exemplar
Pronouncedihg-ZEHM-plar
nounA person or thing that is so good others should try to be like it.
nounA thing that shows what others in its group are like.
nounAn original document or model that others are copied from.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: X says “gz”
Sound“gz”·/ɡz/
X can say “gz” (a buzzing 'gz'), like in 'example' and 'exact'.
X usually says /ks/ (box, fox), but in some words — often when a stressed vowel follows — it says the voiced “gz”: exam, exact, example, exist, exhaust, exhibit.
Tip
X can buzz — exam, exact, example!
Examples
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: MP End Blend
Sound“mp”·/mp/
MP at the end of a syllable blends /m/ and /p/ together, like in 'jump', 'camp', and 'lamp'.
MP is a common end blend. The lips are involved in both sounds — /m/ hums with closed lips, then /p/ pops them open.
Tip
MP pops at the end — jump, camp, stamp!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter L
Sound“l”·/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 AR
Sound“ar”·/ɑːr/
When R comes after A, it changes the sound to “ar”, like in 'car' and 'star'.
When A is followed by R, the R 'bosses' the vowel and changes its sound. Instead of short A or long A, you hear “ar”. R-controlled vowels are sometimes called 'Bossy R'.
Tip
Bossy R takes the car to the farm!
Examples
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