Rhyming words are words that have the same ending sound. The letters at the end may look the same or different, but the sound is the same. Rhymes are often used in poems, songs, and stories to make them fun and easy to remember.
Rhyming words have the same sound at the end, not necessarily the same spelling. Listen carefully to the ending sounds, not just how the words look.
Recognizing rhymes helps children develop phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and work with sounds in words. This is a key skill for learning to read and spell.
Practice rhyming with everyday objects. For example, ask, "What rhymes with cup?" and encourage answers like pup or sup.
To find rhyming words, focus on the ending sound of each word. Ignore the first part of the word and listen to the final part. If the ending sounds match, the words rhyme.
Some words may look similar but do not rhyme. For example, cough and though end with different sounds even though they both end in "ough".
Rhymes can be exact or near (also called slant rhymes). Exact rhymes have the same ending sound, while near rhymes have similar but not identical sounds.
Near rhymes still help children notice patterns in sounds, even if the sounds are not an exact match.
Say a word and have children take turns thinking of a word that rhymes with it. Keep going until no one can think of more rhymes.
Write words on cards and have children sort them into groups of rhymes.
Read a sentence or poem with a missing rhyming word and let children fill in the blank with a rhyming match.
Games, songs, and playful challenges make rhyming practice enjoyable and memorable.
Understanding these terms will help you better explain and recognize rhymes when reading or listening to stories.
Rhyming skills help build a strong foundation for reading and writing. The more you practice, the easier it will be to spot and create rhymes.