Cs
Soft C
C says /s/ before E, I, or Y, like in 'city' and 'face'.
How this rule works
When C comes before the letters E, I, or Y, it makes the soft /s/ sound instead of the hard /k/ sound. This is called 'Soft C'.
Remember: C is soft before E, I, Y — the city is nice!
Examples
Words that use this rule
242 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.
aceadvancedadviceaerospaceagencyambivalenceambulanceannounceannouncedannouncementascendancyassociatedaudacityauspicesbalancebalancedbicyclebouncebouncedcapacityceilingcelebratecelebratedcelebratescelebratingcelebrationcellarcelsiuscementcensuscentcentercenterscentralcentralizedcentrecentscenturycerealcertainchancechoicecinemacirclecirclingcirculationcitecitizencitizenscityciviccivilcivilizationclownfaceconceitconceiveconcernconcertconfederacyconscienceconvincedcorrespondencecurrencycyborgcyclecylinderdancedancerdancingdeceaseddeceivedecemberdecidedecideddeucedicedifferencediplomacydisciplinedisplacementdistanceedificeemancipationembraceemergencyenduranceenforceenhanceenhancedentranceexcellenceexcellentexceptexceptionexceptionalexciteexcitedexcitingexerciseexperienceexperiencesfacefacesfacilitatesfacilitatingfacingfancyfarcefencefiercefleeceforceforcedforcesforcingfurnaceglancegovernancegracegrace'sgracefulgracesgrimacegrocerguidancehenceiceicyimportanceinceptioninteragencyintimacyintricacyintroduceintroducedjuicejuicyjusticelacelacedlancelegacylegitimacylettucelicenceliteracylucidmedicinemenacemicemincemisplacemisplacednicenicelynicenessnicernicestnoticenoticedofficeofficeronceouncepacepalaceparticipationpatiencepeacepeacefulpencepencilperceivepercentperceptionperformancepharmacypiecepiecespierceplaceplacedpolicepoliciespolicypouncepracticepracticesprancepricepricelessprinceprincessprocessprocessorproduceproducedpronounceprovenanceprovince
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.
