Wh words for kindergarten like Who, What, Whip,White, Whale, How are essential for kids learning english. Help in building curiosity and build core language skills in early childhood education. Learning WH words helps kids build vocabulary, make sentences and improve speaking skills, starting from ages 1 – 2.
This blog contains wh sound worksheet with pictures, wh word exercises and wh song. Wh words activities and games, books and video reference makes the learning faster and fun.
What are the “wh” words in English ?
“Wh” words can sound different in English. This helps children learn the airy “wh” sound and understand how it is different from the regular “w” sound.
1. Voiceless /hw/ Sound
This breathy “hw” (like blowing air before “w”) appears in careful speech or Scottish/Irish accents.
- What, where, when, why, which, white, whale, wheel, whisk, whistle.
2. Simple /w/ Sound
Common in modern American and casual British English, pronounced like “w” without breath.
- What (/wut/), where (/wer/), when (/wen/), why (/wy/), wheel (/weel/), whale (/weɪl/).
3. Pure /h/ Sound
wh words that sound like h alone, often before “oo” or “o” vowels.
- Who (/huː/), whose (/huːz/), whom (/huːm/), whole (/hoʊl/), whore (/hɔːr/).
wh words phonics and tracing
“Wh” words are key digraphs in phonics for kids, blending into sounds like /hw/, /w/, or /h/. Tracing activities reinforce letter formation, sound recognition and build vocabulary in early literacy lessons.
Tracing Steps
Guide children step-by-step for proper letter formation.
- Start at the top-left dot of “W.” Draw a slant down, then up, then down again to make the first V shape. Repeat for the second V, then add a small line in the middle.
- Next, write “H.” Draw a straight line down, add a line across the middle, then draw another straight line down.
wh words for kindergarten
Kindergarteners learn best with simple “wh” words that use easy wh words sounds and familiar objects or questions. These words help build vocabulary and improve questioning skills through fun, play-based learning.
- Whip : a long rope or to mix fast.
- Wheel : round thing on a bike or car.
- Whale : big ocean animal.
- Whisk : kitchen tool for mixing.
- White : color of snow.
- Wheelchair : chair with wheels.
- Whisper : talk very softly.
- Wham : a loud, hard hit (sound word).
- Whiz : to move very fast.
- Whole : all of something.
Voiceless wh words list for kids
Voiceless “wh” words use a soft, breathy /hw/ sound like gently blowing air before saying “w” making them perfect for kindergarten phonics practice.
Kid-Friendly List
Focus on simple, imageable words for songs and flashcards.
- Whale, wheel, white, whip, whisk, whistle, wheat, when, where, what, which, why.
Digraph Simple /w/ Sound words english
Digraph “wh” words are often pronounced with a simple /w/ sound (without the breathy /hw/), especially in everyday American and informal British English.
Beginner /w/ “Wh” Words
- What, where, when, why, which.
- Wheel, white, whale, whip, whistle.
Things that start with wh
“Wh” words that begin with the digraph are ideal for words that start with wh for kindergarten phonics, helping kids learn question words and name simple, familiar objects.
3-Letter Words That Start With ‘Wh’
| Word | Meaning for Kids |
| Why | Ask for a reason |
| Who | Ask about a person |
| Wha | A sound of surprise or the start of “what” |
Example Sentence :
- Why: ____ are you happy today ?
- Who: ____ is your best friend ?
- Wha: ____ is that my gift on the table.
4 letter words starting with wh
| Word | Meaning for Kids |
| What | used to ask about things or information |
| When | used to ask about time |
| Whom | used to ask about a person |
| Whip | a tool or action used to beat or mix something quickly |
| Whir | a soft spinning or humming sound |
| Whet | to sharpen something or increase interest |
| Whop | to hit something hard |
| Whew | tired or relieved sound |
5 Letter Words That Start With ‘Wh’
| Word | Meaning for Kids |
| Whale | a very big ocean animal |
| Wheel | a round thing that helps cars, bikes, and buses move |
| White | the color of snow, milk or a cloud |
| Whisk | a kitchen tool for mixing or to move quickly |
| Whask | to hit something hard or a loud hitting sound |
| Whiff | a small smell or to try to hit and miss |
| Whirl | to spin around quickly |
| Whole | all of something, nothing missing |
| Whoop | a loud, excited shout |
| Whine | to cry or complain in a high, annoying voice |
| Whorl | a spiral shape, like on your fingertip |
6 Letter Words That Start With ‘Wh’
| Word | Meaning for Kids |
| Whiten | to make something white or clean |
| Wholly | completely or fully |
| Whimsy | playful or fun ideas |
| Whisks | mixes quickly or moves fast |
| Whines | makes a soft complaining sound |
| Whirls | spins around quickly |
| Whiffs | smells something briefly |
| Whacky | funny or a little silly |
| Whoosh | a fast, rushing sound |
| Whizzy | very fast or very good |
7 letter words starting with wh
| Word | Meaning for Kids |
| Whisper | talk very softly |
| Whimper | a sad, small cry |
| Whisker | cat’s long face hairs |
| Whistle | make music with your mouth |
| Whirled | spun around quickly |
| Whisked | moved or mixed quickly |
| Whaling | hunting whales |
| Whacked | hit something hard |
| Whopper | something very big or a big story |
8 Letter Words That Start With ‘Wh’
| Words | Meaning for Kids |
| Whatever | anything or everything |
| Whenever | at any time |
| Wherever | at any place |
| Whodunit | a story about solving a crime |
| Whiplash | a sudden strong movement of the neck |
Words with wh in the middle
- Nowhere – not in any place.
- Somewhat – a little or kind of.
- Somewhere – in some place.
- Meanwhile – at the same time.
- Elsewhere – in another place.
- Waterwheel – A spinning wheel in water.
- Pinwheel – A colorful toy that spins.
- Anywhere – any place at all.
Words that end with wh
Words that end with “wh” are very rare in English, but here are a few examples:
- Cough – to force air out of the throat.
- Tough – strong or hard.
- Enough – as much as needed.
- Rough – not smooth.
- Laugh – to make a happy sound.
wh noun clauses exercises
WH noun clauses (e.g., what, who, where) act as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences, unlike questions.
Exercise 1: Complete the Clause
Finish each sentence using the WH clause from the prompt in parentheses. Use correct word order.
- I don’t know ___________. (where / she / lives)
Answer: where she lives - Tell me ___________. (what / you / want)
Answer: what you want - The question is ___________. (why / he / left)
Answer: why he left - She forgot ___________. (when / the meeting / starts)
Answer: when the meeting starts - We discussed ___________. (who / will / lead / the project)
Answer: who will lead the project
Exercise 2: Identify the Noun Clause
Underline the WH noun clause and label its function (subject/object/complement).
- What you need is a good plan. (subject)
- I wonder where they went. (object)
- The problem is why it failed. (complement)
- He knows who broke the vase.
- Whatever happens doesn’t matter.
wh words exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each question.
- _ is your name? (What/Who)
Answer: Who - _ do you play? (Where/When)
Answer: Where - _ is your favorite color? (What/Why)
Answer: What - _ do birds fly? (How/Who)
Answer: How - _ are you happy? (When/Why)
Answer: Why
Look at the picture description and write a WH question.
- The boy eats an apple. → _ is he eating?
Answer: What - The girl runs to school. → _ is she going?
Answer: Where - It rains at night. → _ does it rain?
Answer: When
wh words in hindi
“Wh” words are question words used to ask things in English, and they also have similar meanings in Hindi.
WH Words with Hindi Meanings
| English | Hindi | Usage Example (English) | Hindi Translation |
| What | क्या | What is this? | यह क्या है? |
| Where | कहाँ | Where is the school? | स्कूल कहाँ है? |
| When | कब | When do we eat? | हम कब खाते हैं? |
| Who | कौन | Who is your friend? | तुम्हारा दोस्त कौन है? |
| Why | क्यों | Why do you cry? | तुम क्यों रोते हो? |
| Which | कौन-सा | Which book? | कौन-सी किताब? |
| Whose | किसका | Whose toy is this? | यह किसका खिलौना है? |
| Whom | किसको | Whom did you meet? | तुमने किसको मिला? |
| How | कैसे | How do you play? | तुम कैसे खेलते हो? |
wh song
Sing along to learn “wh” question words in a fun way!
🎶 What is this? What do you see?
Who is there? Is it you or me?
When do we play? In the sun so bright,
Where do we go? Morning or night?
Why do we laugh? Why do we smile?
Wh words help us learn all the while! 🎶
Activities That Will Help Your Child Learn ‘Wh’ Words
Fun, engaging activities help kids learn “wh” words (what, where, who, when, why, how) through play, making them perfect for building phonics and questioning skills in kindergarten.
1. Crossword Puzzles
Create a simple grid with “wh” clues (e.g., “Big sea animal” = WHALE). Kids fill blanks, then make questions: “What swims?” Builds spelling and word use.
2. Pretend Play
Act out farm or kitchen scenes. Ask/model: “Who milks the cow? Where’s the wheelbarrow?” Kids respond, reinforcing sounds in context.
3. Quiz
Play rapid-fire: “What’s white? (snow)” or picture quiz. Use chits kids draw for turns: “When do we eat?” Rewards correct “wh” starters.
4. Word Search Puzzles
Hide “wheel, whip, what” in grids. Circle finds, then quiz partners: “Where’s the whale?” Combines hunting with question practice.
5. Wh sound books
What and Where: The Sound of Wh (Phonics Fun! Consonant Blends and Digraphs) by Bob Noyed help 7 years old how to use wh sound.
6. Wh words for kids video
WH – Question Words I Learn English by Pebbleskids learning make the visual learning more interactive and user friendly.
FAQ’s
1. What words start with wh ?
Words that start with “wh” include common question words like what, when, where, who, and why, as well as simple words like wheel, whale, and whip.
2. What is a wh word ?
A “wh” word is a word that begins with the letters “wh” often used to ask questions, like what, where, when, who and why.
3. What is the easiest wh ?
The easiest “wh” word is usually “what” because it is simple to say, commonly used and easy for kids to understand and practice.
4. How to teach WH sound to kids ?
Teach the “wh” sound by showing kids how to gently blow air before saying /w/ (like “hw”), then practice with simple words like what and whale. Use fun activities like flashcards, songs, and question games to help them hear, say, and remember the sound easily.
5. What 5 letter word starts with wh ?
A common 5 letter word that starts with “wh” is “which.” Other examples include “while”, “white,” “where,” and “whole.”
6. What are wh sound words ?
“Wh” sound words are words that begin with the letters “wh”, like what, when, where, who, and why, and are often used to ask questions or describe things.
