundreds of years ago, people did say it.
- The letter K comes from an ancient symbol for the palm of a hand.
Quick Quiz: Letter K
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after K?
L.
Is the k silent in kite or in knee?
In knee.
Which two letters often spell the k sound at the end of a short word, as in duck?
c and k together (ck).
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Take the class outside (or use a picture) to fly a kite while chanting "K is for kite!" Then hop around the room like kangaroos, calling out other K words along the way.
At Home
Hunt for keys around the house — a door key, a toy key, a piano key — while saying "K is for key." Afterward, trace the letter K together on paper, pointing out its sharp, straight lines.
Tips
Parents: Since K and hard C make the same sound, don't worry if your child mixes up which letter starts a word like "cat" or "kite" — that will sort itself out with more reading exposure.
Teachers: K pairs well with a "kitchen" theme — kids enjoy pretend cooking activities that reinforce the letter naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is K in the alphabet?
K is the 11th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after J and before L.
Is K a vowel or a consonant?
K 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 K make?
K makes these sounds: k as in kite; silent k as in knee.
How do you write a small k?
Draw a tall straight line from the top line down to the bottom line. From the middle line on the right, draw a short slanted line in to the middle of the tall line. Then draw a short slanted line out to the bottom line. Small k is a tall letter: it reaches up toward the top line, like b, d and h.
What are some words that start with K?
Words that start with K include kite, king, kangaroo, key, kitten, koala.
Should a word start with C or K?
There is a helpful pattern: use k before e, i or y (kite, key) and c before a, o or u (cat, cot, cup). There are exceptions, so reading lots of words helps.
Summary
K is the 11th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are k, silent k. Capital K takes 3 strokes and small k takes 2. Next, learn the letter L.