SnapPhonics

knows

PronouncedNOHZ

/ˈnoʊz/noun
  1. verbHas information about something or understands it.

  2. verbIs certain that something is true.

  3. verbIs familiar with a person or place from meeting them before.

  4. verbCan tell the difference between two things or recognize what something is.

  5. verbCan play or perform a piece of music.

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Syllables

knows

1 syllable

Letters

Base word

know

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

kn

Phonics Rule: Silent K in KN

Sound“n”·/n/

In KN, the K is silent! You only say /n/, like in 'know' and 'knee'.

When K comes before N at the beginning of a word, the K is completely silent. You only pronounce the N. This comes from Old English when the K was actually pronounced.

Tip

K is silent when N is next — knock, knock, who's there? Just N!

Examples

ow

Phonics Rule: OW (Long O Sound)

Sound“oh”·/oʊ/

OW sometimes says long O, like in 'snow' and 'show'.

The spelling 'ow' can make the long O sound “oh”, especially at the end of a word. It can also make the “ow” diphthong sound (like 'cow').

Tip

Snow falls slow — OW says long O!

Examples

s

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

Sound“z”·/z/

After a buzzing sound or a vowel, the plural ending says /z/ — like 'dogs' and 'shoes'.

Put a finger on your throat and say 'zzzz' — you feel a buzz. When the word ends in a buzzing (voiced) sound or a vowel, the plural ending buzzes too and says /z/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (dogs) or -es (shoes, trees), because in shoes the e is silent and only the s is sounded. Most people never notice they are doing this.

Examples

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