helps
PronouncedHEHLPS
verbGives assistance or support to someone or something.
verbMakes something better or easier in some way.
verbGives someone food or drink at a meal.
nounProvides what someone needs to do something.
nounPeople who work for someone to keep a house or farm running.
nounInformation that explains how to use a computer program.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter H
Sound“h”·/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
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: LP End Blend
Sound“lp”·/lp/
LP at the end of a syllable blends /l/ and /p/ together, like in 'help' and 'gulp'.
LP is an end blend — you hear both the /l/ and the /p/. The tongue makes /l/, then the lips pop for /p/.
Tip
LP blends at the end — help, gulp, yelp!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/s/ sound)
Sound“s”·/s/
After a quiet sound like p, t, k or f, the plural ending says /s/ — like 'cats' and 'cakes'.
Say 'ssss' and then 'zzzz' with a finger on your throat — only 'zzzz' buzzes. When the word already ends in a quiet (unvoiced) sound like p, t, k or f, the plural ending stays quiet too and says /s/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (cats) or -es (cakes, notes), because in cakes the e is silent and only the s is sounded.
Examples
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