ache
PronouncedAYK
nounA pain that continues for a long time in a part of your body.
verbTo have a pain that continues for a long time.
nounSadness or unhappiness that causes pain inside you.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Open Syllable A (Long A)
Sound“ay”·/eɪ/
When A is the last letter of a syllable, the syllable is open and the A says its name “ay” — like in 'ba-by' and 'pa-per'.
This is the open-syllable pattern: a syllable that ends in a vowel leaves that vowel 'open', so it says its long name. Here, a lone A at the end of a syllable says “ay” (ba-by, a-pron, lady). The long A sound is also spelled other ways, each its own rule — silent E (cake), or vowel teams (ai in rain, ay in play) — but those are not open syllables.
Tip
Long A says its name — A!
Examples
Phonics Rule: CH Digraph (/k/ sound)
Sound“k”·/k/
In some words from Greek, CH makes the /k/ sound, like in 'chorus' and 'chemistry'.
When CH comes from a Greek-origin word, it says /k/ instead of “ch”. Common examples include words related to music (chorus, chord), science (chemistry, chrome), and character. These words must be learned.
Tip
CH in Greek words sounds like K — chemistry, chorus, character!
Examples
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
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