The letter V gives us a small but useful set of three-letter words. Words like van, vet, and vow are easy to learn and often appear in reading and conversation. In this article, we will learn three-letter V words, their meanings, and how they are used in daily talk and writing.
In This Page
Complete List of 3 Letter Words that Start with V
Here is a list of three-letter V words that learners can practice.
- Van
- Vat
- Vet
- Vex
- Via
- Vie
- Vim
- Vow

Common Everyday Three Letter Words with V
Some V words are more common in daily use and texts.
- Van
- Vet
- Via
- Vow
Three Letter V Words in Different Groups
Action Words
Certain V words show actions or expressions.
- Vie – to compete for something
- Vow – to make a serious promise
People and Body
A few V words relate to people or things tied to them.
- Vet – a doctor for animals
- Van – a vehicle used to carry people or goods
Objects at Home
These V words can name objects or items.
- Vat – a large container for holding liquids
- Van – a type of vehicle often parked at home
Animals and Nature
Some V words connect to living things and natural ideas.
- Vet – helps care for animals
- Vim – refers to energy or lively force in people
Food and Drink
A few short V words may appear in food or drink context.
- Vat – sometimes used for storing wine or beer
3 Letter V Words with Meanings
- Van: a vehicle for carrying people or goods
- Vat: a large tub or tank for storing liquid
- Vet: an animal doctor
- Vex: to annoy or upset someone
- Via: by way of, or through a place
- Vie: to compete or struggle for something
- Vim: energy and strength
- Vow: a serious promise
3 Letter Words with V at the Start
- Van
- Vat
- Vet
- Vex
- Via
- Vie
- Vim
- Vow
3 Letter Words with V in the Middle
- Ava
3 Letter Words with V at the End
- Rev
Sentences Using Three Letter V Words for Beginners
Short sentences make practice easier and help learners see the words in context.
- The van carried boxes to the shop.
- She took a trip via the main road.
- The vet checked the dog’s health.
- They made a vow to be friends forever.
- He will vie for the top spot in class.
- The old vat was filled with water.
Teaching the Short-V Sound with CVC Patterns
Word families help children learn sound and spelling patterns.
An-Family Words
- Van
- Can
- Man
At-Family Words
- Vat
- Cat
- Mat
Ex-Family Words
- Vex
- Hex
- Rex
FAQs on 3 Letter Words That Start with V
Some of the most common words are van, vet, via, and vow. These are easy to recognize, appear in school texts, and are often used in daily speech and writing.
Yes. Learners meet words like van, vat, and vet in beginner phonics drills, early reading passages, and classroom practice. They make good building blocks for reading fluency.
Most three-letter V words carry simple meanings, such as van for a vehicle or vat for a container. A few like vim (energy) or vie (to compete) may need short explanations for learners.
Yes. Word families make practice easier. For example, in the an family, learners see van, man, and can. In the at family, they can use vat, cat, and mat. The ex family includes vex, hex, and rex.
There are about 15–20 useful ones in English. Some are very common in daily use, while others are less frequent or show up in stories, names, or specific contexts.
Read More

