Spelling: Words Beginning with 'c' and 'k'

The 'k' phoneme can be spelt with a 'c' or a 'k' at the beginning of a word.

cat and kitten

There are rules that can help us know whether to choose 'c' or 'k'.

If the second letter of the word is 'e' or 'i' then we use 'k'.

kettle

kitchen

If the second letter is 'a', 'o' or 'u' then we use 'c'.

camera

coffee

cup

If the second letter of the word is a consonant (a letter that is not a vowel) then we use 'c'.

clip

crash

Some words do begin ce- or ci-, but in these words the 'c' sounds like 's'.

cereal

circle