crutch
nounA stick with a handle that goes under your arm to help you walk when your leg is hurt.
nounSomething you depend on too much instead of doing things yourself.
verbTo help someone walk by holding them up or giving them support.
verbTo walk using crutches to get from one place to another.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: CR Blend
C and R blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'cry' and 'cross'.
The blend CR combines /k/ and /r/ spoken quickly together.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Short U
The letter U makes a short sound, like in 'cup' and 'bus'.
When the letter U appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short U sound /ʌ/. This sounds like 'uh'.
Tip
U says /ʌ/ like 'uh-oh, what's up?'
Examples
Phonics Rule: TCH Trigraph
TCH makes the same sound as CH — /tʃ/. It comes after a short vowel, like in 'watch' and 'catch'.
TCH appears after a short vowel in a one-syllable word. It makes the same /tʃ/ sound as CH. Think of it as the 'short vowel version' of CH, similar to CK being the short vowel version of K.
Tip
Short vowel? Add a T before CH — catch, match, watch!
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.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.