SnapPhonics

head

HEHD/ˈhɛd/noun
  1. nounThe part of your body above your neck that contains your brain and face.

  2. nounThe person in charge of something, like a school or organization.

  3. nounThe topmost or front part of something.

  4. nounYour ability to think or understand things.

  5. nounA word, phrase, or line at the top of a section in a book or document.

  6. nounA single animal, used when counting livestock.

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Syllables

head

1 syllable

Letters

Word forms:

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

h

Phonics Rule: Letter H

The letter H makes the /h/ sound, like in 'hat', 'hop', and 'hen'. It is a soft breath of air.

H is a voiceless glottal fricative — just a puff of air with no friction. It always appears before a vowel and is sometimes silent (as in 'hour' or 'honest').

Tip

H is a puff of air — breathe out and say /h/!

Examples

ea

Phonics Rule: EA Vowel Team (Short E)

Sometimes EA makes the short E sound, like in 'bread' and 'head'.

In some common words, 'ea' makes the short E sound /ɛ/ instead of the expected long E. These words need to be memorized since there's no reliable rule to predict when EA says short E.

Tip

Bread, head, dead — EA says /ɛ/ instead!

Examples

d

Phonics Rule: Letter D

The letter D makes the /d/ sound, like in 'dog', 'day', and 'dig'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.

D is a voiced alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, then releases with voice. It reliably makes the /d/ sound in almost all positions.

Tip

D is for dog — and dog starts with /d/!

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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