Words That Start With V: Simple Word Lists for Phonics Practice
Words that start with V are really fun to practice because that /v/ sound is one kids can feel, and that sensory experience helps it stick. Try saying words like van and vest together, and have your child put a hand on their throat while they say each one. Feel that little buzz?
Jump to the full list of 50+ words that start with V! ↓
Phonics is all about connecting the sounds we hear in words to the letters we see on the page. Helping kids hear /v/ at the beginning of words like van and vest strengthens that letter-sound connection they'll use when they read.
Below, I'm sharing 50+ V words for preschool and kindergarten, plus simple tips and activities to make practicing them at home fun.
If you’re new here, hi! I’m Miss Beth, founder of Big City Readers, and host of the Play on Words podcast. Everything we teach is rooted in the Science of Reading and built around play-based strategies. I’m a firm believer that learning to read can (and should be) enjoyable for both the child and their parents!
The Letter V Can Be Tricky for Early Readers! Here’s Why
The /v/ sound and /f/ sound are made almost the same way, so it makes sense that kids sometimes mix them up. For both sounds, your top teeth gently touch your bottom lip. The BIG difference? Your voice turns on for /v/.
Try it together! Say fffff, then vvvvv with a hand on your throat. Your mouth barely changes, but you should feel a little buzz when you make the /v/ sound. That physical cue can help your child hear and remember the difference.
V is also a little unusual because English words almost never end in a single v. That's why words like have, give, and love end in -ve. In these words, the final e doesn't make the vowel long. It helps the word follow an English spelling convention.
Want help practicing words that start with V with your child? I’ve created a FREE resource that you can print or download below!
50+ Words That Start With V for Preschool & Kindergarten
Don’t worry about practicing this whole V word list at once! Start with a few familiar words, emphasize the /v/ sound, and see if your child can hear what each word has in common.
As that gets easier, pull in new words with V from the lists below or see how many your child can come up with on their own.
CVC Words With V
There are only a few familiar CVC words that begin with V, so this will be a short list! Here are two simple examples that work well for early phonics practice:
van
vet
Stretch that first sound as you practice: vvvvvan, vvvvvvet. Your child can feel the buzz, hear /v/, and connect it with the V they see on the page.
Easy V Words for Preschoolers
For preschoolers, stick with short, familiar V words whenever possible. It's much easier to practice a new letter sound when your child already knows what the word means.
vase
vest
vine
vote
view
voice
very
vent
verb
Grab a few at a time and make that first sound really obvious: vvvvvan, vvvvvest, vvvvvery.
V Words for Kindergarten
Once your child is ready for a bigger vocabulary, introduce some longer words that start with V. They don't need to be able to read every word independently yet. You can say the word first and have them listen for /v/.
value
vanilla
vanish
vacation
vacuum
vehicle
velvet
verb
verse
video
village
vision
visit
visitor
vitamin
volcano
volunteer
volume
vowel
voyage
Try mixing these with words that start with other sounds and ask, “Did you hear /v/ at the beginning?” That's great practice for isolating beginning sounds.
Things That Start With V
Concrete words are especially helpful for young kids because you can connect the sound to something they can actually picture, draw, or find.
valentine
valve
van
vase
vegetable
vehicle
vest
video
violin
visor
volleyball
Turn this list into a quick drawing game! Pick a V word, draw it together, and label the picture with a big V.
Animals & Nature Words That Start With V
There aren't nearly as many familiar V animals as there are B bears or C cats, but we can still find plenty of fun V words in nature:
valley
Venus
vine
violet
volcano
viper
vole
vulture
vegetation
Some of these words might be brand new to your child, and that's okay! Show them a picture as you say the word so they're learning new vocabulary AND listening for that beginning /v/ sound.
Fun V Words Kids Will Love
And now for the words that are just plain FUN to say! Sometimes a silly or exciting word is exactly what gets a new letter sound to stick.
vampire
vacation
valentine
veggie
video game
Viking
villain
violin
volcano
volleyball
vroom
victory
Stretch out that “vvvvv” sound as long as you can, then see if your child can think of another fun V word to add to the list!
Tips to Help Your Child Master the Letter V
Now that you have plenty of words with V to practice, we want to help your child hear that /v/ sound and connect it to the letter they see.
Here are a few simple ways to make that easier:
Turn on your voice. Have your child put a hand on their throat and say vvvvv. That little vibration is a great reminder that their voice is ON when they make the /v/ sound.
Compare V and F. Say vvvvv and fffff back and forth. Their mouth stays almost exactly the same, but only V makes that buzz!
Stretch the beginning sound. Instead of quickly saying van, try vvvvvan. Keep the sound clean: /v/, not “vuh.” This makes it easier for your child to hear the sound now and blend it into words later. You can download my Quick Guide to Sounds for simple examples that show you how to make each letter sound!
Start with words they know. Van, vet, and vest are much easier to practice than a V word they've never heard before.
Point out V in real life. Spot a V on a sign? See a van drive by? Those quick little connections give kids another chance to practice without turning it into a lesson.
Keep it short.You don't need 20 minutes of V practice. Pick three or four words, play with the sound for a few minutes, and call it a win!
Prefer more guided support? My Ready to Read course helps your child build letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and other foundational reading skills through interactive video lessons with playful activities you can do together at home.
Fun Letter Activities to Try at Home
Ready to put that V word list to work? Try one of these letter activities the next time you have a few minutes to practice together:
Go on a V hunt. Look through a favorite book or even the grocery store for the letter V. Each time you find one, make the /v/ sound together.
Play V or F? Say words like van, fish, vest, and fan. Have your child listen to the first sound and tell you whether they hear /v/ or /f/. Put a hand on your throat if they need a little clue!
VROOM through V words. Grab a toy car and choose a few V words. Every time your child hears or says /v/, the car gets to VROOM across the floor.
Build the letter V. Use play dough, craft sticks, crayons, or whatever you have nearby to make a big V. Have them say a few V words to give you the “power” to build your V.
Draw a V word. Let your child pick van, vest, volcano, or another favorite from the list and draw it. Add a big V beside the picture to reinforce the letter-sound connection.
Make a silly V sentence. How ridiculous can you make it? Victor the vampire drove a van into the volcano. It doesn't have to make sense. That's half the fun!
Want to see how I practice letter sounds through play? Watch this quick example for an easy activity you can try at home:
Letter Word Lists to Try Next
Once your child gets comfortable hearing /v/ at the beginning of words, keep building those phonics skills! You can practice another letter sound, compare similar sounds, or start helping them put individual sounds together.
Here are a few BCR resources to try next:
Words That Start With A– Grab another kid-friendly word list and keep practicing beginning sounds with familiar words.
Words With E — Discover fun E words and all the different sounds this busy little vowel can make.
Words With K — Practice finding the letter K at the beginning, middle, and end of words.
Words With S— Practice the “sss” sound with playful S words that are great for reading and spelling practice.
List of Words With Z – Explore Z words and notice how the /z/ sound buzzes, too!
Long Vowel Words With U– Practice listening for the long U sound, with easy examples and activities.
Word Blending – Ready to move beyond individual sounds? Start practicing how to blend sounds together to read simple words.
Sound Practice Worksheet – Practice listening for beginning sounds and connecting them to letters with this FREE printable.
Follow your child's lead and give them lots of chances to hear, see, and play with sounds.
Keep Building Those Letter-Sound Skills!
Practicing words that start with V isn't about memorizing every word on this list. We're helping your child hear and recognize the letter V, so they can start making that important connection between the sounds they hear and the letters they see.
Pick a few V words and try them with your child today. Say them slowly, feel that little buzz, and see if they can think of another V word all by themselves. A few minutes of playful practice each day goes a long way in building the skills kids need to read confidently.
Have any questions about practicing letter sounds? Send me a DM @bigcityreaders or leave a comment below! Then, explore our other early literacy blogs for more simple ways to practice reading skills at home:
