heart
nounA muscular organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body.
nounYour feelings and emotions.
nounCourage and determination to keep trying when things are difficult.
nounThe centre or most important part of something.
nounA shape like ♥ that stands for love or feelings.
nounA playing card from the suit with heart symbols on it.
"heart" does not follow standard phonics patterns and should be memorized.
Phonics breakdown
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
Phonics Rule: EAR says /ɪər/
EAR usually makes the /ɪər/ sound, like in 'ear', 'hear', and 'near'.
EAR most often says /ɪər/ (the 'ear' sound): ear, hear, near, year, clear, dear, fear.
Tip
Hear with your ear — hear, near, year!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter T
The letter T makes the /t/ sound, like in 'top', 'tap', and 'ten'. The tongue tip taps behind the upper teeth.
T is a voiceless alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth and releases with a puff of air. Double T (tt) makes the same /t/ sound.
Tip
T taps — touch your tongue to make /t/!
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.
