Home > English Language Arts Worksheets > Phonics > Add and Subtract Phonemes

A phoneme is a distinct unit of sound within a given language, made up of either single letters or letter combinations. These units of sound help distinguish similar words from one another, such as “pan,” “pen,” “pin,” and “pun.” The following collection of worksheets provides picture prompts, and invites your students to add or subtract given phonemes from the word representing the picture in order to create different words. Answer keys are provided for instructors.

Fun Fact: English has between 35 and 47 phonemes (depending on regional variations in pronunciation), including 13-21 vowel phonemes and 22-26 consonant phonemes.

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Print Add and Subtract Phonemes Worksheets

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Phoneme Addition

Do phoneme addition in each of the boxes. Say the name of the picture. Then add the phoneme provided to the beginning or the end of the picture to form a new word. Write the new word on the line.

Addition Number 2

Another rock'in roll round for you to handle with care.

Phoneme Deletion

Say the name of the picture. Then remove the phoneme provided from the name of the picture to form a new word. Write the new word on the line.

Remove Me

Delete the/s/ sound from each of the following words. Write the new word on the line. Delete the/d/ sound from each of the following words. Write the new word on the line.

Add'em Up!

Say the name of the picture. Then add the phoneme provided to the beginning or end of the picture to form a new word. Write the new word on the line.

Scoop Up!

We work on the taking sounds away and seeing where it gets us.

Round 2 of Deleting Phonemes

See where these sounds go for you. I know the second row, second column looks like a marker, but it's a pen.

Making New Words with Phoneme Deletion

Delete the /t/ and /b/ sound from each of the following words. Write the new word on the line.

Adding and Deleting Phonemes

ADD the /n/ and /p/ sound from each of the following words. Write the new word on the line. DELETE the /n/ and /p/ sound from each of the following words. Write the new word on the line.

Phoneme Addition/Deletion

Work on both skills to make it happen for us.

Both Skills

Two adds for you followed by 4 removes.

Bs, Cs, and Ms

We have a mixed word base and three groups of four words.

More Space For You

We make a cab from a crab, a nail from a snail, oats from goats.

Phoneme Addition

Add the sound in the box to each of the following words. Write the new word on the line.

Phoneme Deletion Worksheet

Delete the sound in the box from each of the following words. Write the new word on the line.