colored
adjHaving a color or colors.
adjHaving bright or many colors.
adjInfluenced or changed by someone's feelings or opinions in a way that is not fair or true.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Hard C
C makes the /k/ sound before A, O, U, or a consonant, like in 'cat' and 'cup'.
The letter C makes the hard /k/ sound when followed by A, O, U, or a consonant. This is the default C sound. Examples: cat, cup, coat, cold, crab, class.
Tip
C says K before A, O, U — cat, cup, coat!
Examples
Phonics Rule: O says /ʌ/
O sometimes says the /ʌ/ sound (like short U), like in 'son', 'love', and 'month'.
In a set of common words, O says /ʌ/ instead of short /ɒ/: son, won, month, mother, brother, love, glove, dove, dozen, oven, money, honey.
Tip
O can say uh — son, love, month!
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: R-Controlled OR
When R comes after O, it makes the /ɔːr/ sound, like in 'for' and 'corn'.
OR makes the /ɔːr/ sound. Unlike ER/IR/UR which all sound the same, OR has its own distinct sound. The companion rule r_controlled_or_er covers the /ɜːr/ pronunciation after W (word, work).
Tip
OR — the horse in the corner says /ɔːr/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -ED (/d/ sound)
After voiced sounds like /b/, /g/, /n/, -ED says /d/, like in 'played' and 'named'.
After voiced consonants and vowels, -ed says /d/. The E is silent.
Tip
After a buzzy sound, -ED says /d/!
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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