SnapPhonics

blanks

PronouncedBLANGKS

/ˈblæŋks/noun

  1. nounMore than one empty space on a piece of paper that you need to fill in with words or information.

  2. nounMore than one piece of paper or form with empty spaces ready to be filled in.

  3. nounMore than one empty or forgotten part in your memory.

  4. nounMore than one empty space or void where something should be.

  5. nounMore than one small dash used instead of a missing letter or word.

  6. nounMore than one cartridge containing powder but no bullet.

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Syllables

blanks

1 syllable

Letters

Base word

blank

Related words (same phonics pattern)

twinkletwinkledthankssprinklesunkskunk's

Phonics breakdown

bl

Phonics Rule: BL Blend

Sound“bl”·/bl/

B and L blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'black' and 'blue'.

In a consonant blend, you hear each letter's sound, but they are spoken together quickly. BL blends /b/ and /l/ together.

Examples

a

Phonics Rule: Short A

Sound“a”·/æ/

The letter A makes a short sound, like in 'cat' and 'bat'.

When the letter A appears in a closed syllable (a syllable that ends with a consonant), it usually makes the short A sound “a”. This is one of the first vowel sounds students learn.

Tip

A says “a” like a cat that sat on a mat.

Examples

nk

Phonics Rule: NK End Blend

Sound“ngk”·/ŋk/

NK at the end of a syllable makes the “ngk” sound, like in 'sink', 'bank', and 'drink'.

NK blends the nasal “ng” (like in 'sing') with /k/. The N in NK is not a regular /n/ — it shifts to “ng” because of the K that follows.

Tip

NK ends with a clunk — sink, bank, drink!

Examples

s

Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/s/ sound)

Sound“s”·/s/

After a quiet sound like p, t, k or f, the plural ending says /s/ — like 'cats' and 'cakes'.

Say 'ssss' and then 'zzzz' with a finger on your throat — only 'zzzz' buzzes. When the word already ends in a quiet (unvoiced) sound like p, t, k or f, the plural ending stays quiet too and says /s/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (cats) or -es (cakes, notes), because in cakes the e is silent and only the s is sounded.

Examples

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