SnapPhonics

hours

OW-erz/ˈaʊ.ərz/noun
  1. nounPeriods of time, each one lasting sixty minutes.

  2. nounThe times when someone must work or be at a place.

  3. nounA distance you can travel in one period of sixty minutes.

  4. nounParticular times or moments.

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Syllables

hours

1 syllable

Letters

Base word

hour

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

h

Phonics Rule: Silent H

In a few words the H is silent — like 'hour', 'honest', and 'exhaust'.

Most H's are sounded (hat, hope), but in a small set of words the H is silent: hour, honest, honor, heir, herb, and after X in exhaust and exhibit. These are memorized.

Tip

An honest hour — the H is silent!

Examples

our

Phonics Rule: OUR says /aʊər/

OUR can make the /aʊər/ sound, like in 'hour', 'sour', and 'flour'.

OUR can also say /aʊər/ (like 'ow' + 'er'): hour, sour, flour, scour, devour.

Tip

One hour is sour — hour, sour, flour!

Examples

s

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

After voiced sounds, -S says /z/, like in 'dogs' and 'birds'.

After voiced consonants and vowels, the plural -s says /z/. Most people don't notice this — it sounds natural.

Examples

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