exhaust
verbTo make someone feel very tired and without energy.
verbTo use up all of something until there is none left.
nounDirty gases that come out of a car engine.
nounA pipe on a car that lets out burned gases from the engine.
verbTo discuss something completely and in great detail.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Word forms:
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Short E
The letter E makes a short sound, like in 'bed' and 'red'.
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound /ɛ/. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says /ɛ/ like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: X says /ɡz/
X can say /ɡz/ (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 /ɡz/: exam, exact, example, exist, exhaust, exhibit.
Tip
X can buzz — exam, exact, example!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent H
In a few words the H is silent — like 'hour', 'honest', and 'exhaust'.
Most H's are sounded (hat, hope), but in a small set of words the H is silent: hour, honest, honor, heir, herb, and after X in exhaust and exhibit. These are memorized.
Tip
An honest hour — the H is silent!
Examples
Phonics Rule: AU Vowel Team
When A and U are together, they make the /ɔː/ sound, like in 'author' and 'pause'.
The vowel team AU makes the /ɔː/ sound (same as AW). It appears in the middle of words. Examples: author, pause, fault, haunt, cause.
Tip
AU says aw — author, pause, fault!
Examples
Phonics Rule: ST Blend
S and T blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'stop' and 'fast'.
The blend ST combines /s/ and /t/ spoken quickly together. It can appear at the beginning or end of a word.
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.
