Ww
Letter W
The letter W makes the /w/ sound, like in 'win', 'wet', and 'web'. The lips round into an O shape.
How this rule works
W is a voiced bilabial approximant — the lips round tightly then open as voice flows. W is sometimes silent (write, wrong) and can act as a vowel in some combinations (aw, ew, ow).
Remember: W rounds your lips — make an O then say /w/!
Examples
Words that use this rule
184 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds.
alwaysawakeawarenessawashawaybusinesswomandwarffarawayforwardhighwaymetalworkingmotorwaypathwaypreviewrailwayreviewrewardsandwichunawareunderwearunwantedunwellunwillingviewviewpointswadewagwagewaistwaitwakewakeswalkwalkedwallswandwanderwantwantedwantswarwardwarmwarmestwarmlywarmthwarnwaswashwashablewastewatchwatchedwatcheswatchfulwatchingwaterwaterfallwatermarkwatermarkingwatermarkswatermelonwavewavedwaveswaxwaywayswewe'reweakweakestweaklyweaknesswealthweanweaponwearwearingwearsweatherweavewebwebsitewedwednesdayweedweekweeklyweeksweepingweighingweightweightlesswelcomewellwentwereweren'twestwetwetnesswettestwhowholewhosewickwickedwickednesswidewidelywidestwidowwifewigwildwildernesswildestwildlywildnesswillwillfulwillingnesswillowwinwincewindwindowwindowpanewindowswingwinnerwinsomewinterwipewirewirelesswisewiselywisestwishwisheswishfulwitwitchwithwithinwithoutwitnesswokewolfwomanwombwonwon'twonderwonderfulwoodwoodenwoodswoolwordwordsworeworkworkedworkerworkingworksworldworldwidewormwornworriedworriedlyworryworshipworstworthworthlesswouldwoundwovewow
Exceptions
W is silent before R: write, wrong, wrap, wrist.
What is SnapPhonics?
A phonics reference for teachers, parents and learners. Every English word, broken into the sounds that make it — with audio, syllables, and the rule behind each spelling.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.
