meadow
nounA field of grass that grows naturally or is grown for animals to eat.
nounWet ground covered with coarse grass, usually near a river or the sea.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
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
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
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
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.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.
