In Jolly Phonics, the phonics c sound is taught together with k as a single sound — they open Group 2 (c k e h r m d) and are usually introduced around age four to five, right after the last Group 1 sound, /n/.
This guide covers how to make the sound, the finger-snapping action, the c/k/ck spelling rule, word lists, blending practice, and a free tracing worksheet for both letters.
Download the Free Jolly Phonics 42 Sounds Chart
Get all 42 Jolly Phonics letter sounds on one free printable chart PDF — in teaching order with an example word for every sound.
c, k and ck word lists
Spelling this sound is mostly predictable: use c before a, o or u (cat, cot, cup), use k before e or i (kit, key), and use ck right after a short vowel at the end of a word (back, sock, duck).
Beginning:
- cat
- cot
- cup
- car
- can
- kid
- kit
- key
Middle:
- bacon
- jacket
- chicken
- cracker
- rocket
End:
- back
- sock
- duck
- pack
- kick
- neck
A cookie story for hard c and k
Danny’s baby brother is three years old and loves cookies more than anything. This morning he toddles into the kitchen asking for “ookies” instead of cookies. “Say it with me: c-c-cookie,” Danny says, tapping his own chin. His brother giggles and tries again, and this time a clear /c/ sound pops out at the start of the word. Danny claps and calls their cat over for a little kitchen dance.
How to make the hard c / k sound
The hard c / k sound is a voiceless stop made at the back of the mouth: the back of the tongue presses against the soft palate and releases with a small puff of air, with no voice. Keep it short — “c”, not “cuh”. This sound is written with several different graphemes (letter patterns) depending on where it falls in a word.
Jolly Phonics teaches this sound with a snapping action: raise your hands and snap your fingers like castanets while saying ck ck ck. If your child cannot snap yet, tapping two fingers together works just as well. Here it is in action:
The main mix-up is with g, the voiced twin of c/k (cap vs. gap) — have your child feel whether their throat buzzes (g) or stays quiet (c). Soft c, as in city, ice and pencil, is a completely different /s/ sound taught much later, so do not introduce it yet.
4 hands-on ways to practice c and k
- Sound hunt (2 minutes): find things that start with /c/ or /k/ around the house — a cup, a car key, a cookie, a kite.
- Listen-and-mark game (3 minutes): read a mixed list of words and have your child mark or clap only when they hear /c/ or /k/.
- Tracing practice (5 minutes): trace both worksheets below, saying ck ck ck with each stroke.
- Blend and match (4 minutes): use the flashcards below to build words like cat or back. The full phonics phase 2 flashcards set has more combinations.
Blending c, k and ck sounds into words
Blend each sound smoothly into the next:
- c-a-t → cat
- c-u-p → cup
- k-i-d → kid
- b-a-ck → back
- d-u-ck → duck
Watch out for soft c: in words like city, ice and pencil, the letter c actually makes an /s/ sound, not the hard c/k sound in this guide. That is a different rule taught later, so skip those words for now.
How c and k fit into Group 2
c and k open Group 2, right after the /n/ sound that closes Group 1, and are followed by the /e/ sound. See how all six Group 2 sounds connect in our Jolly Phonics complete guide.
Tracing practice for c and k
Because this lesson covers two letters, print both tracing pages below, or find the full sets here: Letter C c Tracing Worksheets and Letter Kk Tracing Worksheets.
Frequently asked questions
Why are c and k taught as the same sound?
Both letters make the exact same hard sound, so Jolly Phonics introduces them together to save time and avoid confusion.
When do children learn the letters c and k?
They open Group 2 of Jolly Phonics, usually taught around age four to five, right after the last Group 1 sound, n.
What is the difference between hard c and soft c?
Hard c sounds like k, as in cat. Soft c sounds like s, as in city or ice, and is a different rule taught later.
When should ck be used instead of c or k?
Use ck right after a short vowel at the end of a word, as in back, sock and duck.
