SnapPhonicsSnapPhonics
All phonics rules
LL, SS, FF, TT, PP, BB, DD, GG, RR, NN, MM, CC, ZZone sound

Double Consonant

Two of the same consonant together make just one sound, like the LL in 'ball' or TT in 'butter'.

How this rule works

When two identical consonants appear together, they make just one consonant sound, and the doubling signals a short vowel before it. A common case is the FLOSS rule: a one-syllable word with a short vowel doubles a final f, l, s, or z (off, ball, miss, buzz). Examples: ball, butter, happy, mitten, egg, off.

Remember: Double consonants make one sound — ball, butter, egg!

Examples

butterhappymitteneggsummer

Words that use this rule

546 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.

acceptaccessibilityaccommodationaccompaniesaccompanyaccuracyaccurateaccuratelyaddaddedaddingadditionadditionaladdsaffectionaffectiveaffirmaffirmingallegoricalallowallowedalloyannannaannalannalsannounceannouncedannouncementannoyappapparatusappearappearanceappearedappearsappleapplesappliedapplyappointmentapproachingassassinateassassinatedassertassertiveassignassignmentassociateassociatedattachattachedattachmentattackattackedattemptattemptedattendattendedattentionattentiveattentivelyatticattractattritionballoonballotbannedbattedbattlebeggedbeginnerbeginnersbeginningbellbetterbiggerbiggestbillbitterbitternessblessedblessingblossomblossomedblossomsblueberriesbottlebottombraggedbrightnesscontrastbrilliantbrimmedbubblebuddhistbusinessmanbusinesswomanbuttebutterbutterfliesbutterflybuttonbuzzbuzzedbuzzesbuzzingcannotcarelessnesscaterpillarcellarchallengechallengedchallengingchannelchannelschattedchattingchillchilledchoppedchopperchoppingchubbyclappedclappingclassesclassicclassicalclassmateclassroomclattercliffcoffeecollapsecollapsedcollapsescollectcollectedcollectioncollectivecollegecommandantcommemoratecommemoratingcommemorativecommercialcommercializationcommissionedcommoncommonercommonerscommunalcommunicatecommunicatescommunicationcommunitycompressedconnectconnectedconnectionconnectionscontrolledcoppercottagecrossecrossedcrossingcuffcuttingdifferdifferencedifferencesdifferentdifferentlydifficultdiffusiondiggerdiggingdimmerdinnerdippingdisappeardisconnectdolldollardollsdoppelgangerdotteddottingdraggingdresseddressingdrilldrillingdrippingdroppeddroppingdrummerdrummingebullition

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.

Create a free account

SnapPhonics — see how any English word breaks into sounds.