This list includes 80 Simple words that start with C, from “cake” to “cute”. They are everyday, short, high‑frequency words suitable for early readers and learners. Use them for word lists, flashcards, lesson planning, or quick reference.
Simple words that start with C are common, short terms learners encounter early in English. Note that C often represents /k/ or /s/, so words like “cake” and “city” sound different.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Part of speech, Definition, Etymology.
Word: The written word in alphabetical order, easy to scan and copy for lists, flashcards, or reading activities.
Part of speech: Shows whether a word is a noun, verb, adjective, etc., helping you plan grammar exercises and sentence examples.
Definition: A concise one-line meaning you can use in lessons, labels, or quick reference while teaching or learning.
Etymology: Short origin note that names the source language and history, useful for vocabulary teaching and satisfying curiosity.
Simple words that start with C
| Word | Part of speech | Syllables | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| cat | noun | 1 | Old English |
| car | noun | 1 | Latin via Old French |
| can | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cap | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cake | noun | 1 | Old Norse via Old English |
| cup | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cow | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cry | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cut | verb | 1 | Old English |
| come | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cold | adjective | 1 | Old English |
| coat | noun | 1 | Old English |
| coin | noun | 1 | Old English |
| corn | noun | 1 | Old English |
| count | verb | 1 | Old English |
| call | verb | 1 | Old English |
| carry | verb | 2 | Old English |
| catch | verb | 1 | Old English |
| chair | noun | 1 | Old English via Old French |
| child | noun | 1 | Old English |
| children | noun | 2 | Old English |
| cheese | noun | 1 | Old English from Latin |
| chicken | noun | 2 | Old English |
| chew | verb | 1 | Old English |
| choose | verb | 1 | Old English |
| church | noun | 1 | Old English |
| city | noun | 2 | Latin via Old French |
| class | noun | 1 | Latin via Old French |
| clean | verb | 1 | Old English |
| clear | adjective | 1 | Old English |
| close | verb | 1 | Old English |
| clap | verb | 1 | Old English |
| climb | verb | 1 | Old English |
| clock | noun | 1 | Middle English from Latin ‘clocca’ |
| cloud | noun | 1 | Old English |
| club | noun | 1 | Old English |
| clue | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cook | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cool | adjective | 1 | Old English |
| copy | verb | 2 | Latin via Old French |
| corner | noun | 2 | Old English |
| cost | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cot | noun | 1 | Old English |
| crab | noun | 1 | Old English |
| crack | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cream | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cross | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cute | adjective | 1 | shortened from ‘acute’ |
| cue | noun | 1 | Latin via French |
| card | noun | 1 | Old French |
| carrot | noun | 2 | Old English via Old French |
| candy | noun | 2 | Old French |
| case | noun | 1 | Old French |
| cash | noun | 1 | French via Italian |
| check | verb | 1 | Old English via Old French |
| chain | noun | 1 | Old French |
| chart | noun | 1 | Old French |
| cheap | adjective | 1 | Old English via Old French |
| chase | verb | 1 | Old English via Old French |
| chip | noun | 1 | Old English |
| chop | verb | 1 | Old English |
| circle | noun | 2 | Latin via Old French |
| claw | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cling | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cloth | noun | 1 | Old English |
| color | noun | 2 | Latin via Old French |
| comb | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cookie | noun | 2 | Dutch |
| could | verb | 1 | Old English |
| cover | verb | 2 | Old French via Latin |
| crayon | noun | 2 | French via Latin |
| crisp | adjective | 1 | Old English |
| crow | noun | 1 | Old English |
| crowd | noun | 1 | Old English |
| cube | noun | 1 | Latin via French |
| cure | verb | 1 | Latin via Old French |
| curl | verb | 1 | Old English |
| curve | noun | 1 | Old French via Latin |
| cousin | noun | 2 | Old French |
| chalk | noun | 1 | Old English |
Descriptions
cat
A small furry animal many people keep as a pet that purrs and plays.
car
A vehicle with wheels that people drive on roads.
can
To be able to do something; also a small metal container.
cap
A soft hat that fits on the head.
cake
A sweet baked food often eaten at birthdays and parties.
cup
A small round container for drinking.
cow
A large farm animal that gives milk.
cry
To shed tears or call out loudly when upset or hurt.
cut
To use something sharp to divide or make an opening.
come
To move toward the speaker or arrive at a place.
cold
When something has a low temperature and feels cool to touch.
coat
A warm piece of clothing worn over other clothes.
coin
A small, flat piece of metal used as money.
corn
A common grain plant; kernels used for food.
count
To say numbers in order or add items to find a total.
call
To shout to someone or phone them.
carry
To hold and move something from one place to another.
catch
To grab or stop something that is moving.
chair
A seat for one person to sit on.
child
A young person who is not yet an adult.
children
More than one child; young people in a family or school.
cheese
A food made from milk, often eaten sliced or melted.
chicken
A bird kept for eggs and meat; common on farms.
chew
To use your teeth to break food into smaller pieces.
choose
To pick one thing from two or more options.
church
A building where people meet to pray or worship.
city
A large town where many people live and work.
class
A group of students who learn together or a school lesson.
clean
To remove dirt and make something tidy.
clear
Easy to see through, understand, or hear.
close
To shut something, or to bring things together.
clap
To hit your hands together to show approval or keep a beat.
climb
To move up using hands and feet.
clock
A device that shows the time.
cloud
A white or gray mass in the sky made of tiny water drops.
club
A group of people who meet or a heavy stick-like tool.
clue
A hint or piece of information that helps solve something.
cook
To prepare food by heating it.
cool
Somewhat cold; also relaxed or stylish.
copy
To make something the same as another.
corner
A point where two sides meet, like the corner of a room.
cost
The price or amount needed to buy something.
cot
A small bed, often used for babies or camping.
crab
A sea animal with a hard shell and pincers.
crack
To break or make a sudden sharp sound when broken.
cream
A thick part of milk or a soft food or skin product.
cross
Two lines that meet; also to go from one side to the other.
cute
Small and attractive in a way that makes people smile.
cue
A signal to do something, or a stick used in pool.
card
A small flat piece of stiff paper used for games or notes.
carrot
An orange root vegetable people often eat cooked or raw.
candy
A sweet treat made with sugar.
case
A box or situation; something used to hold or protect things.
cash
Money in coins or notes, not paid by card.
check
To look and make sure something is correct or safe.
chain
A series of metal rings linked together.
chart
A drawing that shows information, numbers, or plans.
cheap
Low in price; not costing much money.
chase
To run after someone or something.
chip
A small broken piece of something, like wood or potato.
chop
To cut something into pieces with a sharp tool.
circle
A round shape with no corners.
claw
A sharp curved nail on an animal’s foot.
cling
To hold on tightly to someone or something.
cloth
Material made from fibers used to make clothes or towels.
color
How something looks because of light (for example, red or blue).
comb
A tool with teeth for arranging hair.
cookie
A small sweet baked treat, often round and eaten as a snack.
could
A past form of can; used to talk about ability or possibility.
cover
To put something over or protect another thing.
crayon
A colored stick used by children for drawing and coloring.
crisp
Firm and crunchy, like a fresh apple or chip.
crow
A large black bird that makes a loud cawing sound.
crowd
A large group of people gathered together.
cube
A solid shape with six square faces.
cure
To make someone healthy again or solve a problem.
curl
To form into a ring or coil shape.
curve
A line that bends smoothly, not straight.
cousin
A child of your aunt or uncle; a family member.
chalk
A soft white rock used for writing on boards or sidewalks.