Ck
Hard C
C makes the /k/ sound before A, O, U, or a consonant, like in 'cat' and 'cup'.
How this rule works
The letter C makes the hard /k/ sound when followed by A, O, U, or a consonant. This is the default C sound. Examples: cat, cup, coat, cold, crab, class.
Remember: C says K before A, O, U — cat, cup, coat!
Examples
Words that use this rule
660 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.
abcsabstractionacademyactionacuityadvancementsaestheticaestheticsaffectionafricaallegoricalamerica'samericanarabicarcadearchaeologicalarchitecturearticulatearticulatesarticulationarticulatoryartisticastrophysicalastropoliticalatmosphericatticauctionautomaticbalconiesbalconybarbecuebasicbecamebecausebecomebecomesbookcasebrightnesscontrastcabcabincactuscafcafscagecakecake'scakescalfcallcalledcallercallingcallscalmcalmedcalmlycamecamelcameracampcampaigncampedcampercampgroundcampingcancan'tcanalcandidatecandidatescandlecandycanecannotcanoecanonicalcanscapcapablecapacitycapecapitalcapscaptaincapturecapturedcapturescarcarboncardcardboardcarecaredcareercarefulcarefullycarelesscarelessnesscaringcarpcarpetcarriedcarriercarriescarrotcarrycarryingcartcartooncartridgecarvecarvedcarvingcasecasescashcastcastingcastlecatcatchcatchercatchingcaterpillarcatnipcatscaughtcausecausedcausingcautioncautiouslycavecharacteristicchemicalchemicallychemicalschicchocolatechromaticcinematiccirculationcivicclassicclassicalcliniccoachcoachedcoachingcoalcoarsecoastcoatcoatedcoatingcobcockcodcodecodingcoffeecogcognitivecoherencecoilcoincoin'scoldcoldercoldlycoldnesscollapsecollapsedcollapsescollectcollectedcollectioncollectivecollegecolonialcolorcoloredcolorfulcoloringcolorscolorshiftingcolourcolumncombcombatcombedcombinationcombinecombinedcombinescombingcomecomescomfortcomfortable
Exceptions
Before E, I, or Y, C makes the soft /s/ sound (city, face).
What is SnapPhonics?
A phonics reference for teachers, parents and learners. Every English word, broken into the sounds that make it — with audio, syllables, and the rule behind each spelling.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.