SnapPhonics

meadow

MEH-doh/ˈmɛ.ˌdoʊ/noun
  1. nounA field of grass that grows naturally or is grown for animals to eat.

  2. nounWet ground covered with coarse grass, usually near a river or the sea.

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Syllables

meadow

2 syllables

Letters

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

m

Phonics Rule: Letter M

The letter M makes the /m/ sound, like in 'map', 'mud', and 'mop'. Both lips press together with voice through the nose.

M is a voiced bilabial nasal — both lips press together while the voice hums through the nose. Double M (mm) makes the same /m/ sound.

Tip

M hums like mmm — press your lips and hum!

Examples

ea

Phonics Rule: EA Vowel Team (Short E)

Sometimes EA makes the short E sound, like in 'bread' and 'head'.

In some common words, 'ea' makes the short E sound /ɛ/ instead of the expected long E. These words need to be memorized since there's no reliable rule to predict when EA says short E.

Tip

Bread, head, dead — EA says /ɛ/ instead!

Examples

d

Phonics Rule: Letter D

The letter D makes the /d/ sound, like in 'dog', 'day', and 'dig'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.

D is a voiced alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, then releases with voice. It reliably makes the /d/ sound in almost all positions.

Tip

D is for dog — and dog starts with /d/!

Examples

ow

Phonics Rule: OW (Long O Sound)

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

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

Tip

Snow falls slow — OW says long O!

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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