SnapPhonicsSnapPhonics
All phonics rules
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

cityfacenicecentcycle

Words that use this rule

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

accuracyaceadvanceadvancedadvancementadviceaerospaceagencyambivalenceambulanceannounceannouncedannouncementappearanceascendancyassociateassociatedaudacityauspiceauspicesbalancebalancedbalancesbicyclebouncebouncedcapacityceilingcelebratecelebratedcelebratescelebratingcelebrationcelibacycellarcelsiuscementcensercensuscentcentercenterscentralcentralizecentralizedcentrecentscenturycerealceremonialcertainchancechoicecinemacinematiccirclecirclingcirculationcitecitizencitizenscityciviccivilcivilizationclownfacecoherenceconceitconceiveconceptconceptionconceptionsconcernconcertconfederacyconscienceconvinceconvincedcorrespondencecurrencycyborgcyclecylinderdancedancerdancingdeceasedeceaseddeceivedecemberdecidedecideddecimaldeucedicedifferencedifferencesdiplomacydisciplinedisplacementdistanceedificeemancipationembraceemergencyenduranceenforceenhanceenhancedentranceexcellenceexcellentexceptexceptionexceptionalexciteexcitedexcitementexcitingexerciseexistenceexperienceexperiencesfacefacesfacilitatefacilitatesfacilitatingfacingfancyfarcefencefiercefleecefluencyforceforcedforcesforcingfurnaceglancegovernancegracegrace'sgracefulgracesgrimacegrocergroceriesgroceryguidancehenceiceicyimportanceincenseinceptioninteragencyintimacyintricacyintroduceintroducedintroducingjuicejuicyjusticelacelacedlaceratelaceratedlancelegacylegitimacylettucelicenceliteracylucidmedicinemenacemicemincemisplacemisplacednicenicelynicenessnicernicestnoticenoticeboardnoticednuancedofficeofficeronceouncepacepacificpalaceparticipation

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.