Rhyming Words

What makes two words rhyme, and why poems love them.

What makes words rhyme

Two words rhyme when their ending sounds match, even if the words start differently. "Cat" and "hat" rhyme because they both end in the "-at" sound. "Sun" and "fun" rhyme because they both end in "-un."

Rhyming families

Words that rhyme often belong to a "word family." The -at family includes cat, hat, bat, and mat. The -og family includes dog, log, and frog. Once you know one word in a family, you can often figure out the others just by swapping the first letter.

Rhymes in poems and songs

Writers use rhymes to make poems and songs fun to say and easy to remember. That's why nursery rhymes and silly songs stick in your head! Try making up your own two-line rhyme about your favorite animal.

Quick quiz: Rhyming Words

Question 1 of 5

Which word rhymes with "cat"?