Speech sounds by age
Hear each speech sound said clearly, with example words and games. Grouped by the age most children learn them.
Designed with input from a registered New Zealand speech-language therapist.
Around 2–3 years
Sounds many children can say by about 2–3 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
Around 3–4 years
Sounds many children can say by about 3–4 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
Around 4–5 years
Sounds many children can say by about 4–5 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
- CH as in chipchip, chop, chairListen →
- CL as in clockclock, climb, clapListen →
- FL as in flyfly, flower, flagListen →
- GL as in glueglue, glad, glowListen →
- J as in jumpjump, jet, jamListen →
- L as in leafleaf, look, loveListen →
- PL as in planeplane, play, pleaseListen →
- S as in sunsun, sand, singListen →
- SH as in shoeshoe, ship, shopListen →
- SK as in skysky, skip, skinListen →
- SL as in slideslide, slow, sleepListen →
- SM as in smilesmile, small, smoothListen →
- SN as in snakesnake, snap, snailListen →
- SP as in spiderspider, spin, spellListen →
- ST as in starstar, stop, stickListen →
- SW as in swimswim, swing, sweetListen →
- TW as in twintwin, twelve, twirlListen →
- V as in vanvan, vet, vineListen →
- Z as in zoozoo, zip, zeroListen →
Around 5–6 years
Sounds many children can say by about 5–6 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
Around 5–7 years
Sounds many children can say by about 5–7 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
- FR as in freefree, frog, freshListen →
- SCR as in screamscream, scratch, screwListen →
- SPL as in splashsplash, split, splatListen →
- SPR as in springspring, spray, spreadListen →
- SQU as in squaresquare, squeeze, squeakListen →
- STR as in streetstreet, string, strikeListen →
- TR as in treetree, train, truckListen →
- ZH as in measuremeasure, treasure, televisionListen →
Around 6–7 years
Sounds many children can say by about 6–7 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
Around 6–8 years
Sounds many children can say by about 6–8 years. This is a rough guide, not a rule.
This is practice, not therapy. If you're worried about your child's speech, talk to a speech-language therapist or your GP.