Early sounds
P Sound
Press both lips together, build up a little air behind them, then pop them open. Nothing buzzes in the throat - /p/ is a quiet, breathy pop.
- Sound
- /p/
- Typical age
- By age 2-3
- Voicing
- Voiceless
- Type
- Bilabial stop
- Words here
- 302
How to elicit P Sound
Ways to help the child make the sound on its own, before practicing it in words.
Placement, step by step
Where the lips, tongue and teeth go.
- 1Press both lips together and hold, building up a little air behind them.
- 2Release the lips suddenly so the air pops out. No voice at all.
- 3Add a vowel straight after the pop: "puh", "pah", "pie".
Elicitation strategies
Tips to help a child say this sound. Most need more than one.
Auditory
- Say "puh, puh, puh" with an exaggerated pop, well apart from any word.
- Contrast it with "buh" so they hear that /p/ has no voice behind it.
- Minimal pairs to say back to back: pat / bat, pig / big, pack / back.
Visual
- Fully visible — the lips press flat and spring apart.
- Mirror side by side: your mouth first, then theirs, then both together.
- Exaggerate the press and hold it a beat longer than feels natural.
Gestural
- Fingertips pinched together at your lips, then flicked open as the sound pops.
- Sharp and quick — the speed of the flick is what makes it /p/ and not /m/.
- For /b/, add your other hand on your throat: one sign, one difference.
- Let them make the sign themselves; doing it cues better than watching it.
Tactile
- Hand a few inches from the mouth — the puff of air lands on the palm.
- A strip of tissue in front of the lips jumps on /p/ and barely moves on /b/.
- Fingers on the throat: /p/ is silent, /b/ buzzes.
- If the lips will not meet, chapstick rubbed between them makes the contact felt.
How to teach any soundThe practice ladder, shaping from a sound they have, and what to do when it stallsShowHide
The practice ladder
Speech practice climbs. Each step is harder than the one below it, and the jump that trips most people up is the one from single words to real talking. Work at the step where the child is right now - not the one you wish they were on.
- 1
Just the sound
“p, p, p”The sound on its own, with no word attached. If the child cannot make it here yet, this is the whole job for now.
- 2
The sound in syllables
“pa, po, pee”The sound glued to a vowel. Nonsense syllables are useful precisely because they carry no meaning - nothing to get in the way.
- 3
Words that start with it
“pig, pan, pen”The easiest place in a word, because the child gets to set up their mouth before they begin.
- 4
Words with it anywhere
“pig, apple, cup”Middle and end are harder - the sound has to be produced while the rest of the word is already moving.
- 5
Short phrases
“pop the bubble”Two or three words together. This is the first step where the child has to think about something other than the sound.
- 6
Whole sentences
“Pat put the puppy in the playpen.”A full sentence of their own. Expect the sound to slip here even though it was perfect in single words - that is normal, not backwards.
- 7
Reading and telling
“a paragraph, a story about their day”Longer stretches of talking, with the sound coming up over and over. Reading aloud is useful because the words are already chosen.
- 8
All the time
“in the car, at dinner, with friends”Real conversation with nobody reminding them. This is the goal, and the only step that actually counts as finished.
Two rules. Do not skip a step because the child is bored - go back one instead. And if the sound falls apart when you move up, that is information, not failure: drop down a rung, get a few easy wins, and try again in a day or two.
Start with a sound they already know
- /b/
- /m/
Both are the same lip closure with one thing different. From /b/, whisper it — turn the voice off and the pop is a /p/. From /m/, hold the hum, then pinch the nose so the air has to leave through the lips instead.
If it is not working
If a sound has not responded to several weeks of consistent work, stop and reconsider the target rather than drilling harder. There could be structural reasons a sound will not stabilize, and those need looking at before more practice will help.
Where this guidance comes from
- ASHA Practice Portal — Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology — Treatment framework, cue taxonomy, and named treatment approaches.
- ASHA Practice Portal — Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders — Why a resting tongue posture or open bite may need addressing before sibilant therapy.
- Boyce (2015), Articulatory Phonetics for Residual Speech Sound Disorders: A Focus on /r/ — Bunched versus retroflex /r/, the obligatory pharyngeal constriction, and /r/ error patterns.
- Shriberg (1978), Utilization of the "Straw Technique" for Correction of the Lateral Lisp (LSHSS) — A straw at the midline as a tactile cue for lateral /s/.
Print it
Free to print, copy and share. No account needed.
Initial P
115 wordsThe sound is at the beginning of the word.
1 Syllable52 words
- pig
- pan
- pen
- pot
- pop
- park
- peach
- pear
- pie
- pool
- push
- pull
- paint
- pair
- pants
- paw
- pea
- peas
- peek
- peel
- pet
- pick
- pin
- pink
- pipe
- poke
- pond
- porch
- post
- pouch
- pound
- pour
- purse
- palm
- page
- pail
- patch
- path
- peak
- pearl
- pest
- pier
- pitch
- pod
- pole
- pup
- purr
- pad
- part
- put
- pass
- point
2 Syllables54 words
- pizza
- puppy
- pumpkin
- purple
- pencil
- penny
- paper
- pillow
- pony
- popcorn
- puzzle
- pancake
- panda
- parade
- parent
- parrot
- party
- pasta
- peanut
- pedal
- people
- pepper
- picnic
- picture
- pilot
- pirate
- pitcher
- poem
- police
- poodle
- powder
- pudding
- puddle
- puppet
- palace
- paddle
- panther
- patient
- peacock
- pebble
- perfume
- petal
- pickle
- pigeon
- pixie
- possum
- poster
- puma
- putty
- parking
- porridge
- popping
- penguin
3 Syllables8 words
- piano
- pelican
- pineapple
- pyramid
- pajamas
- polka dot
- porcupine
- potato
4 Syllables1 words
- peanut butter
High-frequency initial P words
Some of these also sit in the lists above, and none of them are picture-card words - which is exactly why most lists leave them out. They are the words the child already says hundreds of times a day — so they carry more carryover value than any noun on this page. Target them in conversation, not in drill.
- put
- perhaps
- pull
- piece
- paid
- putting
- picked
- pulled
- paying
- paint
- painting
- pushed
- puts
- pushing
- pays
- painted
- picks
- pulls
- pouring
- poured
- pushes
- paints
- pours
Medial P
91 wordsThe sound is in the middle of the word.
2 Syllables67 words
- apple
- happy
- puppy
- zipper
- paper
- napkin
- open
- copy
- hippo
- super
- carpet
- teapot
- slipper
- popcorn
- airplane
- cupcake
- tiptoe
- chipmunk
- apart
- captain
- copper
- helping
- hopping
- jumping
- keeping
- leopard
- lipstick
- magpie
- mopping
- napping
- pepper
- puppet
- rapid
- ripple
- shopping
- sleeping
- stepping
- supper
- surprise
- tapping
- topping
- typing
- upon
- upper
- upset
- wiping
- chapter
- dripping
- flipper
- maple
- repair
- repeat
- ripping
- shepherd
- shipping
- skipping
- snapping
- stopping
- upstairs
- wrapper
- popping
- hoping
- shampoo
- grumpy
- diaper
- soapy
- toothpaste
3 Syllables20 words
- popsicle
- wallpaper
- computer
- peppermint
- opossum
- apartment
- capital
- carpenter
- grasshopper
- paperclip
- stapler
- apricot
- copycat
- hospital
- newspaper
- recipe
- sandpaper
- September
- octopus
- zookeeper
4 Syllables4 words
- caterpillar
- helicopter
- superhero
- supermarket
High-frequency medial P words
Some of these also sit in the lists above, and none of them are picture-card words - which is exactly why most lists leave them out. They are the words the child already says hundreds of times a day — so they carry more carryover value than any noun on this page. Target them in conversation, not in drill.
- happened
- open
- happen
- supposed
- happens
- happening
- suppose
- especially
- sleeping
- upon
- helping
- upstairs
- keeping
- empty
- hoping
- grandpa
- opened
- opens
- opening
- stopping
- dropping
- jumping
- sleepy
- clapping
- supposes
Final P
96 wordsThe sound is at the end of the word.
1 Syllable80 words
- cup
- up
- mop
- top
- map
- cap
- soap
- rope
- sheep
- jeep
- tape
- lip
- chip
- hop
- stop
- sleep
- grape
- ship
- keep
- jump
- help
- sharp
- wipe
- shape
- stamp
- harp
- camp
- cheap
- clap
- creep
- crop
- deep
- drip
- drop
- flap
- flip
- gulp
- hip
- hoop
- lamp
- leap
- loop
- nap
- pipe
- pump
- ramp
- rip
- ripe
- scoop
- shop
- sip
- skip
- slip
- snap
- soup
- step
- stripe
- sweep
- swipe
- tip
- trap
- trip
- wrap
- zip
- chirp
- clip
- crisp
- group
- pup
- shrimp
- snip
- stoop
- strip
- stump
- swamp
- whoop
- yelp
- cape
- chop
- pop
2 Syllables13 words
- tulip
- gallop
- hiccup
- hilltop
- jump rope
- ketchup
- rooftop
- syrup
- teacup
- tiptop
- turnip
- workshop
- asleep
3 Syllables3 words
- envelope
- lollipop
- tabletop
High-frequency final P words
Some of these also sit in the lists above, and none of them are picture-card words - which is exactly why most lists leave them out. They are the words the child already says hundreds of times a day — so they carry more carryover value than any noun on this page. Target them in conversation, not in drill.
- up
- help
- stop
- hope
- sleep
Phrases, sentences and reading
Using the sound in longer stretches of talking, once single words are easy.
Phrases 12
Most of these carry two targets, so each one is two chances to practice.
- pop the bubble
- a purple pen
- my paper plate
- pizza party
- pick a pear
- put it up
- a paper cup
- please pass the peas
- pink popcorn
- a puppy on the porch
- keep the top
- a pocket full of pennies
Sentences 12
- 1.Pat put the puppy in the playpen.
- 2.Please pass me a paper plate.
- 3.The puppy popped the purple bubble.
- 4.Peter picked a pear and a peach.
- 5.My pocket is full of pennies.
- 6.Pour the popcorn into the paper cup.
- 7.The panda took a nap on the porch.
- 8.Pam painted a picture of a pink pig.
- 9.Keep the pizza on the plate, please.
- 10.Pull up the zipper on my jacket.
- 11.The pilot parked the plane by the pump.
- 12.Put the puzzle pieces in the paper bag.
Reading passage
The Pizza Party
Poppy planned a pizza party for her puppy. She put paper plates on the picnic table and piled up popcorn, peaches and purple grapes. The puppy jumped up, pushed the plate, and the pepperoni pizza plopped on the porch. Poppy laughed and picked it up. "Nice try," she said. "Next time we keep the pizza on the tabletop."
Phonological awareness
Hearing and playing with the sounds inside words — the listening skill that reading is built on.
Rhyming
Word families built on words from the list above. Say the family out loud, then ask for one more that fits.
-ig family
pig, big, dig, rig, wig, fig, twig, jig
-an family
pan, can, man, than, plan, ran, van, fan
-en family
pen, when, then, men, ten, den, hen
-ot family
pot, got, lot, hot, rot, dot, knot
-op family
pop, top, drop, chop, hop, crop, mop
-ark family
park, dark, bark, lark
Syllable counting and blending
Clap or tap once per syllable. To blend, say the parts with a gap and let the child put the word back together.
- pig1
- pizza2
- piano3
- peanut butter4
- pan1
- puppy2
- pelican3
- caterpillar4
Sound blending
You say the separate sounds, the child says the word. Start with the two- and three-sound words.
- /p/ /eye/pie
- /p/ /aw/paw
- /p/ /ee/pea
- /p/ /er/purr
- /uh/ /p/up
- /p/ /i/ /g/pig
- /p/ /a/ /n/pan
- /p/ /e/ /n/pen
- /p/ /ah/ /t/pot
- /p/ /ah/ /p/pop
- /p/ /ee/ /ch/peach
- /p/ /e/ /r/pear
Sound segmenting
The reverse, and the harder one. You say the word, the child breaks it into its separate sounds.
- pie/p/ /eye/
- paw/p/ /aw/
- pea/p/ /ee/
- purr/p/ /er/
- up/uh/ /p/
- pig/p/ /i/ /g/
- pan/p/ /a/ /n/
- pen/p/ /e/ /n/
- pot/p/ /ah/ /t/
- pop/p/ /ah/ /p/
- peach/p/ /ee/ /ch/
- pear/p/ /e/ /r/
Generalization
Word lists get a sound into a child’s mouth. Generalization is what gets it into their life. These are activities where the target words come up on their own, so nobody has to be talked into practicing.
Play-based ideas for young children
Bubbles
Blow a few, then model the word as you dip the wand again - "pop", "more", "up". Say it for them before they have to say it themselves. Let them pop bubbles with a finger, an elbow, a toe.
Words that come up
pop, up, please, more, open, help, big, bubble, pop it, my turn, purple, puff, top, stop
Puppet snack time
Feed a puppet pretend food. Let the puppet be a picky eater who spits things out with a loud "PLEH!" Kids will feed it the same thing over and over just to hear it.
Words that come up
puppet, pizza, popcorn, apple, grape, pear, cup, spit, please, open, up, more, nope, yuck, soup
Pop-up and knock-down
Stack paper cups into a tower and knock them down with a beanbag. Count them up, then name what each cup is hiding underneath.
Words that come up
cup, up, top, tip, drop, oops, pile, help, push, jump, pick up, one more, my turn, stop
Conversation and verbal games for older kids
Pizza topping debate
Argue for the perfect pizza. Every topping is a target, and so is the word "topping" itself. Take turns adding one and defending it.
Words that come up
pizza, pepperoni, pineapple, peppers, topping, pile, crispy, perfect, please, nope, appetite, supper
Twenty questions: playground
Think of playground or park equipment. Slide, swing, hopscotch, jump rope, sandpit - the /p/ words come out in the guesses, not just the answers.
Words that come up
playground, park, hopscotch, jump rope, spin, up, top, push, playtime, pool, path, puddle
Spot the plan
Describe a plan for the weekend in three steps: first, next, last. Plans, trips, parties and practice are all high-/p/ topics.
Words that come up
plan, first, next, last, trip, party, practice, pack, prepare, hoping, stop, open
Play it
- Patchy's Slides & LaddersRoll, count your way along, say the word. Ladders climb; land on Patchy and slide back down.Choose position and play
- Enchanted ForestBeat dragons, trolls and witches at rock, paper, scissors on the way to the finish.Choose position and play
- Crazy EightsMatch the color or the animal, say the word to play the card, go out first.Choose position and play
- Build a CreatureMix heads, bodies, tails, wings and extras into something silly. Two words per part.Choose position and play
- Color PatchyColor him in one piece at a time. Every area costs one word.Choose position and play
- Sticker ScenePick a place, then drag people, things and clothes onto it. Best game for phrases and sentences.Choose position and play
Each game opens with P Sound selected. Choose a word position before playing. Score every production with Yes! or Not quite and a percentage appears at the bottom. Nothing is sent anywhere, and nothing is saved beyond this browser.