SnapPhonics

grams

PronouncedGRAMZ

/ˈɡræmz/noun
  1. nounUnits of weight used to measure how heavy something is.

  2. nounSeeds from plants like chickpeas that people eat.

  3. nounA boy's name.

  4. nounA surname.

  5. nounA town in Denmark.

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Syllables

grams

1 syllable

Letters

Phonics breakdown

gr

Phonics Rule: GR Blend

Sound“gr”·/ɡr/

G and R blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'green' and 'grow'.

The blend GR combines /ɡ/ and /r/ spoken quickly together.

Examples

a

Phonics Rule: Short A

Sound“a”·/æ/

The letter A makes a short sound, like in 'cat' and 'bat'.

When the letter A appears in a closed syllable (a syllable that ends with a consonant), it usually makes the short A sound “a”. This is one of the first vowel sounds students learn.

Tip

A says “a” like a cat that sat on a mat.

Examples

m

Phonics Rule: Letter M

Sound“m”·/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

s

Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/z/ sound)

Sound“z”·/z/

After a buzzing sound or a vowel, the plural ending says /z/ — like 'dogs' and 'shoes'.

Put a finger on your throat and say 'zzzz' — you feel a buzz. When the word ends in a buzzing (voiced) sound or a vowel, the plural ending buzzes too and says /z/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (dogs) or -es (shoes, trees), because in shoes the e is silent and only the s is sounded. Most people never notice they are doing this.

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.

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