Aa
Short A
The letter A makes a short sound, like in 'cat' and 'bat'.
How this rule works
When the letter A appears in a closed syllable (a syllable that ends with a consonant), it usually makes the short A sound “a”. This is one of the first vowel sounds students learn.
Remember: A says “a” like a cat that sat on a mat.
Examples
Words that use this rule
809 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.
abolitionabrahamabscessabstractabstractionacademyacceptaccessibilityaccuracyaccurateaccuratelyacrobatactactedactingactionactoractualactuallyadadaptationaddaddedaddingaddsadministrationadmirationadmireadolescentadvanceadvancedadvancementadvancementsadventureadventuresadviceaerospaceaestheticaestheticsafricaafterafterlifeafternoonagileallegoricalalloyalmondalphaalphabetamamberambersambitiousambivalenceambulanceanandrogenandrogensangleanglesangryangularanimalanimalsanimateanimatingannannaannalannalsansweransweredansweringantanthropologistanyanyoneanythinganytimeanywayanywhereapertureaperturesappapparatusappleapplesarabesquesarchaeologicalartifactartifactsasashramaskaskedaskingassassinateassassinatedastronautastrophysicalastropoliticalatathleteatmosphereatmosphericattachattachedattachmentattackattackedatticattractaudacityautographautomaticavataravenueaxebackbackachebackedbackgroundbackpackbackwardbackwardsbadbadgebadlybagbalancebalancedbalancesbalconiesbalconyballotbamboobananabandbandagebangbangingbankbankerbankingbannedbaobaobarragebasketbasketballbatbatchbathbathroombathsbatsbattedbattlebeganblackblankblanketblanksblastblastedbraggedbramblebramblingbranchbranchesbrandbrandingbrightnesscontrastbrouhahabusinessmancabcabincactuscafcafscalfcalmcalmedcalmlycamelcameracampcampaigncampedcampercampgroundcampingcancan'tcanalcandidatecandidatescandlecandycannotcans
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.