Phonics sounds: hear it, then try it

as in sun

Hiss like a snake: sss.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in sun.

as in apple

Open your mouth: a-a-apple.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in apple.

as in top

Tap your tongue behind your teeth: t.

as in pig

A little pop of air from your lips: p.

as in igloo

Short and quick: i-i-insect.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in igloo.

as in net

Hum through your nose: nnn.

as in mop

Lips together and hum: mmm.

as in dog

Voiced tap behind your teeth: d.

as in octopus

Round lips: o-o-otter.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in octopus.

as in goat

Hard sound from your throat: g.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in goat.

as in cat

Usually says /k/: c-c-cat.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in cat.

as in kite

Same sound as hard c: k.

as in egg

Short e: e-e-elephant.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in egg.

as in umbrella

Short u: u-u-up.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in umbrella.

as in rat

Growl like a tiger: rrr.

as in hat

A quiet breath out: h.

as in bat

Voiced pop from your lips: b.

as in fan

Top teeth on bottom lip: fff.

as in lip

Tongue tip behind your teeth: lll.

as in jam

Voiced jump: j-j-jam.

as in queen

Says /kw/ — and almost always brings a u along: qu.

q is nearly always written "qu" (queen, quick).

as in van

Top teeth on bottom lip, voice on: vvv.

as in web

Round your lips: w-w-web.

as in box

Two sounds squeezed together: /ks/.

Usually at the end of a word: box, fox, six.

as in yes

At the start it says /y/: y-y-yes.

The consonant sound, at the start of a word (yes, yak).

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in yes.

as in zip

Buzz like a bee, voice on: zzz.

as in duck

Two letters, one /k/ sound: duck.

The floss family's /k/ spelling: right after a short vowel at the end of a word (duck, sock, pick).

as in off

Two f's, one /f/ sound: off.

The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, f doubles (off, puff, cliff).

as in bell

Two l's, one /l/ sound: bell.

The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, l doubles (bell, hill, doll).

as in miss

Two s's, one /s/ sound: miss.

The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, s doubles (miss, pass, mess).

as in buzz

Two z's, one buzzy /z/ sound: buzz.

The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, z doubles (buzz, fizz, jazz).

as in ship

Finger to your lips: shhh.

as in chip

Like a little sneeze: ch-ch.

as in thin

Tongue between your teeth: th.

Unvoiced — voice off, just air (thin, bath).

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in thin.

as in ring

Hum at the back of your mouth: nng.

as in when

Two letters, one /w/ sound: wh-wh-when.

wh says /w/ at the start of words: when, whale, whisk.

as in queen

Two letters team up for /kw/: qu-qu-queen.

q almost always brings a u; together qu says /kw/ (queen, quick).

as in cake

a and a silent e wrap a consonant — a says /ay/: cake.

The e on the end is silent; it makes the a say its name.

as in bike

i with a silent e — i says /ie/: bike.

The silent e makes the i say its name.

as in home

o with a silent e — o says /oh/: home.

The silent e makes the o say its name.

as in these

e with a silent e — e says /ee/: these.

The silent e makes the first e say its name.

as in cute

u with a silent e — u says /ue/: cute.

The silent e makes the u say its name.

as in catch

Three letters for /ch/ right after a short vowel.

Used right after a short vowel: catch, match, itch.

as in bridge

Says /j/ right after a short vowel.

as in car

Pirate sound: arrr.

as in fork

Says or: or.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in fork.

as in her

Bossy r: er.

as in bird

Bossy r: says /er/ like bird.

as in fur

Bossy r: says /er/ like fur.

as in rain

Two vowels walking — a says its name: /ay/.

Used in the middle of a word.

as in play

Long a at the end of a word: /ay/.

Used at the end of a word: play, day, way.

as in tree

Long e: eee.

as in eat

Two vowels walking - e says its name: /ee/.

The long e sound: eat, sea, leaf.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in eat.

as in key

At the end of a word, ey says /ee/: key.

Often at the end of a word: key, monkey, valley.

as in boat

Long o: oh.

as in toe

Two vowels walking — o says its name: /oh/.

At the end of a word: toe, hoe, foe.

as in light

Three letters that say i's name: /ie/.

as in pie

At the end of a word, says i's name: /ie/.

Used at the end of a word: pie, tie, lie.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in pie.

as in moon

Two jobs: long as in moon, short as in book.

The long "moon" sound.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in moon.

as in new

Says /oo/ (or /ue/): ew.

Says /oo/ or /ue/ at the end: new, dew, few.

as in blue

Says /oo/ (or /ue/): ue.

Says /oo/ or /ue/ at the end: blue, true, glue.

as in fruit

u and i team up to say /oo/: fruit.

In the middle of a word: fruit, suit.

as in haul

Says /aw/: au.

The /aw/ sound in the middle: haul, launch, haunt.

as in saw

Says /aw/: aw.

Often at the end of a word: saw, paw, draw.

as in caught

Four letters that say /aw/: caught.

The gh is silent: caught, taught, daughter.

as in coin

Says oy: oi.

Used in the middle of a word; at the end it is spelled oy.

as in boy

Says oy: oy.

Used at the end of a word; in the middle it is spelled oi.

as in out

Says /ow/ like shout.

The /ow/ sound in the middle of a word: out, loud, cloud.

as in cow

Two sounds: /ow/ like cow, /oh/ like snow.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in cow.

as in phone

Says /f/: ph.

as in knot

The k is silent — says /n/.

as in write

The w is silent — says /r/.

as in lamb

The b is silent - says /m/.

The b is silent at the end: lamb, thumb, climb.

as in sign

The g is silent - says /n/.

The g is silent: sign, gnat, gnaw.

as in nation

Ending that says /shun/: tion.

The most common way to spell the /shun/ ending: nation, action, motion.

as in vision

Ending that says /zhun/ or /shun/: sion.

After a vowel it says /zhun/ (vision); after a consonant it says /shun/ (mansion).

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in vision.

as in picture

Ending that says /cher/: ture.

A final stable ending: picture, nature, future.

as in rough

A tricky team with several sounds; here it says /uf/.

This team is famous for its many sounds: rough /uf/, though /oh/, thought /aw/.

This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in rough.