Initial Short A Words for Speech Therapy

Initial Short A Words are words that start with the short A sound, such as at, as, and an. This list has 14 initial-position Short A words for speech therapy practice, and most children master the short A sound by age 3.

Short A words at the beginning: at, as, an, am, after, ask, actually, asked, answer, asking — plus 4 more below. Initial position means the word opens on the vowel itself, with no consonant in front of it to shape the mouth first — the clearest place to hear whether the vowel is on target.

Words:14
Position:Initial

Initial Short A Words — Full List (14 Words)

Every word below starts with the short A sound. Work through five at a time rather than the whole list in one sitting.

atasanamafteraskactuallyaskedansweraskingabsolutelyactalafternoon
Practice these words with games

How to Practice Initial Short A Words at Home

Strategies for practicing the short A sound at the beginning of words.

1

These words open on the vowel itself, with no consonant in front of it. Say the short A sound on its own first, then carry straight on into the rest of "at" without stopping in between.

2

Use a mirror. A vowel is made by how open the jaw is and how the lips and tongue sit, not by a contact your child can feel, so watching the mouth is the clearest feedback available.

3

Practice minimal pairs — two words that differ only in this vowel. Hearing the pair back to back shows a child exactly what has to change, which a single word never does.

4

Go by sound, not spelling. English writes the short A sound several different ways, so read the words aloud together rather than teaching them as a spelling pattern.

5

Play "I Spy" with the sound rather than the letter: anything whose name begins with the short A sound counts.

Initial Short A Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of Short A words in the initial position?
This page lists 14 Short A words that start with the short A sound, including at, as, an, am, after, ask, actually, asked, answer, asking.
What age should a child master the Short A sound?
Most children master the short A sound by age 3. Vowels come in earlier than most consonants: children generally have their full vowel system before the late-developing consonants such as /R/, /S/ and /TH/. Vowel errors are far less common than consonant errors, so one that is still there in a school-age child is worth raising with a speech-language pathologist.
How do you make the Short A sound?
Cue it as the "cat sound" and pair it with a wide-open mouth. If it sounds like "eh" (bed for bad), ask for a bigger jaw drop and a slightly longer sound.
What are common Short A sound errors?
The most common short A errors are: Substituting the short E sound (Short E as in bed) for the short A sound.; Substituting the broad A sound (Broad A as in father) for the short A sound..
How do you practice initial Short A words at home?
These words open on the vowel itself, with no consonant in front of it. Say the short A sound on its own first, then carry straight on into the rest of "at" without stopping in between. Use a mirror. A vowel is made by how open the jaw is and how the lips and tongue sit, not by a contact your child can feel, so watching the mouth is the clearest feedback available.

More Short A Word Lists & Resources

Practice the short A sound in the other word positions, or use the full sound guide and word list.

Medial Short A Words

14 words with tips

Short A Sound Guide

How to make it, common errors, FAQ

All Short A Words

Complete 28-word list, all positions

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each sound should appear

Speech Therapy Games

Practice Short A words with interactive activities

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