SnapPhonics

cuter

KYOO-ter/ˈkjuː.tər/adjective
  1. adjMore attractive and charming, especially in a young or playful way.

  2. adjMore attractive because of round shapes, big eyes, soft features, or other things people find endearing.

  3. adjMore clever or surprising in a smart or unusual way.

  4. adjMore clever in a way that feels pretend or tries too hard to be charming.

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Syllables

cuter

2 syllables

Letters

Base word

cute

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

c

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

u

Phonics Rule: Open Syllable U — /juː/ (Long U)

When U is the last letter of a syllable, the syllable is open and the U says its name with a /j/ glide — like in 'mu-sic' and 'hu-man'.

This is the open-syllable pattern: a syllable that ends in a vowel leaves it 'open', so it says its long name. Here, a lone U at the end of a syllable says /juː/ (mu-sic, hu-man, u-nit). After L, R, S, or J the Y-glide drops and U says /uː/ instead — see the companion Open Syllable U (/uː/) rule.

Tip

Long U says its name with a YOO sound!

Examples

t

Phonics Rule: Letter T

The letter T makes the /t/ sound, like in 'top', 'tap', and 'ten'. The tongue tip taps behind the upper teeth.

T is a voiceless alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth and releases with a puff of air. Double T (tt) makes the same /t/ sound.

Tip

T taps — touch your tongue to make /t/!

Examples

er

Phonics Rule: Suffix -ER

Adding -ER can mean 'more' (bigger) or 'a person who' (teacher).

The suffix -er has two main uses: comparative ('big' → 'bigger' = more big) and agent ('teach' → 'teacher' = a person who teaches).

Examples

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