ceiling
nounThe surface at the top of a room that you look up at.
nounThe highest amount or level that something is allowed to reach.
nounThe highest distance an aircraft can safely fly up into the air.
nounHow far up you can see into the sky before clouds block your view.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Soft C
C says /s/ before E, I, or Y, like in 'city' and 'face'.
When C comes before the letters E, I, or Y, it makes the soft /s/ sound instead of the hard /k/ sound. This is called 'Soft C'.
Tip
C is soft before E, I, Y — the city is nice!
Examples
Phonics Rule: EI says long E
EI can say the long E sound /iː/, often after C, like in 'ceiling' and 'receive'.
EI says long E /iː/ in the 'i before e except after c' set: ceiling, receive, deceive, conceive, seize. (EI says long A /eɪ/ in vein, rein, eight.)
Tip
I before E, except after C — ceiling, receive!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter L
The letter L makes the /l/ sound, like in 'lamp', 'leg', and 'lip'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
L is a voiced lateral approximant — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while air flows around the sides. Double L (ll) makes the same /l/ sound.
Tip
L is for lamp — light it up with /l/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -ING
Adding -ING to a verb shows something is happening right now, like 'running' and 'playing'.
The suffix -ing is added to verbs to show an ongoing action (present participle). Sometimes the base word changes: drop silent E ('make' → 'making'), double final consonant ('run' → 'running').
Examples
What is SnapPhonics?
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