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Hard & Soft 'c' Sounds

English Language: KS3, topic 1.1.9

Hard ‘c’ Sounds

Words that are spelt with a ‘c’ are pronounced with either a 'k' sound (which sounds hard) or an 's' sound (which sounds soft).

‘k’ sound

‘k’ sound

  • If the word that is spelt with a ’c’ has an ‘a’, ‘u’ or ‘o’ straight after the 'c', the 'c' makes a 'k' sound.
  • 'Cat' is pronounced with a 'k' sound.
  • 'Catch' is pronounced with a 'k' sound.
  • 'Curtain' is pronounced with a 'k' sound.
  • 'Cucumber' is pronunced with a 'k' sound.
  • 'Community' is pronunced with a 'k' sound.
  • 'Computer' is pronunced with a 'k' sound.
'cc'

'cc'

  • For a 'cc' in a word to form a 'k' sound, all of the following must be true:
  • The word has more than 1 syllable.
  • The 'cc' sound is in-between 2 vowels.
  • The 1st vowel is a short sound.
    • E.g. occupy, succulent, tobacco.
'k'

'k'

  • The 'k' sound is spelt with a 'k' if:
  • The 'k' sound follows a consonant or a long vowel.
  • Or the 'k' sound follows a long vowel sound.
    • E.g. milk, make, tank, soak, bark.

The Hard ‘c’ Sound from a 'ck'

Words that are spelt with a ‘c’ are pronounced with either a 'k' sound (which sounds hard) or an 's' sound (which sounds soft).

'ck'

'ck'

  • If a word has one syllable and the 'k' sound comes after a short vowel sound, then the 'k' sound is spelt ‘ck’.
  • 'Sack' is one syllable and the 'c' comes after a short vowel sound so 'ck' is used.
  • 'Back' is one syllable and the 'c' comes after a short vowel sound so 'ck' is used.
  • 'Clock' is one syllable and the 'c' comes after a short vowel sound so 'ck' is used.
'ck'

'ck'

  • 'ck' is used instead of 'cc' if the letter after the 'k' sound is a ‘y’, ‘e’, or ‘i’.
  • E.g. lucky, blackest, picking, ticking.

Soft 'c' Sounds

Words that are spelt with a ‘c’ are pronounced with either a 'k' sound (which sounds hard) or an 's' sound (which sounds soft).

'c' followed by an 'e'

'c' followed by an 'e'

  • You pronounce 'c' with an 's' sound if the ‘c’ has an ‘e’ straight after. For example:
  • Celery.
  • Ceiling.
  • Receive.
  • Receipt.
  • Censored.
'c' followed by an 'i'

'c' followed by an 'i'

  • You pronounce 'c' with an 's' sound if the ‘c’ has an ‘i’ straight after. For example:
  • Pencil.
  • Circle.
  • Precise.
'c' followed by a 'y'

'c' followed by a 'y'

  • You pronounce 'c' with an 's' sound if the ‘c’ has an ‘y’ straight after. For example:
  • Cycle.
  • Cyclops.

Test yourself on Hard & Soft 'c' Sounds

  • When does 'cc' in a word sound like a 'k', as in 'succulent'?

  • Which of these is the correct spelling of a word that describes a hot drink that contains caffeine?

  • Which of these is the correct spelling of a word that describes a place you would go to talk about saving money?

  • How do you spell the item of clothing you put on your foot under your shoe?

  • Which of these is the correct spelling of a word that would describe someone who had been running through mud?

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