ahoy
interjectionA loud call used to greet or get the attention of a ship or person.
interjectionA loud call used to warn that something is coming towards you.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Schwa
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel sound in English. Any vowel letter can make the schwa sound when it's in an unstressed syllable. It sounds like a quick, lazy 'uh'.
Tip
Schwa is lazy — any vowel can say 'uh' when it's not stressed!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter H
The letter H makes the /h/ sound, like in 'hat', 'hop', and 'hen'. It is a soft breath of air.
H is a voiceless glottal fricative — just a puff of air with no friction. It always appears before a vowel and is sometimes silent (as in 'hour' or 'honest').
Tip
H is a puff of air — breathe out and say /h/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: OY Diphthong
OY makes the /ɔɪ/ sound at the end of a word, like in 'boy' and 'toy'.
OY makes the same sound as OI but appears at the end of a word or syllable. OI = middle, OY = end.
Tip
OY at the end — the boy has a toy!
Examples
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