C facts for kids

The letter C in cursive writing.

The letter C is the third (3rd) letter in the English alphabet. It's a very common letter that you see and use every day! It can make different sounds, which makes it interesting.

The Journey of the Letter C

The letter C has a long and fascinating history! It started way back with the ancient Phoenicians, who lived around 1200 BC.

Where Did C Begin?

The Phoenicians had a letter called gimel. It looked a bit like a camel's hump or a boomerang. This letter made a 'g' sound.

From Gimel to Gamma

When the ancient Greeks borrowed letters from the Phoenicians, they changed gimel into their letter gamma. Gamma looked like a triangle and still made a 'g' sound.

The Romans and Our C

The Romans then took the Greek gamma and turned it into the letter C we know today. At first, the Roman C also made a 'g' sound. Later, they introduced a new letter, G, for the 'g' sound. This left C to make the 'k' sound, like in "cat." Over time, C also started making the 's' sound, like in "city."

Sounds of the Letter C

The letter C is special because it can make two main sounds in English. These are often called the "hard C" and the "soft C."

The Hard C Sound

The hard C sound is like the 'k' sound. You hear it in words like:

• Cat
• Car
• Cup
• Cold
• Cookie

This sound is usually made when C is followed by the letters A, O, U, or a consonant.

The Soft C Sound

The soft C sound is like the 's' sound. You hear it in words like:

• City
• Cent
• Circle
• Cereal
• Cycle

This sound is usually made when C is followed by the letters E, I, or Y.

C in Everyday Life

The letter C appears in many important words and concepts.

C in Numbers and Measurements

• Roman Numerals: In Roman numerals, the letter C stands for the number 100. For example, CC means 200.
• Celsius: The letter C is used for Celsius, a common way to measure temperature. 0°C is the freezing point of water.
• Cent: A cent is a small unit of money, like in "one hundred cents make a dollar."
• Centimeter: A centimeter (cm) is a unit of length, equal to one hundredth of a meter.

C in Science and Music

• Carbon: In chemistry, C is the symbol for Carbon, an element found in all living things.
• C Major: In music, C is the name of a musical note and a common musical scale.
• Vitamin C: This is an important vitamin that helps keep you healthy. You can find it in oranges and other fruits.

C in Common Phrases

• See: The word "see" sounds like the letter C.
• Sea: The word "sea" (the ocean) also sounds like the letter C.