beige
nounA pale brown or greyish colour like unbleached wool.
adjectiveHaving a pale brown or greyish colour.
adjectiveDull and boring in a way that feels safe and ordinary.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter B
The letter B makes the /b/ sound, like in 'bat', 'big', and 'bug'. Both lips press together then release.
B is a voiced bilabial stop — both lips press together and release with voice. It always makes the /b/ sound except when silent at the end of words after m (as in 'lamb' or 'comb').
Tip
B looks like a bat — and bat starts with /b/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: EI says long A
EI sometimes says long A /eɪ/, like in 'vein' and 'rein'.
The vowel team EI can say the long A sound /eɪ/ in a set of words: vein, rein, veil, beige. (EI says long E /iː/ in other words, often after C — see the companion 'EI says long E' rule.)
Tip
EI can say long A — vein, rein, veil!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Hard G
G makes the /g/ sound before A, O, U, or a consonant, like in 'go' and 'game'.
The letter G makes the hard /g/ sound when followed by A, O, U, or a consonant. Examples: go, game, give, glad, grab.
Tip
G says /g/ before A, O, U — go, game, glad!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with I (Magic E)
In the i-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the I say its name — like in 'bike' and 'time'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the pattern i-consonant-e (like 'bike'), the final E is silent but makes the I say its long sound /aɪ/.
Tip
Magic E makes I say its name!
Examples
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.
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