SnapPhonics

latch

PronouncedLACH

/ˈlætʃ/noun
  1. nounA fastening for a door with a bar that clicks into a notch when you push it shut.

  2. verbTo close or lock something using a latch.

  3. verbTo grab or hold onto something.

  4. nounThe way a baby attaches to the breast when feeding.

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Syllables

latch

1 syllable

Letters

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

l

Phonics Rule: Letter L

Sound“l”·/l/

The letter L makes the /l/ sound, like in 'lamp', 'leg', and 'lip'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.

L is a voiced lateral approximant — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while air flows around the sides. Double L (ll) makes the same /l/ sound.

Tip

L is for lamp — light it up with /l/!

Examples

a

Phonics Rule: Short A

Sound“a”·/æ/

The letter A makes a short sound, like in 'cat' and 'bat'.

When the letter A appears in a closed syllable (a syllable that ends with a consonant), it usually makes the short A sound “a”. This is one of the first vowel sounds students learn.

Tip

A says “a” like a cat that sat on a mat.

Examples

tch

Phonics Rule: TCH Trigraph

Sound“ch”·/tʃ/

TCH makes the same sound as CH — “ch”. It comes after a short vowel, like in 'watch' and 'catch'.

TCH appears after a short vowel in a one-syllable word. It makes the same “ch” sound as CH. Think of it as the 'short vowel version' of CH, similar to CK being the short vowel version of K.

Tip

Short vowel? Add a T before CH — catch, match, watch!

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.

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