loose
adjNot fixed in place tightly or firmly.
adjNot held or packaged together.
adjNot fitting closely.
verbTo set free from restraints.
adjNot under control.
verbTo unfasten or make less tight.
Syllables
1 syllable
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: OO (Long Sound)
OO often makes the long sound, like in 'moon' and 'food'.
The vowel team 'oo' has two sounds. The long sound /uː/ is more common and appears in words like 'moon', 'food', and 'school'.
Tip
OO like the moon — ooooo!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter S
The letter S usually makes the /s/ sound, like in 'sun', 'sit', and 'sock'. Air hisses through a small gap.
S is a voiceless alveolar fricative when it makes the /s/ sound. At the end of many words it can also make a /z/ sound (as in 'dogs' or 'has'). At the start of a word it is always /s/.
Tip
S hisses like a snake — sssssun!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with O — /uː/ (Magic E)
Same o-consonant-e Magic E, but the O says 'oo' instead of long O — like 'move' and 'prove'.
Same o-consonant-e spelling as home and note, but in 'move', 'prove', 'lose', and 'whose' the O says the 'oo' sound /uː/ instead of long O. The E is still silent. Companion to silent_e_o_e.
Tip
Move and prove — Magic E makes O say oo!
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.
