autumn
nounThe season between summer and winter when leaves fall from trees and the weather gets cooler.
nounA girl's name.
nounA time when something is no longer as good or strong as it used to be.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: AU Vowel Team
When A and U are together, they make the /ɔː/ sound, like in 'author' and 'pause'.
The vowel team AU makes the /ɔː/ sound (same as AW). It appears in the middle of words. Examples: author, pause, fault, haunt, cause.
Tip
AU says aw — author, pause, fault!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter T
The letter T makes the /t/ sound, like in 'top', 'tap', and 'ten'. The tongue tip taps behind the upper teeth.
T is a voiceless alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth and releases with a puff of air. Double T (tt) makes the same /t/ sound.
Tip
T taps — touch your tongue to make /t/!
Examples
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: Silent N in MN
In MN at the end of a word, the N is silent! You only say /m/, like in 'autumn' and 'column'.
When MN appears at the end of a word, the N is silent. You only pronounce the M. Examples: autumn, column, hymn, solemn, condemn.
Tip
N is silent at the end — say the M in autumn!
Examples
What is SnapPhonics?
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