How it works
These sight words that begin with a are 19 common words, sorted by what the first a says: the short a of at, the quick uh of about, or something else. Each card back has a sentence.
Read the full guide
Sorted by what the a says
The page opens on seven words with the short a of cat: am, an, and, as, ask, at and after. A says uh has six where the a is a quick, quiet sound: a, about, above, again, another and away. Tricky part has six more: all, always, any, are, ate and answer.
Seven cards to start
Have the child read the word on the card, then press Show answer for the sentence on the back. From then on the print links are under the card. Under Show only are the other two sets, or pick All there to print the 19 cards on two sheets of Letter or A4.
- As ends in an s that says /z/, as has and is do. Read the three aloud.
- Say about, above and away slowly: the a is only a quick uh before the strong beat.
- The w of answer is silent. Cover it and read the word again.
Questions and answers
What are the sight words that start with a?
Our list has 19. Short a: am, an, and, as, ask, at, after. A says uh: a, about, above, again, another, away. Tricky part: all, always, any, are, ate, answer.
Does the a say the same sound in all of them?
No. It is the short a of cat in eight words, counting answer, and a quick uh in six. In all and always it says /aw/, in any the e of egg and in ate its own name. Are is said like the letter r.
Which letter a sight words are tricky?
Any, are and answer stand out. Any starts with the sound of the e in egg. Are sounds like the name of the letter r and ends in a silent e. Answer has a silent w.
Is this a published sight word list?
No. They are the a words that our own sight word pages already teach. No published list is copied and no grade is claimed, so set them beside the list your school uses.