laughing
verbMaking the sounds and movements that show you find something funny or amusing.
verbMaking fun of someone or something in a unkind way.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter 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
Phonics Rule: AU Vowel Team
When A and U are together, they make the /ɔː/ sound, like in 'author' and 'pause'.
The vowel team AU makes the /ɔː/ sound (same as AW). It appears in the middle of words. Examples: author, pause, fault, haunt, cause.
Tip
AU says aw — author, pause, fault!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent GH
GH is often silent after a vowel, like in 'daughter' and 'taught'.
The combination GH is silent in many common words after vowel teams IGH, OUGH, AUGH, EIGH. Examples: night, through, daughter, eight, taught.
Tip
GH hides silently — night, through, daughter!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -ING
Adding -ING to a verb shows something is happening right now, like 'running' and 'playing'.
The suffix -ing is added to verbs to show an ongoing action (present participle). Sometimes the base word changes: drop silent E ('make' → 'making'), double final consonant ('run' → 'running').
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.