SnapPhonics

gamer

GAY-mer/ˈɡeɪ.mər/noun
  1. nounSomeone who plays video games as a hobby.

  2. nounA person who plays games of any kind.

Save to your word list — create a free account

Syllables

gamer

2 syllables

Letters

Base word

game

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

g

Phonics Rule: Hard G

G makes the /g/ sound before A, O, U, or a consonant, like in 'go' and 'game'.

The letter G makes the hard /g/ sound when followed by A, O, U, or a consonant. Examples: go, game, give, glad, grab.

Tip

G says /g/ before A, O, U — go, game, glad!

Examples

a

Phonics Rule: Open Syllable A (Long A)

When A is the last letter of a syllable, the syllable is open and the A says its name /eɪ/ — like in 'ba-by' and 'pa-per'.

This is the open-syllable pattern: a syllable that ends in a vowel leaves that vowel 'open', so it says its long name. Here, a lone A at the end of a syllable says /eɪ/ (ba-by, a-pron, lady). The long A sound is also spelled other ways, each its own rule — silent E (cake), or vowel teams (ai in rain, ay in play) — but those are not open syllables.

Tip

Long A says its name — A!

Examples

m

Phonics Rule: Letter M

The letter M makes the /m/ sound, like in 'map', 'mud', and 'mop'. Both lips press together with voice through the nose.

M is a voiced bilabial nasal — both lips press together while the voice hums through the nose. Double M (mm) makes the same /m/ sound.

Tip

M hums like mmm — press your lips and hum!

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

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.