Phonics Terms, Examples and Explanations
Digraphs
ch, sh, the, wh, ph
2 consonants that when put together make one sound
Blends
bl, sc, cr, cl
2 consonant that when put together make 2 sounds, but they are blended together and harder to hear each individual sound
Double letters
puff, kiss
In a closed syllable, when we hear f, l, s at the end of the word, we double the letter
Glued Sounds
ring, song
We call words with am, an, all, -ng, and -nk glued sounds when letters keep their individual sound but are glued together
6 Syllable Types, **the last 2 are both considered the D syllable type or double vowel syllable type
1. Closed
in, cat, cast
This syllable type has one vowel that is closed in by one or more consonant. The vowels in closed syllables are short as in the examples.
Closed Syllable Exceptions
wild, cold, find, colt, most
Closed syllables have some exceptions. These are words that end in ild, ind, old, ost, and olt. They are exceptions because they have one vowel that is closed in, but the vowel sound is long and says it’s name.
2. Open
no, go, try, pantry
This syllable type has one vowel that is not closed in, therefore open. The vowel in open syllables is long as in the examples. The y can also be a vowel that is open when it sounds like e or i.
3. Vowel Consonant e (v-e)
make, bike, cone
This syllable type has one vowel, then a consonant and the vowel e. In this syllable type the middle vowel is long and the e is silent.
4. R controlled
car, horn, shirt
This syllable type has an r after the vowel. The r changes the vowel sound. Students need to recognize the pattern in words.
5. -le
Jiggle, middle, little
This syllable type has a consonant followed by an le and sounds like /ul/
6. D syllable (Double Vowel Syllable)
a. Vowel team
meat, chain, road, feet, tie, key, say, glue
This syllable type has two vowels. The first vowel is voiced and the second is silent. The vowel that is voiced is the long sound that says the vowel’s name.
b. Vowel digraph
cool, oil, few, hawk, joy, launch
This syllable type has two vowels. The two vowels together make a new sound and do not sound like the typical vowel sounds.
Digraphs
ch, sh, the, wh, ph
2 consonants that when put together make one sound
Blends
bl, sc, cr, cl
2 consonant that when put together make 2 sounds, but they are blended together and harder to hear each individual sound
Double letters
puff, kiss
In a closed syllable, when we hear f, l, s at the end of the word, we double the letter
Glued Sounds
ring, song
We call words with am, an, all, -ng, and -nk glued sounds when letters keep their individual sound but are glued together
6 Syllable Types, **the last 2 are both considered the D syllable type or double vowel syllable type
1. Closed
in, cat, cast
This syllable type has one vowel that is closed in by one or more consonant. The vowels in closed syllables are short as in the examples.
Closed Syllable Exceptions
wild, cold, find, colt, most
Closed syllables have some exceptions. These are words that end in ild, ind, old, ost, and olt. They are exceptions because they have one vowel that is closed in, but the vowel sound is long and says it’s name.
2. Open
no, go, try, pantry
This syllable type has one vowel that is not closed in, therefore open. The vowel in open syllables is long as in the examples. The y can also be a vowel that is open when it sounds like e or i.
3. Vowel Consonant e (v-e)
make, bike, cone
This syllable type has one vowel, then a consonant and the vowel e. In this syllable type the middle vowel is long and the e is silent.
4. R controlled
car, horn, shirt
This syllable type has an r after the vowel. The r changes the vowel sound. Students need to recognize the pattern in words.
5. -le
Jiggle, middle, little
This syllable type has a consonant followed by an le and sounds like /ul/
6. D syllable (Double Vowel Syllable)
a. Vowel team
meat, chain, road, feet, tie, key, say, glue
This syllable type has two vowels. The first vowel is voiced and the second is silent. The vowel that is voiced is the long sound that says the vowel’s name.
b. Vowel digraph
cool, oil, few, hawk, joy, launch
This syllable type has two vowels. The two vowels together make a new sound and do not sound like the typical vowel sounds.