This list includes 103 Simple words that start with S, from “said” to “system”. They are mostly short, common words used in reading, speech, and everyday writing. Use this list for lesson planning, vocabulary practice, or quick reference.
Simple words that start with S are everyday, high-frequency words learners meet early in reading and speech. The letter S appears often in plurals and verb forms, which makes S-words especially common.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Part of speech, Definition, Etymology, and Frequency.
Word: Shows the simple S-word itself, so you can scan and choose terms for teaching or practice.
Part of speech: Labels whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective, or other, helping you plan lessons.
Definition: Provides a concise one-line meaning so you can explain or model usage quickly for learners.
Etymology: Gives a brief origin note so you understand historical roots and common language influences today.
Frequency: Indicates how common the word is in everyday use, helping you prioritize words for learners.
Simple words that start with S
| Word | Part of speech | Syllables | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| same | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| say | v. | 1 | Old English |
| said | v. | 1 | Old English |
| see | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sell | v. | 1 | Old English |
| send | v. | 1 | Old English |
| set | v. | 1 | Old English |
| she | pron. | 1 | Old English |
| shop | n. | 1 | Old English |
| short | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| show | v. | 1 | Old English |
| shout | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sit | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sit | v. | 1 | Old English |
| six | n. | 1 | Old English |
| seven | n. | 2 | Old English |
| small | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| smart | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| smile | v. | 1 | Old English |
| smell | v. | 1 | Old English |
| snow | n. | 1 | Old English |
| soap | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sock | n. | 1 | Old English |
| shoe | n. | 1 | Old English |
| song | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sing | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sit | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sleep | v. | 1 | Old English |
| slow | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| small | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| soft | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| sour | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| salt | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sand | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sea | n. | 1 | Old English |
| seat | n. | 1 | Old English |
| seed | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sign | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sit | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sick | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| side | n. | 1 | Old English |
| silver | n. | 2 | Old English |
| simple | adj. | 2 | Old French via Latin |
| since | prep. | 1 | Old English |
| sing | v. | 1 | Old English |
| single | adj. | 2 | Old English via Old French |
| sit | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sixth | n. | 1 | Old English |
| size | n. | 1 | Old English |
| skill | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sky | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sleep | v. | 1 | Old English |
| slide | v. | 1 | Old English |
| slip | v. | 1 | Old English |
| slowly | adv. | 2 | Old English |
| small | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| smart | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| smell | v. | 1 | Old English |
| smile | v. | 1 | Old English |
| smooth | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| snow | n. | 1 | Old English |
| soap | n. | 1 | Old English |
| some | det. | 1 | Old English |
| someone | pron. | 2 | Old English |
| something | pron. | 2 | Old English |
| sometimes | adv. | 2 | Old English |
| son | n. | 1 | Old English |
| song | n. | 1 | Old English |
| soon | adv. | 1 | Old English |
| sorry | adj. | 2 | Old English |
| sort | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sound | n. | 1 | Old English |
| speak | v. | 1 | Old English |
| spell | v. | 1 | Old English |
| spend | v. | 1 | Old English |
| spoon | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sport | n. | 1 | Old English |
| spot | n. | 1 | Old English |
| spring | n. | 1 | Old English |
| stand | v. | 1 | Old English |
| star | n. | 1 | Old English |
| start | v. | 1 | Old English |
| stay | v. | 1 | Old English |
| steal | v. | 1 | Old English |
| stick | n. | 1 | Old English |
| still | adv. | 1 | Old English |
| stone | n. | 1 | Old English |
| stop | v. | 1 | Old English |
| store | n. | 1 | Old English |
| story | n. | 2 | Old English |
| street | n. | 1 | Old English |
| study | v. | 2 | Old English |
| student | n. | 2 | Latin via Old French |
| sugar | n. | 2 | Old French via Latin |
| sun | n. | 1 | Old English |
| sunday | n. | 2 | Old English |
| supply | v. | 2 | Old French via Latin |
| sure | adj. | 1 | Old English via Old French |
| surface | n. | 2 | Old French via Latin |
| surprise | n. | 2 | Old French via Latin |
| swim | v. | 1 | Old English |
| sweet | adj. | 1 | Old English |
| system | n. | 2 | Latin via Old French |
Descriptions
same
Not different from something else; used to show identity or agreement in everyday comparisons.
say
To speak words or give information; also used to report what someone said.
said
Past form of “say”; used to report speech or to refer to something already mentioned.
see
To use your eyes to notice people, things, or events; also to understand something.
sell
To give something to someone in exchange for money.
send
To cause something to go or be taken to another place, by hand or by mail.
set
To put something in a particular place or position; also a group or arranged items.
she
A pronoun used to talk about a female person or animal already mentioned.
shop
A place where people buy goods; a store for everyday items.
short
Not long in length, time, or height; small in extent.
show
To let someone see something or to present information or pictures.
shout
To call out loudly, often to get attention or express strong feeling.
sit
To rest with the body supported by the buttocks on a chair or other surface.
sit
To rest with the body supported by the buttocks on a chair or other surface.
six
The number after five; a basic counting number used in everyday life.
seven
The number after six; a basic number used when counting or telling age.
small
Little in size, amount, or degree; the opposite of big.
smart
Neat in appearance or quick in thinking; can mean stylish or clever.
smile
To make a happy or friendly expression by turning up the corners of the mouth.
smell
To notice or have a particular scent with your nose.
snow
Soft white frozen water that falls from clouds in cold weather.
soap
A substance used with water for washing and cleaning.
sock
A piece of clothing worn on the foot inside a shoe.
shoe
A covering for the foot, worn outdoors or for protection.
song
A short piece of music sung with words.
sing
To make musical sounds with the voice, often with melody and words.
sit
To rest with the body supported by the buttocks on a chair or other surface.
sleep
To rest with your eyes closed and the body inactive at night or briefly in day.
slow
Moving or happening without much speed; not fast.
small
Little in size, amount, or degree; the opposite of big.
soft
Pleasantly smooth or not hard; gentle to touch or sound.
sour
Having an acidic or tart taste, like a lemon.
salt
A common mineral used to season and preserve food.
sand
Tiny loose grains of rock found on beaches and deserts.
sea
A large body of salty water that covers much of the Earth.
seat
A place to sit, such as a chair or bench.
seed
A small part of a plant that can grow into a new plant.
sign
A mark, symbol, or notice that gives information or instructions.
sit
To rest with the body supported by the buttocks on a chair or other surface.
sick
Not healthy; feeling ill or unwell.
side
One of the surfaces or parts that form the edge or direction of something.
silver
A shiny, gray precious metal used for jewelry and coins.
simple
Easy to understand or not complicated; plain and clear.
since
From a past time until now; used to show a starting point.
sing
To make musical sounds with the voice, often with melody and words.
single
One, not one of a pair or group; alone or individual.
sit
To rest with the body supported by the buttocks on a chair or other surface.
sixth
One of six equal parts; also the position after fifth.
size
How big or small something is, often measured in length, height, or amount.
skill
The ability to do something well, often learned by practice.
sky
The space above the Earth where clouds and the sun appear.
sleep
To rest with your eyes closed and the body inactive at night or briefly in day.
slide
To move smoothly along a surface while keeping contact.
slip
To slide by accident or lose footing briefly.
slowly
At a low speed; not quickly.
small
Little in size, amount, or degree; the opposite of big.
smart
Neat in appearance or quick in thinking; can mean stylish or clever.
smell
To notice or have a particular scent with your nose.
smile
To make a happy or friendly expression by turning up the corners of the mouth.
smooth
Even and without roughness or bumps.
snow
Soft white frozen water that falls from clouds in cold weather.
soap
A substance used with water for washing and cleaning.
some
An unspecified amount or number of people or things.
someone
An unspecified person; used when you do not name who.
something
An unspecified thing; used when you do not name what.
sometimes
Occasionally; not all the time but on some occasions.
son
A male child in relation to his parents.
song
A short piece of music sung with words.
soon
In a short time; before long.
sorry
Feeling sadness or regret for something done or said.
sort
A type or kind of something.
sound
Vibrations heard by the ear; noise or music.
speak
To talk or use words to express thoughts and ideas.
spell
To write or say the letters of a word in order.
spend
To use money to buy something or to use time for an activity.
spoon
A small utensil with a bowl-shaped end used for eating or stirring.
sport
A physical game or activity often played for fun or competition.
spot
A small area that is different in color or the place where something happens.
spring
The season after winter when plants grow and the weather gets warmer.
stand
To be on your feet in an upright position; to tolerate or accept.
star
A bright point of light seen in the night sky.
start
To begin doing something or to make something begin.
stay
To remain in one place or continue in a state or condition.
steal
To take something that does not belong to you without permission.
stick
A thin piece of wood or similar material; also to attach or hold.
still
Continuing without change; not moving or ending yet.
stone
A small hard piece of rock.
stop
To finish moving or doing something; to make something end.
store
A place where goods are kept for sale; a shop.
story
A description of events, real or imagined, often told for enjoyment.
street
A public road in a town or city with houses or buildings along it.
study
To learn about a subject by reading or attending lessons.
student
A person who learns at school, college, or university.
sugar
A sweet substance used to sweeten food and drinks.
sun
The star at the center of our solar system that gives light and warmth.
sunday
The day of the week often used for rest or religious observance (capitalized in writing).
supply
To give or provide what is needed; often used about goods or materials.
sure
Confident about something or certain that it is true.
surface
The outermost layer or top part of something you can touch or see.
surprise
An unexpected event or thing that causes wonder or shock.
swim
To move through water by moving your body or limbs.
sweet
Tasting like sugar; pleasant or kind in manner.
system
A group of connected parts that work together as a whole.