Introducing words by letter is a great way to build vocabulary and encourage language development in young learners. This guide focuses on words that start with “S,” ideal for teachers or parents.

Table of Contents
- Nouns that Start with S
- Verbs that Start with S
- Adjectives that Start with S
- Encouraging and Positive Words that Start with S
- Short Words that Start with S
- Foods that Start with S
- Instruments that Start with S
- Occupations and Hobbies that Start with S
- Countries and Places that Start with S
- Languages that Start with S
- Science Words that Start with S
- Animals that Start with S
- Plants that Start with S
- Also See
Nouns that Start with S
- Star: A bright object in the sky.
- Sun: The star that gives light to Earth.
- Snow: Frozen water falling from the sky as soft, white flakes.
- School: A place where children learn.
- Sand: Tiny grains of rock found on beaches.
- Sock: A garment worn on the foot.
- Shirt: A piece of clothing for the upper body.
- Slide: A playground structure for sliding down.
- Shell: The hard outer covering of some animals, like snails.
- Story: A tale or narrative.
- Seal: A marine animal with flippers.
- Suitcase: A container for carrying clothes during travel.
Verbs that Start with S
- Sing: To make musical sounds with the voice.
- Slide: To move smoothly along a surface.
- Swim: To move through water using arms and legs.
- See: To perceive with the eyes.
- Smile: To show happiness by curving the lips upward.
- Sit: To rest on a chair or another surface.
- Stop: To cease movement or activity.
- Spin: To turn around quickly.
- Search: To look for something.
- Stick: To attach or hold something in place.
- Sniff: To smell by inhaling through the nose.
- Save: To rescue or keep safe.
Adjectives that Start with S
- Smart: Intelligent and quick-witted.
- Strong: Physically or mentally powerful.
- Sweet: Kind and gentle.
- Sensitive: Aware of and responsive to others’ feelings.
- Silly: Fun and playful.
- Shy: Quiet and reserved around others.
- Supportive: Helpful and encouraging.
- Sophisticated: Polished and refined.
- Sincere: Honest and genuine.
- Spirited: Full of energy and enthusiasm.
- Selfless: Putting others’ needs before one’s own.
- Successful: Achieving goals or reaching milestones.
Encouraging and Positive Words that Start with S
- Strong: Showing great strength or resilience.
- Supportive: Offering help and encouragement.
- Smart: Intelligent and clever.
- Special: Unique and important.
- Sincere: Genuine and heartfelt.
- Sparkling: Full of energy and life.
- Successful: Accomplishing goals.
- Selfless: Caring and giving toward others.
- Safe: Free from harm or danger.
- Skillful: Showing great ability.
- Spirited: Energetic and full of life.
- Superb: Excellent and outstanding.
Short Words that Start with S
- Sun: The star that provides light to Earth.
- Sit: To rest in a seated position.
- Sad: Feeling unhappy.
- Sea: A large body of saltwater.
- Saw: A tool for cutting or the past tense of “see.”
- Set: To place something in position.
- Sow: To plant seeds in the ground.
- Sky: The area above Earth.
- Sin: An action considered wrong.
- Sip: To drink a small amount.
- Spy: Someone who secretly observes others.
- Sub: Short for submarine or substitute.
Foods that Start with S
- Strawberry: A sweet, red fruit.
- Spinach: A leafy green vegetable.
- Sushi: A Japanese dish made with rice and fish.
- Soup: A liquid dish made with vegetables or meat.
- Steak: A cut of beef cooked as a meal.
- Sandwich: Two slices of bread with fillings.
- Salsa: A spicy tomato-based sauce.
- Spaghetti: A type of pasta.
- Salmon: A type of fish often grilled or smoked.
- Sorbet: A frozen dessert made with fruit and sugar.
- Scones: A baked good often served with tea.
- Salt: A seasoning used in cooking.
Instruments that Start with S
- Saxophone: A wind instrument often used in jazz.
- Snare Drum: A small drum with a sharp sound.
- Synthesizer: An electronic instrument that creates sounds.
- Shaker: A percussion instrument that makes noise when shaken.
- Steel Drum: A drum made from a metal barrel.
- Sitar: A stringed instrument from India.
- Symbals: Metal percussion plates.
- Slide Trombone: A brass instrument with a slide mechanism.
- Strumstick: A simple stringed instrument.
- Sousaphone: A large brass instrument in the tuba family.
Occupations and Hobbies that Start with S
- Singer: A person who performs songs.
- Scientist: A person who studies the natural world.
- Soccer Player: Someone who plays soccer professionally or for fun.
- Sculptor: An artist who creates sculptures.
- Swimmer: A person skilled in swimming.
- Surgeon: A doctor who performs surgeries.
- Shopkeeper: Someone who runs a shop.
- Seamstress: A person who sews clothing.
- Skater: Someone who skates on ice or a rink.
- Screenwriter: A person who writes scripts for movies or shows.
- Spy: A person who gathers secret information.
- Sailor: Someone who navigates or works on boats.
Countries and Places that Start with S
- Spain: A country in Europe.
- Sweden: A Nordic country in Europe.
- Switzerland: A mountainous country in Europe.
- South Africa: A country at the southern tip of Africa.
- Singapore: A city-state in Southeast Asia.
- Syria: A country in the Middle East.
- Sri Lanka: An island nation in South Asia.
- Somalia: A country in East Africa.
- Seoul: The capital of South Korea.
- Stockholm: The capital of Sweden.
- Sydney: A city in Australia.
- San Diego: A city in California, USA.
Languages that Start with S
- Spanish: Spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries.
- Swedish: Spoken in Sweden.
- Sanskrit: An ancient language of India.
- Serbian: Spoken in Serbia and surrounding areas.
- Swahili: Spoken in East Africa.
- Samoan: Spoken in Samoa and American Samoa.
- Sindhi: Spoken in Pakistan and India.
- Slovak: Spoken in Slovakia.
- Slovenian: Spoken in Slovenia.
- Sumerian: An ancient language of Mesopotamia.
- Sundanese: Spoken in Indonesia.
- Scottish Gaelic: A Celtic language spoken in Scotland.
Science Words that Start with S
- Star: A celestial object that emits light.
- Solar: Relating to the sun.
- Sediment: Material that settles at the bottom of liquids.
- Solution: A mixture of two or more substances.
- Species: A group of similar organisms.
- Spectrum: A range of colors or waves.
- Substance: Matter with a particular composition.
- Sound: Vibrations that travel through air or another medium.
- Satellite: An object that orbits a planet or star.
- Synthesis: The combination of parts to form a whole.
- Salt: A mineral used in food and chemistry.
- Surface: The outermost layer of something.
- Seismic: Relating to earthquakes or vibrations in the Earth.
- Sunlight: The light that comes from the sun.
- Succession: A process of ecological change in a community over time.
- Stratosphere: A layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
- Solid: A state of matter with a definite shape and volume.
- Saturation: The maximum concentration of a substance in a solution.
Animals that Start with S
- Snake: A legless reptile with a long body.
- Shark: A large fish with sharp teeth, found in the ocean.
- Sparrow: A small, brown bird.
- Seal: A marine mammal with flippers.
- Swan: A graceful water bird with a long neck.
- Squid: A sea creature with a soft body and tentacles.
- Sloth: A slow-moving mammal found in trees.
- Skunk: A black-and-white mammal known for its strong smell.
Plants that Start with S
- Sunflower: A tall plant with a large, bright yellow flower.
- Spinach: A leafy green vegetable.
- Sage: An herb used in cooking and medicine.
- Spruce: A type of evergreen tree.
- Sequoia: A giant redwood tree.
- Strawberry Plant: A plant that produces sweet, red berries.
- Sweet Pea: A flowering plant with fragrant blossoms.
- Sassafras: A tree with aromatic leaves and roots.
- Sugarcane: A tall plant used to produce sugar.
- Snapdragon: A flowering plant with colorful blooms.
- Snowdrop: A small, white flower that blooms in winter.
- Silver Birch: A tree with distinctive white bark.
Adjectives that Start with S

Winter Words that Start with S

Things That Start with S

Christmas Words that Start with S

Gabrielle Kotkov is an AMI-trained 3-6 Montessorian and educational consultant. She has a Master's Degree in Child Studies and is certified in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She is particularly interested in the intersection between Montessori education and multilingualism, which led her to create the Multilingual Montessori website and podcast. Gabrielle has taught in schools in NYC, Sicily, London, and Austin, and is currently on the teaching faculty of the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program, an AMS training center in NYC.