joist
nounA long piece of wood or steel that holds up a floor or ceiling.
verbTo put joists in a building to support a floor or ceiling.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter J
The letter J makes the /dʒ/ sound, like in 'jump', 'jar', and 'jet'.
J always makes the /dʒ/ sound (like the G in 'gem'). It is a voiced affricate — the tongue briefly stops the airflow then releases with friction.
Tip
J is for jump — feel the /dʒ/ when you jump!
Examples
Phonics Rule: OI Diphthong
OI makes the /ɔɪ/ sound in the middle of a word, like in 'oil' and 'coin'.
A diphthong is a vowel sound that glides from one sound to another. OI glides from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/. Use OI in the middle of a word and OY at the end.
Tip
OI in the middle — coin and point!
Examples
Phonics Rule: ST Blend
S and T blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'stop' and 'fast'.
The blend ST combines /s/ and /t/ spoken quickly together. It can appear at the beginning or end of a word.
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.
