Letter T: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
T is the 20th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after S and before U. T is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is T and the small (lowercase) letter is t.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter T at a Glance
| Position | 20th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | T t |
| Comes between | S and U |
| Main sounds | t, th, sh in -tion, silent t |
| Strokes to write it | Capital T: 2 · small t: 2 |
How to Write Capital T and Small t
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 T (2 strokes)
- Start at the top in the middle. Draw a straight line down.
- Draw a line across the top.
Small t (2 strokes)
- Start just below the top line. Draw a straight line down to the bottom line.
- Draw a short line across at the middle line.
Small t is a tall letter, but a little shorter than b, d and h: it starts just below the top line, and its cross sits on the dashed middle line.
Common mix-up: Lowercase t can be mixed up with f and with the plus sign. In t, the line across sits at the middle line, and there is no curve at the top.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter T 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 T and t alone.
What Sound Does T Make?
- t: made by tapping your tongue behind your top teeth with a small puff of air, no voice. Examples: top, tiger, turtle, cat.
- th: t and h together make two sounds: a quiet one and a buzzing one. Examples: thin, thumb (quiet); this, that (buzzing).
- sh in -tion: at the end of many longer words, -tion says shun. Examples: nation, station, lotion.
- silent t: sometimes T makes no sound at all. Examples: listen, castle, often, whistle.
Practice the sound with pictures on T is for Tap, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With T
T is for Tiger! Here are more T words:
T also appears in the middle or at the end of words: cat, hat, butterfly, kite, boat.
Interesting Facts About T
- T is the second most common letter in written English, after E, because it appears in very common words like the, to, it and that.
- The letter T comes from an ancient symbol that looked like a mark or a cross. It has kept almost the same simple shape for thousands of years.
- T and D are made in the same place in the mouth. D uses your voice, T does not.
- T often teams up with other letters to start words, like tr in tree and train, and st in star and stop.
Quick Quiz: Letter T
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right before T?
S.
Is th in thumb the quiet sound or the buzzing sound?
The quiet sound. The buzzing sound is in this and that.
Which word has a silent t: listen or tiger?
Listen. You don't hear the t.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Prowl around like tigers while chanting "T is for tiger!" Then set a pretend table with paper plates and cups, calling out other T words the class can think of.
At Home
Take a walk to look at a tree together while saying "T is for tree." Afterward, trace the letter T on paper — since it's just two straight lines, it's a quick, satisfying letter to master.
Tips
Parents: T is a great letter to pair with I and L for tracing practice since all three use only straight lines.
Teachers: T pairs well with a train theme — chugging around the room while saying "T is for train" gets kids moving while they learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is T in the alphabet?
T is the 20th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after S and before U.
Is T a vowel or a consonant?
T 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 T make?
T makes these sounds: t as in top; th as in thin; sh in -tion as in nation; silent t as in listen.
How do you write a small t?
Start just below the top line. Draw a straight line down to the bottom line. Draw a short line across at the middle line. Small t is a tall letter, but a little shorter than b, d and h: it starts just below the top line, and its cross sits on the dashed middle line.
What are some words that start with T?
Words that start with T include tiger, turtle, tree, train, tomato, teddy bear.
When is the letter T silent?
T is silent in some words, like listen, castle, often and whistle. These spellings come from older ways of saying the words.
Why does small t look like a cross?
Small t is a tall straight line with a short line crossing it at the middle line. The cross is lower than the top bar on capital T, which is how you can tell them apart.
Summary
T is the 20th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are t, th, sh in -tion, silent t. Capital T takes 2 strokes and small t takes 2. Next, learn the letter U.