Words Ending in -le
Learn the quiet -le ending that sounds like 'ul', in words like apple, table and turtle. A spelling lesson for ages 5-7 with word-building games.
Key takeaways
- The ending -le sounds like a quiet 'ul'
- Lots of words end this way: apple, little, table, turtle
- Listen for the 'ul' sound at the very end of the word
The quiet 'ul' ending
Say the word apple 🍎. Listen to the end. It sounds like ap-pul, doesn't it? That ending is spelled -le.
The -le ending is sneaky. It sounds like a quiet ul, but we write the letters the other way round: l then e.
- apple 🍎
- table 🪑
- little 🐭
- turtle 🐢
Read these -le words
Say each word and clap the parts. The last part is always that quiet ul.
- candle 🕯️ (can-dul)
- bubble 🫧 (bub-bul)
- jungle 🌴 (jun-gul)
- purple 💜 (pur-pul)
- whistle 🪈 (whis-ul)
A word list to read
| Word | Sounds like |
|---|---|
| apple 🍎 | ap-pul |
| table 🪑 | tay-bul |
| little 🐭 | lit-tul |
| turtle 🐢 | tur-tul |
| candle 🕯️ | can-dul |
How to spell -le words
When a word ends with that quiet ul sound, try this:
- Listen for ul at the very end.
- Most of the time, write the letters -le (l before e).
- Watch for a double letter before it: apple, little, bubble.
Well done!
Now you can read and spell words that end in -le. Listen for the quiet ul and write -le!
Next, try Double Consonants in Words and Clapping Syllables.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
How does the ending -le sound?
The -le ending makes a quiet 'ul' sound, like in apple. 🍎
Which word ends in -le?
Table ends in -le and sounds like 'tay-bul'. 🪑
Finish the word: litt___
We write it little, with the -le ending. 🐭
Play & learn
Build the word +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
Match the picture to the -le word +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
FAQ
At the end of a word, the letters -le make a soft 'ul' sound with almost no vowel, as in apple, little and turtle.
The -le spelling is the most common, as in table, candle and bubble. A few words use -el, like camel and tunnel.
Keep exploring
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